--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human beings are afraid of dying. They…" description: "\"Human beings are afraid of dying. They are always running after something: money, honor, and pleasure. But if you had to die now, what would you want?\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/taisen-deshimaru-20366_afraid_human-beings-are-afraid-of-dying-they-ar_242174.jpg" --- # Human beings are afraid of dying. They are always running… ![“Human beings are afraid of dying. They are always running after something: money, honor, and pleasure. But if you had to die now, what would you want?” quote by Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/taisen-deshimaru-20366_afraid_human-beings-are-afraid-of-dying-they-ar_242174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/taisen-deshimaru-20366_afraid_human-beings-are-afraid-of-dying-they-ar_242174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/taisen-deshimaru-20366_afraid_human-beings-are-afraid-of-dying-they-ar_242174.jpg) > “Human beings are afraid of dying. They are always running after something: money, honor, and pleasure. But if you had to die now, what would you want?” [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans fear death and chase material pursuits, yet confronting mortality reveals true desires. **In simple terms:** Fear of death drives endless chasing of wealth and pleasure. Key Takeaway Reflect on what truly matters before it’s too late. Themes mortality materialism self‑reflection Mood contemplative urgent Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - end‑of‑life decisions - legacy planning - personal growth - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism values priorities Questions to Reflect On - What would you choose to do if you had only today left? - How does fear shape your daily choices? A Different Perspective It may overlook cultural differences in attitudes toward death. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-running/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) ## Related quotes > [“It is more difficult to love than to die. It is not death that human beings are most afraid of, it is love. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/it-is-more-difficult-to-love-than-to-die-it-is-not-death-that-human/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [Therefore we have to go over the fact that all human beings are afraid by what is new. It is our work to convince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christo/therefore-we-have-to-go-over-the-fact-that-all-human-beings-are/) [Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christo/) > [“The problem with human beings is they are very much afraid for their survival. So nobody is bothered about how to develop, how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-problem-with-human-beings-is-they-are-very-much-afraid-for-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Human beings have become so afraid of the unknown, themselves, and each other that they deprive themselves of that innate ecstasy and love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/human-beings-have-become-so-afraid-of-the-unknown-themselves-and-each/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Are you afraid of dying, Ferris?' 'I'm afraid of not living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/are-you-afraid-of-dying-ferris-i-m-afraid-of-not-living/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [He is terribly afraid of dying because he hasn’t yet lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/he-is-terribly-afraid-of-dying-because-he-hasn-t-yet-lived/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [I'm not afraid of dying I'm afraid of not trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-m-not-afraid-of-dying-i-m-afraid-of-not-trying/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [I started getting afraid of dying. I don't have any religion and I wanted to understand something about these greater powers without anthropomorphizing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/i-started-getting-afraid-of-dying-i-don-t-have-any-religion-and-i/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [It's the one who won't be taken that cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-one-who-won-t-be-taken-that-cannot-seem-to-give-and-the-soul/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [“They were afraid of dying, but they were even more afraid to show it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/they-were-afraid-of-dying-but-they-were-even-more-afraid-to-show-it/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [The individual who has been liberated by reason is always running head-on into a world, a society, whose past in the shape of 'prejudices'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-individual-who-has-been-liberated-by-reason-is-always-running/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Nobody even mentioned the word losing, losing games. We know we've been a losing franchise. He just wanted to say something back like he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-crawford/nobody-even-mentioned-the-word-losing-losing-games-we-know-we-ve-been/) [Carl Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-crawford/) > [I was always restless, always a roving spirit. When I was a little child I was always running away. I never got very far,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/i-was-always-restless-always-a-roving-spirit-when-i-was-a-little/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [Failure is what we're all running from, we're always running toward success with failure at our back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/failure-is-what-we-re-all-running-from-we-re-always-running-toward/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Margaret Meade is always running around saying that marijuana's just like bread and water! Well, bread and water are poison, and marijuana's a poison.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purdy/margaret-meade-is-always-running-around-saying-that-marijuana-s-just/) [James Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purdy/) ## More by Taisen Deshimaru > [You must concentrate upon and consecrate yourself wholly to each day, as though a fire were raging in your hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/you-must-concentrate-upon-and-consecrate-yourself-wholly-to-each-day/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [We feel our shell keeps us safe, but it crushes us and others, and keeps out light and sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/we-feel-our-shell-keeps-us-safe-but-it-crushes-us-and-others-and/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [We should learn to think with our fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/we-should-learn-to-think-with-our-fingers/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [Harmonizing opposites by going back to their source is the distinctive quality of the Zen attitude, the Middle Way: embracing contradictions, making a synthesis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/harmonizing-opposites-by-going-back-to-their-source-is-the/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [The body moves naturally, automatically, without any personal intervention or awareness. If we think too much, our actions become slow and hesitant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/the-body-moves-naturally-automatically-without-any-personal/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [From your first day at school you are cut off from life to make theories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/from-your-first-day-at-school-you-are-cut-off-from-life-to-make/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [You cannot separate any part from the whole: interdependence rules the cosmic order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/you-cannot-separate-any-part-from-the-whole-interdependence-rules-the/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [Think with your whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/think-with-your-whole-body/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [Nobody today is normal, everybody is a little bit crazy or unbalanced, people's minds are running all the time. Their perceptions of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/nobody-today-is-normal-everybody-is-a-little-bit-crazy-or-unbalanced/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [If you have a glass full of liquid you can discourse forever on its qualities, discuss whether it is cold, warm, whether it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/if-you-have-a-glass-full-of-liquid-you-can-discourse-forever-on-its/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [During zazen, brain and consciousness become pure. It's exactly like muddy water left to stand in a glass. Little by little, the sediment sinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-become-pure-it-s-exactly-like/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [You have to practice until you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/you-have-to-practice-until-you-die/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [Zen is not a particular state but the normal state: silent, peaceful, unagitated. In Zazen neither intention, analysis, specific effort nor imagination take place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/zen-is-not-a-particular-state-but-the-normal-state-silent-peaceful/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [The silence of the mountain is even more beautiful once the birds are quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/the-silence-of-the-mountain-is-even-more-beautiful-once-the-birds-are/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [Time is not a line, but a series of now-points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/time-is-not-a-line-but-a-series-of-now-points/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) [Explore all 28 Taisen Deshimaru quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Human beings are afraid of dying. 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