--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There were some so afraid of death that…" description: "\"There were some so afraid of death that they prayed for death.\" — Pliny the Younger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/pliny-the-younger-15981_afraid_there-were-some-so-afraid-of-death-that_2311658.jpg" --- # There were some so afraid of death that they prayed for… ![“There were some so afraid of death that they prayed for death.” quote by Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/pliny-the-younger-15981_afraid_there-were-some-so-afraid-of-death-that_2311658.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/pliny-the-younger-15981_afraid_there-were-some-so-afraid-of-death-that_2311658.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/pliny-the-younger-15981_afraid_there-were-some-so-afraid-of-death-that_2311658.jpg) > “There were some so afraid of death that they prayed for death.” [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Some people fear death so much they wish for it, showing how terror can lead to contradictory desires. **In simple terms:** Fear of death can cause people to pray for death. Key Takeaway Understand how fear can distort rational wishes. Themes mortality fear psychology paradox Mood somber reflective philosophical Type historical psychological When to use this quote - counseling - philosophical debate - literary analysis Key Concepts death anxiety irrational desire existential dread Questions to Reflect On - Why might someone pray for death instead of life? - How does fear shape our choices about mortality? A Different Perspective Not all fear leads to such extremes; cultural context influences attitudes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid of death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-of-death/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [“I prayed for death so as not to live in madness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-krivak/i-prayed-for-death-so-as-not-to-live-in-madness/) [Andrew Krivak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-krivak/) > [Do you have any coffee?'...'It stunts my growth, and I'm afraid of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/do-you-have-any-coffee-it-stunts-my-growth-and-i-m-afraid-of-death/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Oh, I'm not afraid of death! What have I got to live for after all? I suppose you believe it's very wrong to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/oh-i-m-not-afraid-of-death-what-have-i-got-to-live-for-after-all-i/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“I am not afraid of death , i am afraid of being alive when it happens to you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haritha-velpureddy/i-am-not-afraid-of-death-i-am-afraid-of-being-alive-when-it-happens/) [Haritha Velpureddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haritha-velpureddy/) > [“the less a man is acquainted with the sweets of life, the less reason he has to be afraid of death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavius-vegetius-renatus/the-less-a-man-is-acquainted-with-the-sweets-of-life-the-less-reason/) [Flavius Vegetius Renatus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavius-vegetius-renatus/) > [“I'm not afraid of death…I'm afraid of life without you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-woon/i-m-not-afraid-of-death-i-m-afraid-of-life-without-you/) [Yvonne Woon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-woon/) > [“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The people stood by cursing him. Jesus blessed them from the cross.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-dawson/father-forgive-them-for-they-know-not-what-they-do-luke-23-34-the/) [Gerrit Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-dawson/) > [The fountain of my heart dried up within me,-- With nought that loved me, and with nought to love, I stood upon the desert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-robert-maturin/the-fountain-of-my-heart-dried-up-within-me-with-nought-that-loved-me/) [Charles Robert Maturin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-robert-maturin/) > [It is important that our relationship with farm animals is reciprocal. We owe animals a decent life and a painless death. I have observed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/it-is-important-that-our-relationship-with-farm-animals-is-reciprocal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Once you are afraid of death you are bound to be afraid of life. That's why I am talking about this Hasidic approach. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-you-are-afraid-of-death-you-are-bound-to-be-afraid-of-life-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am afraid of death, scared by it. I already don't know whether I exist or not. So dying really terrifies me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/i-am-afraid-of-death-scared-by-it-i-already-don-t-know-whether-i/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [“I am not afraid of death, which after all can't be far away. What does frighten me, though, is the halfway stage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-thomas/i-am-not-afraid-of-death-which-after-all-can-t-be-far-away-what-does/) [Rosie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-thomas/) > [“I truly believe I am not afraid of death. What I shrink from, I believe, is the shame of dying as stupid and befuddled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-truly-believe-i-am-not-afraid-of-death-what-i-shrink-from-i-believe/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [To me, man means awareness of death. I am not saying become afraid of death; that is not awareness. Just be aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/to-me-man-means-awareness-of-death-i-am-not-saying-become-afraid-of/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [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/) ## More by Pliny the Younger > [It is difficult to retain what you may have learned unless you should practice it. -Difficile est tenere quae acceperis nisi exerceas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/it-is-difficult-to-retain-what-you-may-have-learned-unless-you-should/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [Perhaps you will ask whether I can raise these three millions without difficulty. Well, nearly all my capital is invested in land, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/perhaps-you-will-ask-whether-i-can-raise-these-three-millions-without/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [Too much polishing weakens rather than improves a work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/too-much-polishing-weakens-rather-than-improves-a-work/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [Never do a thing concerning the rectitude of which you are in doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/never-do-a-thing-concerning-the-rectitude-of-which-you-are-in-doubt/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [They enhance the value of their favors by the words with which they are accompanied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/they-enhance-the-value-of-their-favors-by-the-words-with-which-they/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [Everyone must be given something he can grasp and recognize as his own idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/everyone-must-be-given-something-he-can-grasp-and-recognize-as-his/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [There is no book so bad that it is not profitable in some part. -Nullus est liber tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/there-is-no-book-so-bad-that-it-is-not-profitable-in-some-part-nullus/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [Objects which are usually the motives of our travels by land and by sea are often overlooked and neglected if they lie under our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/objects-which-are-usually-the-motives-of-our-travels-by-land-and-by/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [ “\[Pliny the Elder\] used to say that “no book was so bad but some good might be got out of it.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/pliny-the-elder-used-to-say-that-no-book-was-so-bad-but-some-good/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [Literature is both my joy and my comfort: it can add to every happiness and there is no sorrow it cannot console.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/literature-is-both-my-joy-and-my-comfort-it-can-add-to-every/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [“nulla dies sine linea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/nulla-dies-sine-linea/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [Let us strive the more earnestly therefore to lengthen out our span of life-- life that is poured out like water and falls as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/let-us-strive-the-more-earnestly-therefore-to-lengthen-out-our-span/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [“The smallest evil if neglected, will reach the greatest proportions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/the-smallest-evil-if-neglected-will-reach-the-greatest-proportions/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [“Glory ought to be the consequence, not the motive, of our actions; and although it happen not to attend the worthy deed, yet it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/glory-ought-to-be-the-consequence-not-the-motive-of-our-actions-and/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) > [The highest of characters is his who is as ready to pardon the moral errors of mankind as if he were every day guilty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/the-highest-of-characters-is-his-who-is-as-ready-to-pardon-the-moral/) [Pliny the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) [Explore all 40 Pliny the Younger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There were some so afraid of death that they prayed for death.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pliny the Younger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/there-were-some-so-afraid-of-death-that-they-prayed-for-death/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/there-were-some-so-afraid-of-death-that-they-prayed-for-death/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/pliny-the-younger-15981_afraid_there-were-some-so-afraid-of-death-that_2311658.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/pliny-the-younger-15981_afraid_there-were-some-so-afraid-of-death-that_2311658.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/pliny-the-younger-15981_afraid_there-were-some-so-afraid-of-death-that_2311658.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There were some so afraid of death that they prayed for death.” — Pliny the Younger", "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": "Pliny the Younger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-younger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There were some so afraid of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/there-were-some-so-afraid-of-death-that-they-prayed-for-death/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-younger/there-were-some-so-afraid-of-death-that-they-prayed-for-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 } } ] } ```