--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a man knows he is to be hanged in a…" description: "\"When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/samuel-johnson-50_hanged_when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a_2079259.png" --- # When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it… ![“When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/samuel-johnson-50_hanged_when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a_2079259.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/samuel-johnson-50_hanged_when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a_2079259.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/samuel-johnson-50_hanged_when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a_2079259.png) > “When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowing imminent death sharpens focus and mental clarity. **In simple terms:** Facing death heightens mental focus. Key Takeaway Use urgency to sharpen purpose. Themes mortality focus psychology Mood intense reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - crisis decision-making - creative bursts - personal reflection - risk assessment Key Concepts existential awareness cognitive sharpening Questions to Reflect On - How does awareness of mortality affect your priorities? - Can urgency improve or impair judgment? A Different Perspective May cause panic rather than clarity for some individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concentrates Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentrates-mind-2273707/) [Hanged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hanged/) [Hanged Fortnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hanged-fortnight-4052248/) [Knows Hanged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-hanged-4052249/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Wonderfully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-wonderfully-1716704/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/depend-upon-it-sir-when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a-fortnight/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Failure concentrates the mind wonderfully. If you don't make mistakes, you're not trying hard enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/failure-concentrates-the-mind-wonderfully-if-you-don-t-make-mistakes/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Nothing concentrates one's mind so much as the realization that one is going to be hanged in the morning!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nothing-concentrates-one-s-mind-so-much-as-the-realization-that-one/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [There's nothing like the knowledge of being hanged in the morning to concentrate the mind wonderfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-spall/there-s-nothing-like-the-knowledge-of-being-hanged-in-the-morning-to/) [Timothy Spall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-spall/) > [“There’s nothing like a major emergency and the almost certain death of the whole damned world to concentrate the mind wonderfully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/there-s-nothing-like-a-major-emergency-and-the-almost-certain-death/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“The very possibility of death focuses the mind wonderfully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/the-very-possibility-of-death-focuses-the-mind-wonderfully/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“her mind was wonderfully uncluttered with the nagging irritations of everyday life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/her-mind-was-wonderfully-uncluttered-with-the-nagging-irritations-of/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [Tea. I find that both settles the stomach and concentrates the mind. Wonderful drink, tea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/tea-i-find-that-both-settles-the-stomach-and-concentrates-the-mind/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The approach of death certainly concentrates the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-n-wilson/the-approach-of-death-certainly-concentrates-the-mind/) [A. N. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-n-wilson/) > [Paradox is the sharpest scalpel in the satchel of science. Nothing concentrates the mind as effectively, regardless of whether it pits two competing theories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-christian-von-baeyer/paradox-is-the-sharpest-scalpel-in-the-satchel-of-science-nothing/) [Hans Christian von Baeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-christian-von-baeyer/) > [Nothing, save the hangman's noose, concentrates the mind like piles of cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/nothing-save-the-hangman-s-noose-concentrates-the-mind-like-piles-of/) [Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/) > [One should not talk of hatters in the house of the hanged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/one-should-not-talk-of-hatters-in-the-house-of-the-hanged/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [I've confessed to everything and I's liked to be hanged. Now, if you please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/i-ve-confessed-to-everything-and-i-s-liked-to-be-hanged-now-if-you/) [Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/) > [George Shears ... was hanged in a barn near the store. The rope was thrown over a beam, and he was asked to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/for-the-state-of-montana/george-shears-was-hanged-in-a-barn-near-the-store-the-rope-was-thrown/) [For The State Of Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/for-the-state-of-montana/) > [“And all the while the four men lay beside me and watched and made no move. Nor did I move, and without shame I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/and-all-the-while-the-four-men-lay-beside-me-and-watched-and-made-no/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Hanged quotes > [“And all the while the four men lay beside me and watched and made no move. Nor did I move, and without shame I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/and-all-the-while-the-four-men-lay-beside-me-and-watched-and-made-no/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [George Shears ... was hanged in a barn near the store. The rope was thrown over a beam, and he was asked to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/for-the-state-of-montana/george-shears-was-hanged-in-a-barn-near-the-store-the-rope-was-thrown/) [For The State Of Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/for-the-state-of-montana/) > [I've confessed to everything and I's liked to be hanged. Now, if you please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/i-ve-confessed-to-everything-and-i-s-liked-to-be-hanged-now-if-you/) [Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/) > [One should not talk of hatters in the house of the hanged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/one-should-not-talk-of-hatters-in-the-house-of-the-hanged/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [“Another reason I’m intrigued with the hanged of Salem, especially the women, is that a number of them aroused suspicion in the first place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/another-reason-i-m-intrigued-with-the-hanged-of-salem-especially-the/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [He who steals a hook shall be hanged; while he who steals the state shall be crowned as prince.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-who-steals-a-hook-shall-be-hanged-while-he-who-steals-the-state/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Height of Addiction: Just b4 a prisoner was ready to be hanged to death the officer asked him about his last wish..!! He said-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie/height-of-addiction-just-b4-a-prisoner-was-ready-to-be-hanged-to/) [Sadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie/) > [Nothing is more annoying than to be obscurely hanged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/nothing-is-more-annoying-than-to-be-obscurely-hanged/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“The sentence was death. His appeal was rejected. At 7:18 A.M on April 9, 1959, József Tibor Fejes was hanged. He was suspended on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-chivers/the-sentence-was-death-his-appeal-was-rejected-at-7-18-a-m-on-april-9/) [C.J. Chivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-chivers/) > [“in better company, they found among all those hideous carcasses two skeletons, one of which held the other in its embrace. One of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/in-better-company-they-found-among-all-those-hideous-carcasses-two/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-that-is-born-to-be-hanged-shall-never-be-drowned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don’t get yourself noticed and you won’t get yourself hanged.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-bachmann/don-t-get-yourself-noticed-and-you-won-t-get-yourself-hanged/) [Stefan Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-bachmann/) > [No man has ever yet been hanged for breaking the spirit of a law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/no-man-has-ever-yet-been-hanged-for-breaking-the-spirit-of-a-law/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [“Master Custard, you must rise and be hanged”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/master-custard-you-must-rise-and-be-hanged/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“And yet were you to talk to such a martyr, to the woman who is about to be hanged, even just as she nears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kropotkin/and-yet-were-you-to-talk-to-such-a-martyr-to-the-woman-who-is-about/) [Peter Kropotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kropotkin/) [Browse all 105 Hanged quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hanged/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a-fortnight-it-concentrates/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hanged" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a-fortnight-it-concentrates/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/samuel-johnson-50_hanged_when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a_2079259.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/samuel-johnson-50_hanged_when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a_2079259.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/samuel-johnson-50_hanged_when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a_2079259.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” — Samuel Johnson", "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": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When a man knows he is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a-fortnight-it-concentrates/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/when-a-man-knows-he-is-to-be-hanged-in-a-fortnight-it-concentrates/#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 } } ] } ```