--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Death is for a long time. Those of…" description: "\"Death is for a long time. Those of shallow thought say that it is forever. There is, at least, a long night of it. There is the forgetfulness and the l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/r-a-lafferty-2-29805_body_death-is-for-a-long-time-those-of-shallo_1624549.jpg" --- # Death is for a long time. Those of shallow thought say… ![“Death is for a long time. Those of shallow thought say that it is forever. There is, at least, a long night of it. There is the forgetfulness and the loss of identity. The spirit, even as the body, is unstrung and burst and scattered. One goes down to death, and it leaves a mark on one forever.” quote by R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/r-a-lafferty-2-29805_body_death-is-for-a-long-time-those-of-shallo_1624549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/r-a-lafferty-2-29805_body_death-is-for-a-long-time-those-of-shallo_1624549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/r-a-lafferty-2-29805_body_death-is-for-a-long-time-those-of-shallo_1624549.jpg) > “Death is for a long time. Those of shallow thought say that it is forever. There is, at least, a long night of it. There is the forgetfulness and the loss of identity. The spirit, even as the body, is unstrung and burst and scattered. One goes down to death, and it leaves a mark on one forever.” [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Death is portrayed as a prolonged, unsettling experience that erases identity and leaves an indelible mark on the soul. **In simple terms:** Death feels endless, erasing self and leaving lasting impact. Key Takeaway Accept mortality, cherish identity now. Themes mortality identity existential psychology Mood somber reflective Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - grief counseling - end‑of‑life planning - philosophical reflection - creative writing Key Concepts nihilism selfhood transience Questions to Reflect On - How does your sense of self survive beyond physical death? - What rituals help you honor identity after loss? A Different Perspective Some view death as a release rather than a loss, challenging this bleak view. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Forgetfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetfulness/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Long Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-night/) [Long nights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-nights/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Loss of identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss-of-identity/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Germany will continue to play a central - perhaps even a more important - role in the European Union. 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