---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even as we live with the knowledge that…"
description: "\"“Even as we live with the knowledge that each day might be our last, we don’t want to believe it.”\" — Sharon Salzberg"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/sharon-salzberg-562_believe_even-as-we-live-with-the-knowledge-that_476470.png"
---

#  Even as we live with the knowledge that each day might be…

![“Even as we live with the knowledge that each day might be our last, we don’t want to believe it.” quote by Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/sharon-salzberg-562_believe_even-as-we-live-with-the-knowledge-that_476470.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/sharon-salzberg-562_believe_even-as-we-live-with-the-knowledge-that_476470.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/sharon-salzberg-562_believe_even-as-we-live-with-the-knowledge-that_476470.png)

> ““Even as we live with the knowledge that each day might be our last, we don’t want to believe it.””

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

## About This Quote

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

Denial of life's impermanence prevents genuine appreciation and presence.

**In simple terms:** We avoid confronting mortality.

Key Takeaway

Accept impermanence to live fully.

Themes

impermanence acceptance mindfulness awareness

Mood

peaceful contemplative

Type

spiritual philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily meditation
- end‑of‑life planning
- grief counseling

Key Concepts

Buddhist philosophy psychology spirituality

Questions to Reflect On

- How does acknowledging finitude affect your gratitude?
- What practices help you stay present with uncertainty?

A Different Perspective

Denial can cause anxiety and avoidance behavior.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death and dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-and-dying/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Living in the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-in-the-present/) [Living-in-the-moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-in-the-moment-2/) [Real love quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-love-quotes/)

## Related quotes

> [Execution will trump knowledge every day of the week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/execution-will-trump-knowledge-every-day-of-the-week/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [“But everyone remembered; what she loved was this, here, now, in front of her; the fat lady in the cab. Did it matter then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/but-everyone-remembered-what-she-loved-was-this-here-now-in-front-of/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [“When you live in the present, the past is forgotten &amp; the future takes care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/when-you-live-in-the-present-the-past-is-forgotten-the-future-takes/)

[Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/)

> [“Living in the moment is not an excuse to be a ne'er-do-well. A person can give up on life or immerse themselves in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/living-in-the-moment-is-not-an-excuse-to-be-a-ne-er-do-well-a-person/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [“Life is neither a glorious highlight reel nor a monstrous tragedy. Every day is a good day to live and a good day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/life-is-neither-a-glorious-highlight-reel-nor-a-monstrous-tragedy/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [“We each want nothing more than to live for the moment. Nature hardwired us perpetually to follow the call of the wild, cull all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/we-each-want-nothing-more-than-to-live-for-the-moment-nature/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [“I’d wish it were easier to not allow other people’s pasts to create my own present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-harnisch/i-d-wish-it-were-easier-to-not-allow-other-people-s-pasts-to-create/)

[Jonathan Harnisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-harnisch/)

> [“The outcome of my cumulative life’s work is still undetermined. Chance, fate, attitude, aptitude, and preparedness to pursue new opportunities will regulate my final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/the-outcome-of-my-cumulative-life-s-work-is-still-undetermined-chance/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [“You could continue to repress and think about the life you could have had or you can take what you want from life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-hogue/you-could-continue-to-repress-and-think-about-the-life-you-could-have/)

[Roberto Hogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-hogue/)

> [“All pain comes from the distance between where you are now and where you want to be; from the distance between what you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/all-pain-comes-from-the-distance-between-where-you-are-now-and-where/)

[C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/)

> [To get over the past, you first have to accept that the past is over. No matter how many times you revisit it, analyze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-get-over-the-past-you-first-have-to-accept-that-the-past-is-over/)

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

> [“Joy always follows on the heels of pain. If a person escapes a mindset that current events represent an ongoing tragedy, they will encounter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/joy-always-follows-on-the-heels-of-pain-if-a-person-escapes-a-mindset/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [“Mindfulness is observing the beauty of every moment unfolding before us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/mindfulness-is-observing-the-beauty-of-every-moment-unfolding-before/)

[Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/)

> [“It seems sometimes that we get so caught up in missing the past, or looking forward to the future, that we forget that this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-ashley/it-seems-sometimes-that-we-get-so-caught-up-in-missing-the-past-or/)

[John A. Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-ashley/)

> [No matter how much you stress or obsess about the past or future, you can't change either one. In the present is where your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-much-you-stress-or-obsess-about-the-past-or-future-you/)

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

## More by Sharon Salzberg

> [Some things hurt, you know, and there's pain. But we magnify the suffering of it often, I think, by our reactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/some-things-hurt-you-know-and-there-s-pain-but-we-magnify-the/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“Even when we do our very best to treat those close to us with utmost respect and understanding, conflict happens. That’s life. That’s human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-when-we-do-our-very-best-to-treat-those-close-to-us-with-utmost/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“Loving ourselves calls us to give up the illusion that we can control everything and focuses us on building our inner resource of resilience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/loving-ourselves-calls-us-to-give-up-the-illusion-that-we-can-control/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [In order to do anything about the suffering of the world we must have the strength to face it without turning away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/in-order-to-do-anything-about-the-suffering-of-the-world-we-must-have/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“When we believe a wounding story, our whole world is diminished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-believe-a-wounding-story-our-whole-world-is-diminished/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“The paradigm for our relationships is formed from our earliest experiences and is actually hardwired into our neurological and emotional network.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/the-paradigm-for-our-relationships-is-formed-from-our-earliest/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [Vulnerability in the face of constant change is what we share, whatever our present condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/vulnerability-in-the-face-of-constant-change-is-what-we-share/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“Asking questions is an opportunity for creativity and personal expression, both for the person asking and the person answering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/asking-questions-is-an-opportunity-for-creativity-and-personal/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [Compassion isn't morose; it's something replenishing and opening; that's why it makes us happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/compassion-isn-t-morose-it-s-something-replenishing-and-opening-that/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“When we open our hearts to the breadth of our experiences, we learn to tune into our needs, unique perceptions, thoughts &amp; feelings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-open-our-hearts-to-the-breadth-of-our-experiences-we-learn-to/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“As we explore new ways of loving and being loved by others, we need to equip ourselves with open, pliant minds; we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/as-we-explore-new-ways-of-loving-and-being-loved-by-others-we-need-to/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [Even in the midst of devastation, something within us always points the way to freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-in-the-midst-of-devastation-something-within-us-always-points/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“It's important to investigate the nature of anger because it is such a powerful energy and can be so destructive. When we can face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/it-s-important-to-investigate-the-nature-of-anger-because-it-is-such/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“When we contemplate the miracle of embodied life, we begin to partner with our bodies in a kinder way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-contemplate-the-miracle-of-embodied-life-we-begin-to-partner/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

[Explore all 473 Sharon Salzberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Even as we live with the knowledge that each day might be our last, we don’t want to believe it.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sharon Salzberg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-as-we-live-with-the-knowledge-that-each-day-might-be-our-last-we/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-as-we-live-with-the-knowledge-that-each-day-might-be-our-last-we/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/sharon-salzberg-562_believe_even-as-we-live-with-the-knowledge-that_476470.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/sharon-salzberg-562_believe_even-as-we-live-with-the-knowledge-that_476470.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/sharon-salzberg-562_believe_even-as-we-live-with-the-knowledge-that_476470.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Even as we live with the knowledge that each day might be our last, we don’t want to believe it.” — Sharon Salzberg",
                "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": "Sharon Salzberg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Even as we live with the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-as-we-live-with-the-knowledge-that-each-day-might-be-our-last-we/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-as-we-live-with-the-knowledge-that-each-day-might-be-our-last-we/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
