--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each instant of life is a step toward…" description: "\"Each instant of life is a step toward death.\" — Pierre Corneille" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/pierre-corneille-2033_death_each-instant-of-life-is-a-step-toward-de_3172976.jpg" --- # Each instant of life is a step toward death. ![“Each instant of life is a step toward death.” quote by Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/pierre-corneille-2033_death_each-instant-of-life-is-a-step-toward-de_3172976.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/pierre-corneille-2033_death_each-instant-of-life-is-a-step-toward-de_3172976.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/pierre-corneille-2033_death_each-instant-of-life-is-a-step-toward-de_3172976.jpg) > “Each instant of life is a step toward death.” [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s moments inevitably bring us closer to mortality, urging awareness of our finite time. **In simple terms:** Every moment brings us nearer death. Key Takeaway Live mindfully of each instant. Themes mortality mindfulness existence Mood reflective somber Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - daily decisions - health choices - legacy planning - risk assessment Key Concepts philosophy temporal awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can awareness of mortality inspire positive action? A Different Perspective Does focusing on death diminish joy? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Instant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instant/) [Instant Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instant-life-1056939/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-step-451891/) [Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step/) [Step Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step-death-2601793/) ## Related quotes > [Each moment of life is a step toward death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-gulland/each-moment-of-life-is-a-step-toward-death/) [Sandra Gulland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-gulland/) > [“Is better to get an instant life, Instead of just there for life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-connor/is-better-to-get-an-instant-life-instead-of-just-there-for-life/) [Peter O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-connor/) > [ Every moment of life is a step toward the grave. \[Fr., Chaque instant de la vie est un pas vers la mort.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosper-jolyot-de-crebillon/every-moment-of-life-is-a-step-toward-the-grave-fr-chaque-instant-de/) [Prosper Jolyot de Crebillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosper-jolyot-de-crebillon/) > [Every breath is a step towards death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-breath-is-a-step-towards-death/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Relationships are like narrow bridges, one wrong step and it could be the death of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-sharp/relationships-are-like-narrow-bridges-one-wrong-step-and-it-could-be/) [David S Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-sharp/) > [Always remember. On Next to next Step. death are still waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/always-remember-on-next-to-next-step-death-are-still-waiting/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“Every breath you take is a step towards death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-bin-abi-thalib/every-breath-you-take-is-a-step-towards-death/) [Ali Bin Abi Thalib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-bin-abi-thalib/) > [“Taking birth itself is the first step to death...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishakh-purushothaman/taking-birth-itself-is-the-first-step-to-death/) [vaishakh purushothaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishakh-purushothaman/) > [It's easy to fall from the top than to rise from bottom, don't rush things in life, go step by step and reach your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sfiso-maaphula-ngema/it-s-easy-to-fall-from-the-top-than-to-rise-from-bottom-don-t-rush/) [Sfiso MaAphula Ngema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sfiso-maaphula-ngema/) > [I've always looked for the perfect life to step into. 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You have to take it one step at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/i-tell-young-people-including-my-granddaughter-there-is-no-shortcut/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [Sometimes people struggles to take their next steps in life when all they have to do is take that one step in Christ! Cast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-j-cowell/sometimes-people-struggles-to-take-their-next-steps-in-life-when-all/) [Larry J Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-j-cowell/) > [Lord, this day is Yours and my life is Yours! May each step I take leave an imprint of Your love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/lord-this-day-is-yours-and-my-life-is-yours-may-each-step-i-take/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) ## More by Pierre Corneille > [Sir, what does it matter whom I serve, so long as I am right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/sir-what-does-it-matter-whom-i-serve-so-long-as-i-am-right/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-deserves-to-be/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [Flee an enemy who knows your weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/flee-an-enemy-who-knows-your-weakness/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [Such is the caprice of Romans... who reject kings in name but not in practice, and accept an Emperor mightier than a hundred kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/such-is-the-caprice-of-romans-who-reject-kings-in-name-but-not-in/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [To take revenge halfheartedly is to court disaster; either condemn or crown your hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/to-take-revenge-halfheartedly-is-to-court-disaster-either-condemn-or/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [They who overcome their desires once can overcome them always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/they-who-overcome-their-desires-once-can-overcome-them-always/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [ By speaking of our misfortunes we often relieve them. \[Fr., A raconter ses maux souvent on les soulage.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/by-speaking-of-our-misfortunes-we-often-relieve-them-fr-a-raconter/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [Self-love is the source of all our other loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/self-love-is-the-source-of-all-our-other-loves/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [As our self-interests differ, so do our feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/as-our-self-interests-differ-so-do-our-feelings/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [I don't know how to defend myself: surprised innocence cannot imagine being under suspicion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/i-don-t-know-how-to-defend-myself-surprised-innocence-cannot-imagine/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [He who allows me to rule is in fact my master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-me-to-rule-is-in-fact-my-master/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [All great virtues become great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/all-great-virtues-become-great-men/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [He who forgives readily only invites offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-forgives-readily-only-invites-offense/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [For souls nobly born, valor doesn't await the passing of years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/for-souls-nobly-born-valor-doesn-t-await-the-passing-of-years/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [It is the gift of heaven and not of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/it-is-the-gift-of-heaven-and-not-of-reason/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) [Explore all 181 Pierre Corneille quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) ## 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. 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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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Each instant of life is a step toward death.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pierre Corneille" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/each-instant-of-life-is-a-step-toward-death/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/each-instant-of-life-is-a-step-toward-death/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/pierre-corneille-2033_death_each-instant-of-life-is-a-step-toward-de_3172976.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/pierre-corneille-2033_death_each-instant-of-life-is-a-step-toward-de_3172976.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/pierre-corneille-2033_death_each-instant-of-life-is-a-step-toward-de_3172976.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Each instant of life is a step toward death.” — Pierre Corneille", "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": "Pierre Corneille", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Each instant of life is a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/each-instant-of-life-is-a-step-toward-death/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/each-instant-of-life-is-a-step-toward-death/#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 } } ] } ```