---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a person has lived generously and…"
description: "\"When a person has lived generously and fought fiercely, she deserves more than sadness at the end.\" — Ruth Reichl"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/ruth-reichl-13523_deserve_when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-f_143377.jpg"
---

#  When a person has lived generously and fought fiercely…

![“When a person has lived generously and fought fiercely, she deserves more than sadness at the end.” quote by Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/ruth-reichl-13523_deserve_when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-f_143377.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/ruth-reichl-13523_deserve_when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-f_143377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/ruth-reichl-13523_deserve_when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-f_143377.jpg)

> “When a person has lived generously and fought fiercely, she deserves more than sadness at the end.”

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

## About This Quote

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

Living generously and fighting fiercely earns dignity beyond sorrow at life’s end.

**In simple terms:** A bold life deserves respect, not just grief.

Key Takeaway

Honor those who lived fully.

Themes

generosity valor legacy

Mood

respectful thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- end‑of‑life reflections
- obituaries
- celebrations of life

Key Concepts

ethics humanity recognition

Questions to Reflect On

- How do we balance celebration and mourning?
- What actions define a generous life?

A Different Perspective

Grief may still be appropriate for loved ones.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/)

## Related quotes

> [The older I got, the more apparent it became that my mother was losing control over me. She fought back fiercely with black moods,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-older-i-got-the-more-apparent-it-became-that-my-mother-was-losing/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“I deserve you least of all. But I want you the most. And I won't give up. The lengths I'm willing to go to...One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-hazelwood/i-deserve-you-least-of-all-but-i-want-you-the-most-and-i-won-t-give/)

[Ali Hazelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-hazelwood/)

> [“We should not elevate anyone higher than our own heart. If you do not value what you have to give then no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-evangelou/we-should-not-elevate-anyone-higher-than-our-own-heart-if-you-do-not/)

[Christine Evangelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-evangelou/)

> [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Singaporeans like Mr. Alfian Sa'at do not deserve to be admonished in Parliament on the basis of a selective reading of their works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/singaporeans-like-mr-alfian-sa-at-do-not-deserve-to-be-admonished-in/)

[Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/)

> [If you are a white male, you don't deserve to live. You are a cancer, you're a disease, white males have never contributed anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-ignatiev/if-you-are-a-white-male-you-don-t-deserve-to-live-you-are-a-cancer/)

[Noel Ignatiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-ignatiev/)

> [Every girl deserves a guy who'll prove to her that not all guys are the same, a guy who'll love her just the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/every-girl-deserves-a-guy-who-ll-prove-to-her-that-not-all-guys-are/)

[Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/)

> [My prayer to the Lord every day, is this-I have been a great sinner. I do not deserve Heaven. Let me stay here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-segovia/my-prayer-to-the-lord-every-day-is-this-i-have-been-a-great-sinner-i/)

[Andres Segovia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-segovia/)

> [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [I used to hurt so badly that I'd ask God why, what have I done to deserve any of this? I feel now He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-phillpotts/i-used-to-hurt-so-badly-that-i-d-ask-god-why-what-have-i-done-to/)

[Eden Phillpotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-phillpotts/)

> [If every nation gets the government it deserves, every generation writes the history which corresponds with its view of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/if-every-nation-gets-the-government-it-deserves-every-generation/)

[Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

> [I am a millionaire today and my wife deserves all of the credit. Before I met her I was a multi-millionaire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/i-am-a-millionaire-today-and-my-wife-deserves-all-of-the-credit/)

[Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/)

