--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People start to act very unusually when…" description: "\"People start to act very unusually when they find out that they're dying, that they don't have that many years left.\" — Oliver Platt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/oliver-platt-44469_death_people-start-to-act-very-unusually-when_1660180.png" --- # People start to act very unusually when they find out that… ![“People start to act very unusually when they find out that they're dying, that they don't have that many years left.” quote by Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/oliver-platt-44469_death_people-start-to-act-very-unusually-when_1660180.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/oliver-platt-44469_death_people-start-to-act-very-unusually-when_1660180.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/oliver-platt-44469_death_people-start-to-act-very-unusually-when_1660180.png) > “People start to act very unusually when they find out that they're dying, that they don't have that many years left.” [Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing mortality triggers unusual behavior, revealing hidden priorities and fears. **In simple terms:** People act oddly when they know they’re dying. Key Takeaway Reflect on what truly matters. Themes mortality behavior psychology Mood somber introspective Type narrative psychological When to use this quote - hospital stays - end‑of‑life care - family gatherings - legal matters Key Concepts existential crisis priorities fear Questions to Reflect On - How would you want to live if time were limited? - What values become clear when facing death? A Different Perspective Not everyone reacts the same; cultural factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [We were unusually brought up; there was no gender differentiation. I was never thought of as any less than my brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/we-were-unusually-brought-up-there-was-no-gender-differentiation-i/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [I used to be unusually short, and I think I'd prefer that to being unusually tall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-used-to-be-unusually-short-and-i-think-i-d-prefer-that-to-being/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [The people I know who seem to make unusual efforts at rationality, are unusually honest, or, failing that, at least have unusually bad social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/the-people-i-know-who-seem-to-make-unusual-efforts-at-rationality-are/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“unusually perfect creatures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karice-bolton/unusually-perfect-creatures/) [Karice Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karice-bolton/) > [We are not interested in the unusual, but in the usual seen unusually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beaumont-newhall/we-are-not-interested-in-the-unusual-but-in-the-usual-seen-unusually/) [Beaumont Newhall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beaumont-newhall/) > [I have been unusually blessed in that I've been allowed to pursue two strands of a career that both delight me and seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-palin/i-have-been-unusually-blessed-in-that-i-ve-been-allowed-to-pursue-two/) [Michael Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-palin/) > [If someone were to tell me I had twenty years left, and ask me how I'd like to spend them, I'd reply 'Give me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/if-someone-were-to-tell-me-i-had-twenty-years-left-and-ask-me-how-i-d/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [It's been 35 years since I left school. Almost nine of them were in government; all the rest were in the private sector. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/it-s-been-35-years-since-i-left-school-almost-nine-of-them-were-in/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [I know that eventually, I'll have to change my life and my career, but I've got a lot of good years left in me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-know-that-eventually-i-ll-have-to-change-my-life-and-my-career-but/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [I'm a firm believer that everything in life works out the way it's supposed to. And who knows? I figure I've got a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-mccarty/i-m-a-firm-believer-that-everything-in-life-works-out-the-way-it-s/) [Darren McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-mccarty/) > [If I only had 12 years left to live, I'd want to live it as a member of Congress because that was the 12…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/if-i-only-had-12-years-left-to-live-i-d-want-to-live-it-as-a-member/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Age doesn't bother me. So many of my heroes were older guys. It's the lack of years left that weighs far heavier on me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/age-doesn-t-bother-me-so-many-of-my-heroes-were-older-guys-it-s-the/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [You can tell by looking at me that I've got more miles behind me than I've got in front of me. When you reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-osborne/you-can-tell-by-looking-at-me-that-i-ve-got-more-miles-behind-me-than/) [Tom Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-osborne/) > [I asked my doctor how many more years I have left and he said, 'You're too ornery to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-piersall/i-asked-my-doctor-how-many-more-years-i-have-left-and-he-said-you-re/) [Jimmy Piersall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-piersall/) > [Fitness has always been a strength of mine. People seem to look at ages and think once you get over 30, you're coming to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/fitness-has-always-been-a-strength-of-mine-people-seem-to-look-at/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) ## More by Oliver Platt > [The only thing I wanted to do when I was a young naive kid was to become a New York stage actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/the-only-thing-i-wanted-to-do-when-i-was-a-young-naive-kid-was-to/) [Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/) > [You know I feel very fortunate that my life has turned out the way that it has - whatever that means - I mean...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/you-know-i-feel-very-fortunate-that-my-life-has-turned-out-the-way/) [Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/) > [I think of myself as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/i-think-of-myself-as-an-actor/) [Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/) > [You know that was much more of a kind of cameo, I love the movie, I love the story, I love Johnny as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/you-know-that-was-much-more-of-a-kind-of-cameo-i-love-the-movie-i/) [Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/) > [I love the script and I just thought it was a great role. Like I say, it's like this - the script is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/i-love-the-script-and-i-just-thought-it-was-a-great-role-like-i-say/) [Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/) > [2005 was a great year for me for fantastic roles that nobody saw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/2005-was-a-great-year-for-me-for-fantastic-roles-that-nobody-saw/) [Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/) > [You know, grieve your wife, this is an impulsive thing and you have no idea the kind of trouble you're getting yourself into it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/you-know-grieve-your-wife-this-is-an-impulsive-thing-and-you-have-no/) [Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/) > [The directors that I end up having a really good time with are the ones that understand the fluidity of the medium and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/the-directors-that-i-end-up-having-a-really-good-time-with-are-the/) [Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/) [Explore all 9 Oliver Platt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People start to act very unusually when they find out that they're dying, that they don't have that many years left.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oliver Platt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/people-start-to-act-very-unusually-when-they-find-out-that-they-re/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/people-start-to-act-very-unusually-when-they-find-out-that-they-re/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/oliver-platt-44469_death_people-start-to-act-very-unusually-when_1660180.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/oliver-platt-44469_death_people-start-to-act-very-unusually-when_1660180.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/oliver-platt-44469_death_people-start-to-act-very-unusually-when_1660180.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People start to act very unusually when they find out that they're dying, that they don't have that many…” — Oliver Platt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oliver Platt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People start to act very unusually...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/people-start-to-act-very-unusually-when-they-find-out-that-they-re/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/people-start-to-act-very-unusually-when-they-find-out-that-they-re/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```