--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think Willa Cather did a short story…" description: "\"I think Willa Cather did a short story called \"Paul's Case,\" and in it, when he finally commits suicide, it says, \"He surrendered to the black design o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/rod-serling-2652_anticipate_i-think-willa-cather-did-a-short-story-c_2655346.jpg" --- # I think Willa Cather did a short story called "Paul's… ![“I think Willa Cather did a short story called "Paul's Case," and in it, when he finally commits suicide, it says, "He surrendered to the black design of things." And that's what I anticipate death will be: a totally unconscious void in which you float through eternity with no particular…” quote by Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/rod-serling-2652_anticipate_i-think-willa-cather-did-a-short-story-c_2655346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/rod-serling-2652_anticipate_i-think-willa-cather-did-a-short-story-c_2655346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/rod-serling-2652_anticipate_i-think-willa-cather-did-a-short-story-c_2655346.jpg) > “I think Willa Cather did a short story called "Paul's Case," and in it, when he finally commits suicide, it says, "He surrendered to the black design of things." And that's what I anticipate death will be: a totally unconscious void in which you float through eternity with no particular consciousness of anything. I think once around is enough. I don't want to start it all over again.” [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Death is imagined as a void where consciousness ceases, an endless unconscious drift. **In simple terms:** Death is an endless unconscious void. Key Takeaway Accept life's finite nature. Themes mortality existence philosophy Mood contemplative somber Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - end‑of‑life care - grief counseling - spiritual reflection Key Concepts nihilism afterlife speculation Questions to Reflect On - Do you fear the unknown after death? - How does this view affect your living? A Different Perspective Perspective may differ across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Short story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-story/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Void](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/void/) ## Related quotes > [I don't believe in reincarnation. That's a cop-out. . . . I anticipate death will be a totally unconscious void in which you float…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-believe-in-reincarnation-that-s-a-cop-out-i-anticipate-death/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [Of all living things, only humans consciously anticipate death; the consequent need to choose how to behave in its face - to worry about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-gilpin-faust/of-all-living-things-only-humans-consciously-anticipate-death-the/) [Drew Gilpin Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-gilpin-faust/) > [You need language for thought, and you need language to anticipate death. There is no abstract thought without language and no anticipation. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cronenberg/you-need-language-for-thought-and-you-need-language-to-anticipate/) [David Cronenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cronenberg/) > [I'm not on the run from anything and I'm not at all clear about what I'm running towards. But as some great writer put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-shaw/i-m-not-on-the-run-from-anything-and-i-m-not-at-all-clear-about-what/) [Fiona Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-shaw/) > [I don't want to die. I can't wrap my head around the concept of death because I'm totally atheist. There's nothing after life in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-white-gluz/i-don-t-want-to-die-i-can-t-wrap-my-head-around-the-concept-of-death/) [Alissa White-Gluz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-white-gluz/) > [Usually, when you go to a movie, your consciousness floats above the film. 3D sucks you in and makes it a visceral experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/usually-when-you-go-to-a-movie-your-consciousness-floats-above-the/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [They fell, but o'er their glorious grave Floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-marion-crawford/they-fell-but-o-er-their-glorious-grave-floats-free-the-banner-of-the/) [Francis Marion Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-marion-crawford/) > [In trouble waters I had to learn how to float](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/in-trouble-waters-i-had-to-learn-how-to-float/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [When hope is not pinned wriggling onto a shiny image or expectation, it sometimes floats forth and opens like one of those fluted Japanese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/when-hope-is-not-pinned-wriggling-onto-a-shiny-image-or-expectation/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [A beautiful woman without fixed principles may be likened to those fair but rootless flowers which float in streams, driven by every breeze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-gardiner-countess-of-blessington/a-beautiful-woman-without-fixed-principles-may-be-likened-to-those/) [Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-gardiner-countess-of-blessington/) > [An hour and thirty-one minutes after launch, my pressure altimeter halts at 103,300 feet. At ground control the radar altimeters also have stopped-on readings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-kittinger/an-hour-and-thirty-one-minutes-after-launch-my-pressure-altimeter/) Joseph Kittinger > [Rome in the ages, dimmed with all her towers, / Floats in the mist, a little cloud at tether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-meynell/rome-in-the-ages-dimmed-with-all-her-towers-floats-in-the-mist-a/) [Alice Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-meynell/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Meaning coming from feeling, feeling coming from within, you absorb a massive amount of information, it goes through your whole body, a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-henson/meaning-coming-from-feeling-feeling-coming-from-within-you-absorb-a/) [Bill Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-henson/) > [To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/to-become-a-celebrity-is-to-become-a-brand-name-there-is-ivory-soap/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) ## More by Rod Serling > [If you want to prove that God is not dead first prove that man is alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/if-you-want-to-prove-that-god-is-not-dead-first-prove-that-man-is/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [There is nothing in the dark that isn't there when the lights are on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/there-is-nothing-in-the-dark-that-isn-t-there-when-the-lights-are-on/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [There are weapons that are simply thoughts. For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/there-are-weapons-that-are-simply-thoughts-for-the-record-prejudices/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I don't believe in reincarnation. That's a cop-out, I know. I don't really want to be reincarnated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-believe-in-reincarnation-that-s-a-cop-out-i-know-i-don-t/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I was deeply interested in conveying what is a deeply felt conviction of my own. 