Death Quote by Robert Thurman
“When people are dying, they call their old enemies and try to forgive them and try to be forgiven by them. They call their old friends and affirm their love for them, as well as detach themselves from them, and they try to get into as free a space as they can so they're really ready to go. They give away all their possessions and are as generous as possible. They give up old hatreds and grudges, and that's a wise intuitive thing, because it's much freer to live like that.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Life of the Buddha, Robert Thurman, 1995
In later life people often seek reconciliation, generosity, and detachment to achieve inner peace before death.
In simple terms: People seek forgiveness and generosity at life's end.
Key Takeaway
Embrace forgiveness and generosity now.
Themes
forgiveness
generosity
detachment
mortality
inner peace
Mood
reflective
hopeful
serene
Type
advice
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- hospital visits
- family reunions
- estate planning
- volunteering
- spiritual counseling
Key Concepts
Buddhist philosophy
psychology of end‑of‑life
ethical living
Questions to Reflect On
- What relationships would you heal today?
- How can you practice generosity without waiting for death?
A Different Perspective
May not everyone have the capacity or opportunity to reconcile before death.
![“The rebellious mood of the country during those [60th] years allowed me to plug right back into my old hatreds. I could scream and holler, as I did on the albums, against religion, government, big business - all those assholes and their values. That hatred was very real.” quote by George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/158/george-carlin-155_against-religion_the-rebellious-mood-of-the-country-durin_384671.jpg)
