--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...when it came to dying, I was scared…" description: "\"...when it came to dying, I was scared. Not of being dead, that I could not comprehend, to be nothing was impossible to grasp and therefore really noth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/per-petterson-8468_chance_when-it-came-to-dying-i-was-scared-not-o_2611135.png" --- # ...when it came to dying, I was scared. Not of being dead… ![“...when it came to dying, I was scared. Not of being dead, that I could not comprehend, to be nothing was impossible to grasp and therefore really nothing to be scared of, but the dying itself I could comprehend, the very instant when you know that now comes what you have always feared, and you…” quote by Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/per-petterson-8468_chance_when-it-came-to-dying-i-was-scared-not-o_2611135.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/per-petterson-8468_chance_when-it-came-to-dying-i-was-scared-not-o_2611135.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/per-petterson-8468_chance_when-it-came-to-dying-i-was-scared-not-o_2611135.png) > “...when it came to dying, I was scared. Not of being dead, that I could not comprehend, to be nothing was impossible to grasp and therefore really nothing to be scared of, but the dying itself I could comprehend, the very instant when you know that now comes what you have always feared, and you suddenly realise that every chance of being the person you really wanted to be, is gone for ever, and the one you were, is the one those around you will remember.” [Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing death reveals fear of unfulfilled potential and how legacy is remembered. **In simple terms:** Dying scares more than death itself. Key Takeaway Live authentically before it’s too late. Themes mortality legacy self‑realization Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - end‑of‑life planning - creative projects - personal reflection Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does your ideal legacy look like? - How can you align daily actions with that vision? A Different Perspective Legacy concerns may cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm not scared of dying. I'm scared of living on and on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mewshaw/i-m-not-scared-of-dying-i-m-scared-of-living-on-and-on/) Michael Mewshaw > [I'm slightly pessimistic about human nature, about how close it's possible to bond with those around you. Dying alone is a deep fear for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-trigell/i-m-slightly-pessimistic-about-human-nature-about-how-close-it-s/) [Jonathan Trigell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-trigell/) > [You shouldn't be afraid of the dark, you should be scared of whats in the dark. You shouldn't be scared of dying, you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-shouldn-t-be-afraid-of-the-dark-you-should-be-scared-of-whats-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its not being scared of me dying but I'm scared someone really close to me will just not be there anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-not-being-scared-of-me-dying-but-i-m-scared-someone-really-close/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm not scared of dying . . . I'm scared that I might enjoy it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-black/i-m-not-scared-of-dying-i-m-scared-that-i-might-enjoy-it/) Nicholas Black > [I'm not bothered about dying, I'm not scared of dying, but to not be able to watch my children grow up is the hardest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-m-not-bothered-about-dying-i-m-not-scared-of-dying-but-to-not-be/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [“This is a 911? You know you only text that when someone is dead or dying. You scared the crap out of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/this-is-a-911-you-know-you-only-text-that-when-someone-is-dead-or/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“The one who is scared of dying is but a lost child looking for his home”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-who-is-scared-of-dying-is-but-a-lost-child-looking-for-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're scared of dying you better not be scared to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-oliver-everett/if-you-re-scared-of-dying-you-better-not-be-scared-to-live/) [Mark Oliver Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-oliver-everett/) > [I had a period in my life when I was eight or nine when I was so scared of dying that I wouldn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lekman/i-had-a-period-in-my-life-when-i-was-eight-or-nine-when-i-was-so/) [Jens Lekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lekman/) > [I'm not a Christian because I'm scared of dying, I'm a Christian because I'm scared to live a life without God!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-christian-because-i-m-scared-of-dying-i-m-a-christian/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not scared of dying, because I'm an atheist. 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