---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever she is now she's better than she…"
description: "\"“Whatever she is now she's better than she was,\" said Bedloe. \"Being dead is better than being dull, being dead is better than not being aware.”\" — Ray..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/ray-bradbury-75_aware_whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-sh_2918420.jpg"
---

#  Whatever she is now she's better than she was," said…

![“Whatever she is now she's better than she was,&quot; said Bedloe. &quot;Being dead is better than being dull, being dead is better than not being aware.” quote by Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/ray-bradbury-75_aware_whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-sh_2918420.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/ray-bradbury-75_aware_whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-sh_2918420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/ray-bradbury-75_aware_whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-sh_2918420.jpg)

> ““Whatever she is now she's better than she was," said Bedloe. "Being dead is better than being dull, being dead is better than not being aware.””

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Being dead frees one from dullness and unawareness, suggesting death as a release

**In simple terms:** Death can be a release from monotony and ignorance

Key Takeaway

Consider the value of awareness over mere existence

Themes

existence death awareness freedom

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- end‑of‑life care
- mindfulness practice
- philosophical debate on death

Key Concepts

mortality existentialism nihilism

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “being dead” symbolize for you?
- How can you find awareness while alive?

A Different Perspective

May romanticize death; ignores pain of loss

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Aware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aware/) [Bedloe Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bedloe-dead-4240489/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Dull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-dull-1142277/) [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Dead Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-better-339578/) [Dull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dull/) [Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant/) [Said Bedloe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-bedloe-4240490/)

## Related quotes

> [It's better to do a dull thing with style than a dangerous thing without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/it-s-better-to-do-a-dull-thing-with-style-than-a-dangerous-thing/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [“Perhaps I'm not their dead one back, but I'm something almost better to them; an ideal shaped by their minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but-i-m-something-almost-better/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [Sometimes dead is better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/sometimes-dead-is-better/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [“Greyson is gone.” A high-pitched ringing started in my ears. “Dead?” I asked, not at all ashamed at the tiny bit of hope that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-monk/greyson-is-gone-a-high-pitched-ringing-started-in-my-ears-dead-i/)

[Devon Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-monk/)

> [You know that old saying. Once you go dead, no one's better in bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/you-know-that-old-saying-once-you-go-dead-no-one-s-better-in-bed/)

[Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/)

> [We live in a world that treats the dead better than the living. We, the living are askers of questions and givers of answers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/we-live-in-a-world-that-treats-the-dead-better-than-the-living-we-the/)

[Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/)

> [I have heard people say that they felt closer to their parents after they have died. Maybe if I treat people as if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-have-heard-people-say-that-they-felt-closer-to-their-parents-after/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [Since the soul in me is dead, Better save the skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archpoet/since-the-soul-in-me-is-dead-better-save-the-skin/)

[Archpoet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archpoet/)

> [And without a doubt it is more comfortable to endure blind bondage than to work for one's liberation; the dead, too, are better suited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/and-without-a-doubt-it-is-more-comfortable-to-endure-blind-bondage/)

[Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/)

> [“Once you go dead, no one else is better in bed." Bones”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanine-frost/once-you-go-dead-no-one-else-is-better-in-bed-bones/)

[Jeanine Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanine-frost/)

> [“been dead is better than scared of dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/okunbor-jezreel-nelson/been-dead-is-better-than-scared-of-dying/)

[Okunbor Jezreel Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/okunbor-jezreel-nelson/)

> [Fifty years seems like a good anniversary. Even after I'm dead, how much better could I get than this? I mean, it's great, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/fifty-years-seems-like-a-good-anniversary-even-after-i-m-dead-how/)

[John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/)

> [Alone is a much better film than House of the Dead and better than most horror movies out today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwe-boll/alone-is-a-much-better-film-than-house-of-the-dead-and-better-than/)

[Uwe Boll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwe-boll/)

> [“Once you go dead, there's no one better in bed!" ~ Cat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/once-you-go-dead-there-s-no-one-better-in-bed-cat/)

[Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/)

