--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The point is not how long we live but how…" description: "\"“The point is not how long we live but how nobly: life is about depth not duration.”\" — Patrick Ussher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/patrick-ussher-55781_depth_the-point-is-not-how-long-we-live-but-ho_2460268.jpg" --- # The point is not how long we live but how nobly: life is… ![“The point is not how long we live but how nobly: life is about depth not duration.” quote by Patrick Ussher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/patrick-ussher-55781_depth_the-point-is-not-how-long-we-live-but-ho_2460268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/patrick-ussher-55781_depth_the-point-is-not-how-long-we-live-but-ho_2460268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/patrick-ussher-55781_depth_the-point-is-not-how-long-we-live-but-ho_2460268.jpg) > ““The point is not how long we live but how nobly: life is about depth not duration.”” [Patrick Ussher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ussher/) ## 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 emphasizes quality of life over quantity, urging a focus on meaningful, noble actions rather than lifespan. **In simple terms:** Live nobly, not just long. Key Takeaway Prioritize depth over duration. Themes meaning purpose legacy Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - community service - creative pursuits Key Concepts existentialism ethics humanism Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure the nobility of your actions? - What does a meaningful life look like for you? A Different Perspective Depth alone may not guarantee happiness; balance with well‑being. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Depth Duration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth-duration-647332/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-depth-363489/) [Live Nobly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-nobly-647333/) ## Related quotes > [“It is not the length of life, but the depth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-not-the-length-of-life-but-the-depth/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Men do not care how nobly they live, but only for how long, although it is within the reach of every man to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/men-do-not-care-how-nobly-they-live-but-only-for-how-long-although-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobly to live, or else nobly to die,Befits proud birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/nobly-to-live-or-else-nobly-to-die-befits-proud-birth/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [It is not length of life, but depth of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-not-length-of-life-but-depth-of-life/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The point is, not how long you live, but how nobly you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-point-is-not-how-long-you-live-but-how-nobly-you-live/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [If you want to talk about grace, if you want to talk about revelation, talk about your life with some depth, which doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/if-you-want-to-talk-about-grace-if-you-want-to-talk-about-revelation/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [T's not about the length of life it's about the depth of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewshycrazyness/t-s-not-about-the-length-of-life-it-s-about-the-depth-of-life/) [EwshyCrazyness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewshycrazyness/) > [Studies of people who report high well-being in their fifties and sixties indicate that they have lived lives that involved personal risks. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-james/studies-of-people-who-report-high-well-being-in-their-fifties-and/) [Jennifer James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-james/) > [It is not important the length of life, but the depth of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maat-ihapi/it-is-not-important-the-length-of-life-but-the-depth-of-life/) [Maat Ihapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maat-ihapi/) > [“It is not the length of life, but the depth of life. 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What is important is not to make life longer, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/what-is-important-is-not-the-length-of-life-but-the-depth-of-life/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [It is not the length of life, but the depth of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-the-length-of-life-but-the-depth-of-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The fact that we still live well cannot ease the feeling that we no longer live nobly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/the-fact-that-we-still-live-well-cannot-ease-the-feeling-that-we-no/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [The awakening passed from simple recognition of my need for God at the center of my life, to a depth where the will is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/the-awakening-passed-from-simple-recognition-of-my-need-for-god-at/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) ## More by Patrick Ussher > [“Stoicism is about Joy, Serenity, Meaning and Purpose. 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It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Even mud gives the illusion of depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/even-mud-gives-the-illusion-of-depth/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“depth of the riches both”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/depth-of-the-riches-both/) [A.W. 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People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I'd like roles with more depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-locklear/i-d-like-roles-with-more-depth/) [Heather Locklear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-locklear/) [Browse all 2,384 Depth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The point is not how long we live but how nobly: life is about depth not duration.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick Ussher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ussher/the-point-is-not-how-long-we-live-but-how-nobly-life-is-about-depth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Depth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ussher/the-point-is-not-how-long-we-live-but-how-nobly-life-is-about-depth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/patrick-ussher-55781_depth_the-point-is-not-how-long-we-live-but-ho_2460268.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/patrick-ussher-55781_depth_the-point-is-not-how-long-we-live-but-ho_2460268.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/patrick-ussher-55781_depth_the-point-is-not-how-long-we-live-but-ho_2460268.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The point is not how long we live but how nobly: life is about depth not duration.” — Patrick Ussher", "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": "Patrick Ussher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ussher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The point is not how long...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ussher/the-point-is-not-how-long-we-live-but-how-nobly-life-is-about-depth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ussher/the-point-is-not-how-long-we-live-but-how-nobly-life-is-about-depth/#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 } } ] } ```