---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest dread of ordinary man is…"
description: "\"The greatest dread of ordinary man is death, with its rude imposition interrupting fortuitous plans and fondest attachments with an unknown and unwelco..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/paramahansa-yogananda-556_aloofness_the-greatest-dread-of-ordinary-man-is-de_1731472.jpg"
---

#  The greatest dread of ordinary man is death, with its rude…

![“The greatest dread of ordinary man is death, with its rude imposition interrupting fortuitous plans and fondest attachments with an unknown and unwelcome change. The yogi is a conqueror of the grief associated with death. By control of mind and life force and the development of wisdom, he makes…” quote by Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/paramahansa-yogananda-556_aloofness_the-greatest-dread-of-ordinary-man-is-de_1731472.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/paramahansa-yogananda-556_aloofness_the-greatest-dread-of-ordinary-man-is-de_1731472.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/paramahansa-yogananda-556_aloofness_the-greatest-dread-of-ordinary-man-is-de_1731472.jpg)

> “The greatest dread of ordinary man is death, with its rude imposition interrupting fortuitous plans and fondest attachments with an unknown and unwelcome change. The yogi is a conqueror of the grief associated with death. By control of mind and life force and the development of wisdom, he makes friends with the change of consciousness called death-he becomes familiar with the state of inner calmness and aloofness from identification with the mortal body.”

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote explains that ordinary people fear death because it disrupts life, while a yogi, through mental discipline and wisdom, accepts death as a natural transition, achieving inner peace and detachment from the physical self.

**In simple terms:** Ordinary people fear death; yogis accept it calmly through wisdom.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate inner calm and detachment toward mortality.

Themes

spirituality death mindfulness wisdom detachment

Mood

contemplative serene

Type

philosophical spiritual inspirational

When to use this quote

- Facing terminal illness
- end‑of‑life care
- grief counseling
- spiritual practice
- philosophical study

Key Concepts

Meditation self‑realization impermanence

Questions to Reflect On

- How can one begin to detach from bodily identity?
- What practices foster calm acceptance of death?

A Different Perspective

The insight may be hard to apply without deep practice or belief in spiritual traditions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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