--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What would be the use of immortality to a…" description: "\"“What would be the use of immortality to a person who cannot use well half an hour?”\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_carpe_what-would-be-the-use-of-immortality-to_880654.png" --- # What would be the use of immortality to a person who… ![“What would be the use of immortality to a person who cannot use well half an hour?” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_carpe_what-would-be-the-use-of-immortality-to_880654.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_carpe_what-would-be-the-use-of-immortality-to_880654.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_carpe_what-would-be-the-use-of-immortality-to_880654.png) > ““What would be the use of immortality to a person who cannot use well half an hour?”” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immortality is meaningless if one cannot fully enjoy even a short period of life; true value lies in the quality of lived moments. **In simple terms:** Immortality useless without enjoying life; focus on present. Key Takeaway Cherish each moment, not endless life. Themes mortality value time experience Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - long life planning - daily enjoyment - legacy building Key Concepts existentialism philosophy of life Questions to Reflect On - What does a fulfilling life look like for you? - How would you define a life well lived? A Different Perspective Immortality may be desired for other reasons beyond enjoyment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carpe diem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carpe-diem/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) ## Related quotes > [We made bad use of immortality, and so ended up dying; Christ made good use of mortality, so that we might end up living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-made-bad-use-of-immortality-and-so-ended-up-dying-christ-made-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With infinite life comes an infinite list of relatives. Grandparents never die, nor do great grandparents, great-aunts…and so on, back through the generations, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/with-infinite-life-comes-an-infinite-list-of-relatives-grandparents/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [Such is the cost of immortality. No person is whole. No person is free. Over time, some have determined that the only way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/such-is-the-cost-of-immortality-no-person-is-whole-no-person-is-free/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“From Alan Lightman's intricate 1993 novel Einstein's Dreams; set in Berne in 1905: With infinite life comes an infinite list of relatives. Grandparents never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/from-alan-lightman-s-intricate-1993-novel-einstein-s-dreams-set-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Normally I'm not like a big TV person. I never use my DVR.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paxton/normally-i-m-not-like-a-big-tv-person-i-never-use-my-dvr/) [Sara Paxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paxton/) > [... everyone has to knit when they're here. ... But not every person has to use yarn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/everyone-has-to-knit-when-they-re-here-but-not-every-person-has-to/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [It took me half my life to find you and I will use the other half holding on to you..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-took-me-half-my-life-to-find-you-and-i-will-use-the-other-half/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You really only have to use one half of your brain when you're deejaying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/you-really-only-have-to-use-one-half-of-your-brain-when-you-re/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [The best thing a person can be is of-some-use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-margulies/the-best-thing-a-person-can-be-is-of-some-use/) [Julianna Margulies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-margulies/) > [We want the average person to use it and think that it makes the experience of using Pinterest better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-silbermann/we-want-the-average-person-to-use-it-and-think-that-it-makes-the/) [Ben Silbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-silbermann/) > [Thus the creationist's favourite question "What is the use of half an eye?" Actually, this is a lightweight question, a doddle to answer. Half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/thus-the-creationist-s-favourite-question-what-is-the-use-of-half-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Use half as many words and they'll hit twice as hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-h-williams/use-half-as-many-words-and-they-ll-hit-twice-as-hard/) [Roy H. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-h-williams/) > [By God, I will not obey this filthy enactment!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/by-god-i-will-not-obey-this-filthy-enactment/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Creativity represents a miraculous coming together of the uninhibited energy of the child with its apparent opposite and enemy, the sense of order imposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-podhoretz/creativity-represents-a-miraculous-coming-together-of-the-uninhibited/) [Norman Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-podhoretz/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Carpe quotes > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Creativity represents a miraculous coming together of the uninhibited energy of the child with its apparent opposite and enemy, the sense of order imposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-podhoretz/creativity-represents-a-miraculous-coming-together-of-the-uninhibited/) [Norman Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-podhoretz/) > [I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-always-thought-the-idea-of-education-was-to-learn-to-think-for/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [Each of us is the only person who can give the other what each of us wants to have: Peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/each-of-us-is-the-only-person-who-can-give-the-other-what-each-of-us/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [If you could travel back in time to the present moment, what would you do differently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/if-you-could-travel-back-in-time-to-the-present-moment-what-would-you/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [At least I carpe'd that one diem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/at-least-i-carpe-d-that-one-diem/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/carpe-diem-rejoice-while-you-are-alive-enjoy-the-day-live-life-to-the/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Eventually you realize that your whole life up to now has been preparation, and you begin to suspect that the rest might be preparation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/eventually-you-realize-that-your-whole-life-up-to-now-has-been/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/every-day-brings-a-chance-for-you-to-draw-in-a-breath-kick-off-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Seize the day, take hold of it, and make it whatever you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/seize-the-day-take-hold-of-it-and-make-it-whatever-you-want/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) > [If a man is to live, he must be all alive, body, soul, mind, heart, spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-a-man-is-to-live-he-must-be-all-alive-body-soul-mind-heart-spirit/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [These are the times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/these-are-the-times-in-which-a-genius-would-wish-to-live-it-is-not-in/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) > [Above all you must illumine your own soul with its profundities and its shallows, and its vanities and its generosities, and say what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/above-all-you-must-illumine-your-own-soul-with-its-profundities-and/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [The artist has a special task and duty... reminding people of their humanity and the promise of their creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/the-artist-has-a-special-task-and-duty-reminding-people-of-their/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [I want to take my rightful share of life by force, I want to give lavishly, I want love to flow from my heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tayeb-salih/i-want-to-take-my-rightful-share-of-life-by-force-i-want-to-give/) [Tayeb Salih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tayeb-salih/) Browse all 158 Carpe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What would be the use of immortality to a person who cannot use well half an hour?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-would-be-the-use-of-immortality-to-a-person-who-cannot-use-well/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Carpe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-would-be-the-use-of-immortality-to-a-person-who-cannot-use-well/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_carpe_what-would-be-the-use-of-immortality-to_880654.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_carpe_what-would-be-the-use-of-immortality-to_880654.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_carpe_what-would-be-the-use-of-immortality-to_880654.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What would be the use of immortality to a person who cannot use well half an hour?” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What would be the use of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-would-be-the-use-of-immortality-to-a-person-who-cannot-use-well/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-would-be-the-use-of-immortality-to-a-person-who-cannot-use-well/#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 } } ] } ```