--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't want to survive, I want to live." description: "\"“I don't want to survive, I want to live.”\" — Solomon Northup" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/solomon-northup-12765_dying_i-don-t-want-to-survive-i-want-to-live-2_263440.jpg" --- # I don't want to survive, I want to live. ![“I don't want to survive, I want to live.” quote by Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/solomon-northup-12765_dying_i-don-t-want-to-survive-i-want-to-live-2_263440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/solomon-northup-12765_dying_i-don-t-want-to-survive-i-want-to-live-2_263440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/solomon-northup-12765_dying_i-don-t-want-to-survive-i-want-to-live-2_263440.jpg) > ““I don't want to survive, I want to live.”” [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire for a meaningful, fulfilling life outweighs mere survival. **In simple terms:** Live fully, not just exist. Key Takeaway Prioritize purpose over mere existence. Themes life purpose freedom fulfillment Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal health - career choices - creative pursuits Key Concepts existentialism human dignity Questions to Reflect On - What does a life worth living look like for you? - How can you shift focus from survival to thriving? A Different Perspective Survival instincts can dominate, making purpose hard to prioritize. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“I don't want to survive, Will, I want to live!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-allison-moulton/i-don-t-want-to-survive-will-i-want-to-live/) [Courtney Allison Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-allison-moulton/) > [“I think to myself: I don't want to survive this one I want to burn up in the wreckage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-to-myself-i-don-t-want-to-survive-this-one-i-want-to-burn-up/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [We don't want to survive. We want to be healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/we-don-t-want-to-survive-we-want-to-be-healed/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“I’ve never had a reason to survive—no reason to question the way things were. 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This was a trick question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-evans/don-t-you-want-to-survive-this-was-a-trick-question/) [Leigh Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-evans/) ## More by Solomon Northup > [“I had not then learned the measure of “man’s inhumanity to man,” nor to what limitless extent of wickedness he will go for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/i-had-not-then-learned-the-measure-of-man-s-inhumanity-to-man-nor-to/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [“adroitly that there was”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/adroitly-that-there-was/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [Unsoundness in a slave, as well as in a horse, detracts materially from his value. If no warranty is given, a close examination is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/unsoundness-in-a-slave-as-well-as-in-a-horse-detracts-materially-from/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [“Blessed be sleep! It visiteth all alike, descending as the dews of heaven on the bond and free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/blessed-be-sleep-it-visiteth-all-alike-descending-as-the-dews-of/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [I can speak of slavery only so far as it came under my own observation - only so far as I have known and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/i-can-speak-of-slavery-only-so-far-as-it-came-under-my-own/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [I could not comprehend the justice of that law, or that religion, which upholds or recognizes the principle of slavery;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/i-could-not-comprehend-the-justice-of-that-law-or-that-religion-which/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [“Men may write fictions portraying lowly life as it is, or as it is not—may expatiate with owlish gravity upon the bliss of ignorance—discourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/men-may-write-fictions-portraying-lowly-life-as-it-is-or-as-it-is-not/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [My sufferings I can compare to nothing else than the burning agonies of hell!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/my-sufferings-i-can-compare-to-nothing-else-than-the-burning-agonies/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [My back is thick with scars for protesting my freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/my-back-is-thick-with-scars-for-protesting-my-freedom/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [“It is a mistaken opinion that prevails in some quarters that the slave does not understand the term - does not comprehend the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/it-is-a-mistaken-opinion-that-prevails-in-some-quarters-that-the/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [At such times, the heart of man turns instictively towards his Maker. In prosperity, and whenever there is nothing to injure or make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/at-such-times-the-heart-of-man-turns-instictively-towards-his-maker/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [“let them behold him scourged, hunted, trampled on, and they will come back with another story in their mouths. Let them know the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/let-them-behold-him-scourged-hunted-trampled-on-and-they-will-come/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [“On the way, a great many demanded it, read it, and passed on. Those having the air and appearance of gentlemen, whose dress indicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/on-the-way-a-great-many-demanded-it-read-it-and-passed-on-those/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [“case with Cocodrie Bayou, which Solomon must have heard with a starting “p.” Here is a list”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/case-with-cocodrie-bayou-which-solomon-must-have-heard-with-a/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [Life is dear to every living thing; the worm that crawls upon the ground will struggle for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/life-is-dear-to-every-living-thing-the-worm-that-crawls-upon-the/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) [Explore all 53 Solomon Northup quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) ## More Dying quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Just living my life till I die...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mixer/just-living-my-life-till-i-die/) Willie Mixer > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [I don't want to just die a normal death, I wanna be killed twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-don-t-want-to-just-die-a-normal-death-i-wanna-be-killed-twice/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Got to say, dying would really wreck my best day. Been there, done that, and now that I think about it, Artemis forgot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/got-to-say-dying-would-really-wreck-my-best-day-been-there-done-that/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I want people to think they can't die until they see me play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/i-want-people-to-think-they-can-t-die-until-they-see-me-play/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [... there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/there-are-far-far-worse-things-in-the-living-world-than-dying/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Life has no guarantees, though. What good is living if all you think about is dying?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-garvis-graves/life-has-no-guarantees-though-what-good-is-living-if-all-you-think/) [Tracey Garvis-Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-garvis-graves/) > [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) Jon Ellis > [If you feel like you want to die, it's time to sit down and make a list of all the things you haven't done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/if-you-feel-like-you-want-to-die-it-s-time-to-sit-down-and-make-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) Browse all 6,374 Dying quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I don't want to survive, I want to live.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Solomon Northup" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/i-don-t-want-to-survive-i-want-to-live/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/i-don-t-want-to-survive-i-want-to-live/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/solomon-northup-12765_dying_i-don-t-want-to-survive-i-want-to-live-2_263440.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/solomon-northup-12765_dying_i-don-t-want-to-survive-i-want-to-live-2_263440.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/solomon-northup-12765_dying_i-don-t-want-to-survive-i-want-to-live-2_263440.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't want to survive, I want to live.” — Solomon Northup", "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": "Solomon Northup", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I don't want to survive, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/i-don-t-want-to-survive-i-want-to-live/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/i-don-t-want-to-survive-i-want-to-live/#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 } } ] } ```