Fear Quote by Rebecca West
“I do not myself find it agreeable to be 90, and I cannot imagine why it should seem so to other people. It is not that you have any fears about your own death, it is that your upholstery is already dead around you.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: On Aging, Rebecca West, 1935
She finds aging unsettling, feeling surrounded by death, not fearing personal death.
In simple terms: Aging feels surrounded by death.
Key Takeaway
Embrace life despite aging.
Themes
aging
mortality
existential anxiety
social isolation
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- elder care
- retirement planning
- family gatherings
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you find meaning in later life?
- Can societal attitudes toward aging change?
A Different Perspective
Aging can bring wisdom and peace.
![“If I do manage to come up with a scheme [to naming], however, I stick to it, which is why my cats are named after gods-Loki and Athena, who are, respectively, absolutely straightforward and affectionate, and dumber than dirt. I learned my lesson. I will name my next cat 'Satan' or 'Marduk' or…” quote by Ursula Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85d/ursula-vernon-21101_affectionate_if-i-do-manage-to-come-up-with-a-scheme_100482.jpg)
![“Like all bad drivers, he [Henry Andrews] thought he was the best driver in the world...” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/54b/rebecca-west-1248_andrew_like-all-bad-drivers-he-henry-andrews-th_152541.jpg)
![“[On Jane Austen:] To believe her limited in range because she was harmonious in method is as sensible as to imagine that when the Atlantic Ocean is as smooth as a mill-pond it shrinks to the size of a mill-pond.” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8d4/rebecca-west-1248_atlantic-ocean_on-jane-austen-to-believe-her-limited-in_215037.jpg)
