--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a human being takes his life in…" description: "\"When a human being takes his life in depression, this is a natural death of spiritual causes. The modern barbarity of 'saving' the suicidal is based on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/peter-wessel-zapffe-13517_barbarity_when-a-human-being-takes-his-life-in-dep_495162.jpg" --- # When a human being takes his life in depression, this is a… ![“When a human being takes his life in depression, this is a natural death of spiritual causes. The modern barbarity of 'saving' the suicidal is based on a hair-raising misapprehension of the nature of existence.” quote by Peter Wessel Zapffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/peter-wessel-zapffe-13517_barbarity_when-a-human-being-takes-his-life-in-dep_495162.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/peter-wessel-zapffe-13517_barbarity_when-a-human-being-takes-his-life-in-dep_495162.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/peter-wessel-zapffe-13517_barbarity_when-a-human-being-takes-his-life-in-dep_495162.jpg) > “When a human being takes his life in depression, this is a natural death of spiritual causes. The modern barbarity of 'saving' the suicidal is based on a hair-raising misapprehension of the nature of existence.” [Peter Wessel Zapffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-wessel-zapffe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Depression can be seen as a spiritual death, and attempts to “save” suicides may misunderstand existence's nature. **In simple terms:** Depression is a spiritual death; saving may misinterpret existence. Key Takeaway Recognize deeper existential causes of despair. Themes existentialism mental health philosophy Mood somber reflective Type philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - counseling - philosophical counseling - spiritual support Key Concepts nihilism meaning death health care suicide prevention existential crisis Questions to Reflect On - What deeper meanings might underlie a person's depression? - How can we respect existential perspectives while offering help? A Different Perspective Saving may overlook personal meaning; not all despair is purely spiritual. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barbarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barbarity/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Depression Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-natural-4228745/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-death/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Saving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saving/) [Saving Suicidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saving-suicidal-4228744/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-causes-2477261/) [Suicidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicidal/) [Suicidal Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicidal-based-4228746/) ## Related quotes > [“It is only fair to add that you should be undecided about spiritual causes too. 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A coin is examined, and only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-wessel-zapffe/in-accordance-with-my-conception-of-life-i-have-chosen-not-to-bring/) [Peter Wessel Zapffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-wessel-zapffe/) [Explore all 45 Peter Wessel Zapffe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-wessel-zapffe/) ## More Barbarity quotes > [I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the South is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes—a justifier of the most appalling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-assert-most-unhesitatingly-that-the-religion-of-the-south-is-a-mere-2/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [You point out that war is only a symptom of the whole horrid business of human behavior, and cannot be isolated. 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