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

## More by Ray Bradbury

> [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" He laughed. "That's against the law!" "Oh. Of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/do-you-ever-read-any-of-the-books-you-burn-he-laughed-that-s-against/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [There's no reason to burn books if you don't read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/there-s-no-reason-to-burn-books-if-you-don-t-read-them/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [Remember, with writing, what you’re looking for is just one person to come up and tell you, 'I love you for what you do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/remember-with-writing-what-you-re-looking-for-is-just-one-person-to/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [“You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-can-t-learn-to-write-in-college-it-s-a-very-bad-place-for-writers/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [We're going to become the martians when we land there. When we explore and build communities, we become the martians. That's a wonderful destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-re-going-to-become-the-martians-when-we-land-there-when-we-explore/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [I wish you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime. ... I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-wish-you-a-wrestling-match-with-your-creative-muse-that-will-last-a/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [The library is the biggest cracker box factory in the world. The more you eat, the more you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-library-is-the-biggest-cracker-box-factory-in-the-world-the-more/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-travel-for-romance-we-travel-for-architecture-and-we-travel-to-be/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it's better than college. People should educate themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-spent-three-days-a-week-for-10-years-educating-myself-in-the-public/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [If we try to deny the darkness in our souls then we'll become completely dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-we-try-to-deny-the-darkness-in-our-souls-then-we-ll-become/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [But remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/but-remember-that-the-captain-belongs-to-the-most-dangerous-enemy-to/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

[Explore all 1,520 Ray Bradbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

## More Aware quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [I am an aware citizen, so I want my characters to be aware, too. They should be aware of what's happening in the society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/i-am-an-aware-citizen-so-i-want-my-characters-to-be-aware-too-they/)

[Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/)

> [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/)

[Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/)

> [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/)

[Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/)

> [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/)

[Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/)

> [I'm trying to be very aware of not repeating myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/i-m-trying-to-be-very-aware-of-not-repeating-myself/)

[Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/)

> [If I've had roadblocks along the way for being gay, I'm not aware of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/if-i-ve-had-roadblocks-along-the-way-for-being-gay-i-m-not-aware-of/)

[Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/)

> [“Whenever you're around her she's calm. She's more aware. It's like you carry a frequency she can tune into.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-laurens/whenever-you-re-around-her-she-s-calm-she-s-more-aware-it-s-like-you/)

[Jennifer Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-laurens/)

> [I thought being in the wheelchair might be kind of limiting for me as an actor. It turned out cool in a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/i-thought-being-in-the-wheelchair-might-be-kind-of-limiting-for-me-as/)

[Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/)

> [As all of us are only too aware, the loud and frantic voices of the outer world easily drown out the small, still loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/as-all-of-us-are-only-too-aware-the-loud-and-frantic-voices-of-the/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... We stay in our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-d-just-like-to-see-athletes-awake-and-aware-there-s-so-much-going/)

[Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/)

> [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/)

[Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/)

> [Once I get out onstage, it's the same sort of basic production that it is anywhere else. But I might be a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-snow/once-i-get-out-onstage-it-s-the-same-sort-of-basic-production-that-it/)

[Phoebe Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-snow/)

> [Museums, I think, are becoming more and more aware of how to turn themselves into a must-see spectacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-barton/museums-i-think-are-becoming-more-and-more-aware-of-how-to-turn/)

[Jake Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-barton/)

> [“The more you become aware of and respond to the needs of others, the richer your own life becomes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-marti/the-more-you-become-aware-of-and-respond-to-the-needs-of-others-the/)

[Mollie Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-marti/)

[Browse all 1,138 Aware quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aware/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Whatever she is now she's better than she was,\" said Bedloe. \"Being dead is better than being dull, being dead is better than not being aware.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ray Bradbury"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-she-was-said-bedloe-being-dead/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Aware"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-she-was-said-bedloe-being-dead/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/ray-bradbury-75_aware_whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-sh_2918420.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/ray-bradbury-75_aware_whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-sh_2918420.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/ray-bradbury-75_aware_whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-sh_2918420.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Whatever she is now she's better than she was,\" said Bedloe. \"Being dead is better than being dull, being…” — Ray Bradbury",
                "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": "Ray Bradbury",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Whatever she is now she's better...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-she-was-said-bedloe-being-dead/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-she-was-said-bedloe-being-dead/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
