---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To himself everyone is immortal; he may…"
description: "\"To himself everyone is immortal; he may know that he is going to die, but he can never know that he is dead.\" — Samuel Butler"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/samuel-butler-823_death_to-himself-everyone-is-immortal-he-may-k_1438789.jpg"
---

#  To himself everyone is immortal; he may know that he is…

![“To himself everyone is immortal; he may know that he is going to die, but he can never know that he is dead.” quote by Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/samuel-butler-823_death_to-himself-everyone-is-immortal-he-may-k_1438789.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/samuel-butler-823_death_to-himself-everyone-is-immortal-he-may-k_1438789.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/samuel-butler-823_death_to-himself-everyone-is-immortal-he-may-k_1438789.jpg)

> “To himself everyone is immortal; he may know that he is going to die, but he can never know that he is dead.”

[Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/)

## About This Quote

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

We cannot truly know death, only our own mortality, while we assume others live forever.

**In simple terms:** We know we will die, but not that we are dead.

Key Takeaway

Accept uncertainty about others' fate.

Themes

mortality knowledge existence

Mood

contemplative philosophical

Type

reflective thought‑provoking

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- philosophical debate
- life counseling

Key Concepts

epistemology death self-awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- How does uncertainty about others' death affect how you treat them?
- Do you assume others are immortal?

A Different Perspective

Assuming immortality may lead to neglecting present relationships.

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