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Generally they become producers. That way they can stop writing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-know-what-my-friends-do-generally-they-become-producers-that/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I just want people to remember me a hundred years from now. I don't care that they're not able to quote any single line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-just-want-people-to-remember-me-a-hundred-years-from-now-i-don-t/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [According to the Bible, God created the heavens and the Earth. It is man’s prerogative - and woman’s - to create their own particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/according-to-the-bible-god-created-the-heavens-and-the-earth-it-is/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [“In his grave, we praise him for his decency - but when he walked amongst us, we responded with no decency of our own.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/in-his-grave-we-praise-him-for-his-decency-but-when-he-walked-amongst/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [If you're really a good writer and deserve that honored position, then by God, you'll write, and you'll be read, and you'll be produced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/if-you-re-really-a-good-writer-and-deserve-that-honored-position-then/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I would guess that the price of the script really is secondary. The credit is much more the essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-would-guess-that-the-price-of-the-script-really-is-secondary-the/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I don't think it's man's function to write. I don't think it's a normal thing like teeth-brushing and going to the bathroom. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-think-it-s-man-s-function-to-write-i-don-t-think-it-s-a/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) [Explore all 156 Rod Serling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) ## More Anticipate quotes > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I like to do everything you can possibly do before you go into rehearsal, because once we are in rehearsal or on the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-like-to-do-everything-you-can-possibly-do-before-you-go-into/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [The problem with merely writing so that you can be understood is that the wrong people, in advancing their agendas, are only too ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/the-problem-with-merely-writing-so-that-you-can-be-understood-is-that/) [William A. Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [I am curious to know what would happen if art were suddenly seen for what it is, namely, exact information of how to rearrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/i-am-curious-to-know-what-would-happen-if-art-were-suddenly-seen-for/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [The very best financial presentation is one that's well thought out and anticipates any questions... answering them in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/the-very-best-financial-presentation-is-one-that-s-well-thought-out/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [What's interesting about art in public spaces is that the public really sort of takes over and uses it in ways that you didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresita-fernandez/what-s-interesting-about-art-in-public-spaces-is-that-the-public/) [Teresita Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresita-fernandez/) > [The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-great-mistake-is-to-anticipate-the-outcome-of-the-engagement-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [If you don't sow your field what harvest other than thorns and weeds can you anticipate?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-don-t-sow-your-field-what-harvest-other-than-thorns-and-weeds/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Leaders' careers will usually be determined by their handling of one or two critical events that no one could possibly anticipate or plan for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/leaders-careers-will-usually-be-determined-by-their-handling-of-one/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I wish I could anticipate some of the stories and lies that will be told. It's going to be great to get everyone together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-conley/i-wish-i-could-anticipate-some-of-the-stories-and-lies-that-will-be/) Larry Conley > [The two revolutions, I mean the annual revolutions of the declination and of the centre of the Earth, are not completely equal; that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/the-two-revolutions-i-mean-the-annual-revolutions-of-the-declination/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) > [In two or three hundred years life on earth will be unimaginably beautiful, astounding. Man needs such a life and if it hasn't yetappeared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/in-two-or-three-hundred-years-life-on-earth-will-be-unimaginably/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [In my own work, I've tried to anticipate what's coming over the horizon, to hasten its arrival, and to apply it to people's lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/in-my-own-work-i-ve-tried-to-anticipate-what-s-coming-over-the/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) Browse all 458 Anticipate quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think Willa Cather did a short story called \"Paul's Case,\" and in it, when he finally commits suicide, it says, \"He surrendered to the black design of things.\" And that's what I anticipate death will be: a totally unconscious void in which you float through eternity with no particular consciousness of anything. 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