--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing Mom taught me, \"You're going to…" description: "\"One thing Mom taught me, \"You're going to be dead a long time, so do it now!\"\" — Rita Mae Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/rita-mae-brown-1111_long_one-thing-mom-taught-me-you-re-going-to_3153265.png" --- # One thing Mom taught me, "You're going to be dead a long… ![“One thing Mom taught me, "You're going to be dead a long time, so do it now!"” quote by Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/rita-mae-brown-1111_long_one-thing-mom-taught-me-you-re-going-to_3153265.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/rita-mae-brown-1111_long_one-thing-mom-taught-me-you-re-going-to_3153265.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/rita-mae-brown-1111_long_one-thing-mom-taught-me-you-re-going-to_3153265.png) > “One thing Mom taught me, "You're going to be dead a long time, so do it now!"” [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is fleeting, urging immediate action toward goals and experiences. **In simple terms:** Life is short, act now. Key Takeaway Seize the moment. Themes urgency action living fully Mood motivational energetic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - personal projects - travel - relationships Key Concepts existentialism carpe diem Questions to Reflect On - What would you do today if you had no fear of death? - How can you balance urgency with thoughtful planning? A Different Perspective May lead to reckless choices without planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dead Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-long-464181/) [Going Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-dead-1240542/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Mom Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom-taught/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Taught Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-going-1937074/) [Thing Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-mom-376609/) ## Related quotes > [I'm going to be dead for a long time, so I have a lot to do now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-m-going-to-be-dead-for-a-long-time-so-i-have-a-lot-to-do-now/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“I'm going to be dead for a long time. Let me be awake as much as I can for now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/i-m-going-to-be-dead-for-a-long-time-let-me-be-awake-as-much-as-i-can/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [If you start something, you shouldn't quit; that is what we were taught. If you're going to play, you might as well play to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-payton/if-you-start-something-you-shouldn-t-quit-that-is-what-we-were-taught/) [Walter Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-payton/) > [Well my favorite thing about being a mom is getting to relive your childhood all over again, that's one of my favorite things. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/well-my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-getting-to-relive-your/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [“The great thing about my mom's purse is that no matter what you need at any given moment, she has it. When I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-great-thing-about-my-mom-s-purse-is-that-no-matter-what-you-need/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I think if there’s one thing that my mom did right, it was picking out a unique, cool-sounding name for her kid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-erno/i-think-if-there-s-one-thing-that-my-mom-did-right-it-was-picking-out/) [Jeff Erno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-erno/) > [The important thing for you as a mom is to be there for your daughter, and let her know the door is alway open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-important-thing-for-you-as-a-mom-is-to-be-there-for-your-daughter-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The thing about my mom's Bundts is that they are not very good. Terrible. Actually inedible, very nearly indestructible. Between you and me." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-yoon/the-thing-about-my-mom-s-bundts-is-that-they-are-not-very-good/) [Nicola Yoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-yoon/) > [The one thing my mom will let me get is a nice shoe sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-thing-my-mom-will-let-me-get-is-a-nice-shoe-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We certainly had our moments when I was growing up. But the great thing was, if Mom was working on a night shoot, she'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-walton-hamilton/we-certainly-had-our-moments-when-i-was-growing-up-but-the-great/) [Emma Walton Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-walton-hamilton/) > [One great thing about my mom, about the business, is that she has a really great head on her shoulders about everything and always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrie-sellers/one-great-thing-about-my-mom-about-the-business-is-that-she-has-a/) [Aubrie Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrie-sellers/) > [“The best thing about my mom being such a bitch is not worrying about trying to make her proud of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/the-best-thing-about-my-mom-being-such-a-bitch-is-not-worrying-about/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [One thing my mom used to tell me was to look to the other side, and know that my present is not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/one-thing-my-mom-used-to-tell-me-was-to-look-to-the-other-side-and/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [She really taught me a lot about how to believe in myself without being cocky. That's a tough thing to do sometimes. But my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/she-really-taught-me-a-lot-about-how-to-believe-in-myself-without/) [Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/) > [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) ## More by Rita Mae Brown > [“Friendship distills the sweetness of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/friendship-distills-the-sweetness-of-life/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [About all you can do in life is be who you are. Some people will love you for you. Most will love you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/about-all-you-can-do-in-life-is-be-who-you-are-some-people-will-love/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [He tried to drown his troubles but they knew how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/he-tried-to-drown-his-troubles-but-they-knew-how-to-swim/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“The most revolutionary thing you can do is to be yourself, to speak your truth, to open your arms to life including the pain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/the-most-revolutionary-thing-you-can-do-is-to-be-yourself-to-speak/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Content without style is propaganda or adolescence. Style without content is decadence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/content-without-style-is-propaganda-or-adolescence-style-without/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Whenever I doubt the existence of God or the Goddess, I look at horses. Only God could have made a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/whenever-i-doubt-the-existence-of-god-or-the-goddess-i-look-at-horses/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Language is decanted and shared. If only one person is left alive speaking a language - the case with some American Indian languages -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/language-is-decanted-and-shared-if-only-one-person-is-left-alive/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“what would happen if she'd open her eyes and see only dark and feel satin from the coffin? That'd scare her enough to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/what-would-happen-if-she-d-open-her-eyes-and-see-only-dark-and-feel/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“You know, it’s hell to work with a cat. They really are smarter than we are. Have you ever gotten anyone to feed you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/you-know-it-s-hell-to-work-with-a-cat-they-really-are-smarter-than-we/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [I don't want to die. I think death is a greatly overrated experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/i-don-t-want-to-die-i-think-death-is-a-greatly-overrated-experience/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Leroy bet me I couldn't find a pot of gold at the end, and I told him that was a stupid bet because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/leroy-bet-me-i-couldn-t-find-a-pot-of-gold-at-the-end-and-i-told-him/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [An army of lovers shall not fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/an-army-of-lovers-shall-not-fail/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Cats and dogs believe politicians are like cemetery caregivers; they are on top of everyone, but nobody listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/cats-and-dogs-believe-politicians-are-like-cemetery-caregivers-they/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Femininity and masculinity are social constructs. Female and male are biological. We don't have to learn to be men or women but we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/femininity-and-masculinity-are-social-constructs-female-and-male-are/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/one-of-the-keys-to-happiness-is-a-bad-memory/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) [Explore all 290 Rita Mae Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) ## More Long quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [Contradictory precepts that have guided me for as long as I can remember: 1: I will live forever. 2: I will die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/contradictory-precepts-that-have-guided-me-for-as-long-as-i-can/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [Long before the 2016 presidential campaign, confidential sources had alerted me to longstanding misuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court system and the erosion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyl-attkisson/long-before-the-2016-presidential-campaign-confidential-sources-had/) [Sharyl Attkisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyl-attkisson/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. 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