> [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Ruth Reichl

> [...in the end you are the only one who can make yourself happy. More important, ...it is never too late to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/in-the-end-you-are-the-only-one-who-can-make-yourself-happy-more/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“but when I told her they didn’t cost one penny and were very nutritious (I made that part up, but I’m sure it must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/but-when-i-told-her-they-didn-t-cost-one-penny-and-were-very/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“He was like a jazz musician, joyfully improvising, imagining tastes that ordinary people could not. He pulled ingredients apart and reconstructed them in endlessly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/he-was-like-a-jazz-musician-joyfully-improvising-imagining-tastes/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“Every restaurant is a theater, and the truly great ones allow us to indulge in the fantasy that we are rich and powerful. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/every-restaurant-is-a-theater-and-the-truly-great-ones-allow-us-to/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“She took a sip of wine and held it in her mouth, straining to identify the flavors. Cherry, she thought. Licorice. Thorns. She imagined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/she-took-a-sip-of-wine-and-held-it-in-her-mouth-straining-to-identify/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“She's always sniffing the bottles in the spice cabinet." I didn't know she'd even noticed. At first it was just curiosity; why did fennel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/she-s-always-sniffing-the-bottles-in-the-spice-cabinet-i-didn-t-know/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [Plain fresh bread, its crust shatteringly crisp. Sweet cold butter. There is magic in the way they come together in your mouth to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/plain-fresh-bread-its-crust-shatteringly-crisp-sweet-cold-butter/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“Tommy and I put on a radio play to entertain everyone while they unpacked their cookies. It was about a girl who saves up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/tommy-and-i-put-on-a-radio-play-to-entertain-everyone-while-they/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“I remember the pissaladière. We stood there watching them cook and eating that soft, oily bread. Back then I was so poor I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/i-remember-the-pissaladi-re-we-stood-there-watching-them-cook-and/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“The meal began with pickled squid, oyster shooters, marinated anchovies, and scungilli salad. Then Rosalie set an enormous bowl of pasta con le vongole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/the-meal-began-with-pickled-squid-oyster-shooters-marinated-anchovies/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“...I was not prepared for the feel of the noodles in my mouth, or the purity of the taste. I had been in Japan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/i-was-not-prepared-for-the-feel-of-the-noodles-in-my-mouth-or-the/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [It is not 'only' food, I said heatedly. There's meaning hidden underneath each dish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/it-is-not-only-food-i-said-heatedly-there-s-meaning-hidden-underneath/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“You'll find that historical research is extremely soothing. When you spend all day among old papers, the people come alive for you, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/you-ll-find-that-historical-research-is-extremely-soothing-when-you/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“I wish you could have seen the kitchen when I was done: It looked like a hurricane had blown right in the door! But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/i-wish-you-could-have-seen-the-kitchen-when-i-was-done-it-looked-like/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [“That's the most terrible thing about being a child; you're convinced that it's all your fault." Lulu”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/that-s-the-most-terrible-thing-about-being-a-child-you-re-convinced/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

[Explore all 50 Ruth Reichl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

## More Deserve quotes

> [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [I am a millionaire today and my wife deserves all of the credit. Before I met her I was a multi-millionaire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/i-am-a-millionaire-today-and-my-wife-deserves-all-of-the-credit/)

[Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

> [If every nation gets the government it deserves, every generation writes the history which corresponds with its view of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/if-every-nation-gets-the-government-it-deserves-every-generation/)

[Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/)

> [I used to hurt so badly that I'd ask God why, what have I done to deserve any of this? I feel now He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-phillpotts/i-used-to-hurt-so-badly-that-i-d-ask-god-why-what-have-i-done-to/)

[Eden Phillpotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-phillpotts/)

> [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [My prayer to the Lord every day, is this-I have been a great sinner. I do not deserve Heaven. Let me stay here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-segovia/my-prayer-to-the-lord-every-day-is-this-i-have-been-a-great-sinner-i/)

[Andres Segovia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-segovia/)

> [Every girl deserves a guy who'll prove to her that not all guys are the same, a guy who'll love her just the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/every-girl-deserves-a-guy-who-ll-prove-to-her-that-not-all-guys-are/)

[Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/)

> [If you are a white male, you don't deserve to live. You are a cancer, you're a disease, white males have never contributed anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-ignatiev/if-you-are-a-white-male-you-don-t-deserve-to-live-you-are-a-cancer/)

[Noel Ignatiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-ignatiev/)

> [Singaporeans like Mr. Alfian Sa'at do not deserve to be admonished in Parliament on the basis of a selective reading of their works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/singaporeans-like-mr-alfian-sa-at-do-not-deserve-to-be-admonished-in/)

[Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/)

> [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“We should not elevate anyone higher than our own heart. If you do not value what you have to give then no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-evangelou/we-should-not-elevate-anyone-higher-than-our-own-heart-if-you-do-not/)

[Christine Evangelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-evangelou/)

> [“I deserve you least of all. But I want you the most. And I won't give up. The lengths I'm willing to go to...One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-hazelwood/i-deserve-you-least-of-all-but-i-want-you-the-most-and-i-won-t-give/)

[Ali Hazelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-hazelwood/)

> [I am constantly nice to people. Sometimes they don't deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/i-am-constantly-nice-to-people-sometimes-they-don-t-deserve-it/)

[Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/)

Browse all 4,764 Deserve quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When a person has lived generously and fought fiercely, she deserves more than sadness at the end.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ruth Reichl"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-fought-fiercely-she-deserves/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Deserve"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-fought-fiercely-she-deserves/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/ruth-reichl-13523_deserve_when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-f_143377.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/ruth-reichl-13523_deserve_when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-f_143377.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/ruth-reichl-13523_deserve_when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-f_143377.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When a person has lived generously and fought fiercely, she deserves more than sadness at the end.” — Ruth Reichl",
                "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": "Ruth Reichl",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When a person has lived generously...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-fought-fiercely-she-deserves/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-fought-fiercely-she-deserves/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
