--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If death, mused the great thinker Dr…" description: "\"“If death, mused the great thinker Dr. Samuel Johnson, is merely a gateway on the path from life into eternity, a portal from mortality to immortality,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/tessa-harris-49247_death_if-death-mused-the-great-thinker-dr-samu_3024495.jpg" --- # If death, mused the great thinker Dr. Samuel Johnson, is… ![“If death, mused the great thinker Dr. Samuel Johnson, is merely a gateway on the path from life into eternity, a portal from mortality to immortality, then what does it matter how a man dies? The act of dying is not of importance. It is how he lives that counts.” quote by Tessa Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/tessa-harris-49247_death_if-death-mused-the-great-thinker-dr-samu_3024495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/tessa-harris-49247_death_if-death-mused-the-great-thinker-dr-samu_3024495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/tessa-harris-49247_death_if-death-mused-the-great-thinker-dr-samu_3024495.jpg) > ““If death, mused the great thinker Dr. Samuel Johnson, is merely a gateway on the path from life into eternity, a portal from mortality to immortality, then what does it matter how a man dies? The act of dying is not of importance. It is how he lives that counts.”” [Tessa Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The significance of death is less than how one lives; the quality of life matters more than its end. **In simple terms:** Living well matters more than how you die. Key Takeaway Prioritize meaningful actions over fear of death. Themes mortality meaning legacy Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - career choices - relationships - community service - health decisions Key Concepts existentialism ethics purpose Questions to Reflect On - What does a meaningful life look like for you? - How can you act now to shape your legacy? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on legacy may neglect present well‑being. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Mused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-mused-4911601/) [Dying Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying-importance-3443462/) [Immortality Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality-does-4911602/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mortality Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortality-immortality-2440722/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/samuel-johnson/) ## Related quotes > [It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not of importance, it lasts so short a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-matters-not-how-a-man-dies-but-how-he-lives-the-act-of-dying-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I'm not a luddite. Science, computers, medicine, they're all great. But nature is context. That which we can't control. Its constant mortality and immortality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/i-m-not-a-luddite-science-computers-medicine-they-re-all-great-but/) [Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/) > [“So it gives us everything, it gives us the end of the world; to be human we need to experience the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-ne-cixous/so-it-gives-us-everything-it-gives-us-the-end-of-the-world-to-be/) [Hélène Cixous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-ne-cixous/) > [There's something about death. It's like trying to understand our own mortality and immortality. That's why society is so into things like vampires, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-lee/there-s-something-about-death-it-s-like-trying-to-understand-our-own/) [Sheryl Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-lee/) > [How can you be that which you possess? You cannot be the horse and rider at the same time. Herein lies the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/how-can-you-be-that-which-you-possess-you-cannot-be-the-horse-and/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [Perhaps Samuel Johnson was a great man; he was certainly a drumbling one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/perhaps-samuel-johnson-was-a-great-man-he-was-certainly-a-drumbling/) [Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/) > [ In comparing these two writers, he \[Samuel Johnson\] used this expression: "that there was as great a difference between them as between a man… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/in-comparing-these-two-writers-he-samuel-johnson-used-this-expression/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [That's what Samuel Johnson said: "Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think particularly fine, strike it out."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-laird/that-s-what-samuel-johnson-said-read-over-your-compositions-and/) [Nick Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-laird/) > [“Samuel Johnson once said that remarrying (and he’s not talking about marrying the same person here, just remarrying) is the “triumph of hope over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/samuel-johnson-once-said-that-remarrying-and-he-s-not-talking-about/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome. - Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paras/nothing-will-ever-be-attempted-if-all-possible-objections-must-first/) [Paras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paras/) > [“There are few books that set out what a mature person can believe - someone fully grown up, I mean. Aristotle's 'Ethics', Marcus Aurelius's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nozick/there-are-few-books-that-set-out-what-a-mature-person-can-believe/) [Robert Nozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nozick/) > [“THE METAPHYSICAL POETS Had we but world enough, and time, This coyness, lady, were no crime (Andrew Marvell, To His Coy Mistress) While theatre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-carter/the-metaphysical-poets-had-we-but-world-enough-and-time-this-coyness/) [Ronald Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-carter/) > [“The fact that we had independently decided to sweep our apartments on that Sunday afternoon after spending the weekend together, I took as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/the-fact-that-we-had-independently-decided-to-sweep-our-apartments-on/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [“To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition. —SAMUEL JOHNSON”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/to-be-happy-at-home-is-the-ultimate-result-of-all-ambition-samuel/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“There are many famous people who could read extremely fast. It was said that England’s Samuel Johnson could read almost as fast as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kump/there-are-many-famous-people-who-could-read-extremely-fast-it-was/) [Peter Kump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kump/) ## More by Tessa Harris > [“Tis no matter. just as long as you are here now”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-harris/tis-no-matter-just-as-long-as-you-are-here-now/) [Tessa Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-harris/) > [“ if I am to check for rats, I need to sweep under the bed, sir”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-harris/if-i-am-to-check-for-rats-i-need-to-sweep-under-the-bed-sir/) [Tessa Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-harris/) > [“I am a wicked woman" "how could you do anything wicked? tell me what it is that so distress you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-harris/i-am-a-wicked-woman-how-could-you-do-anything-wicked-tell-me-what-it/) [Tessa Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-harris/) > [“they all listened intently and passed the story on in shades as varied as the turning leaves on the autumn beeches; on each occasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-harris/they-all-listened-intently-and-passed-the-story-on-in-shades-as/) [Tessa Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-harris/) > [“ so this is my collection of human body parts, Dr. Silkston," he said proudly, walking into the storeroom. "each organ is here fro…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-harris/so-this-is-my-collection-of-human-body-parts-dr-silkston-he-said/) [Tessa Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-harris/) [Explore all 6 Tessa Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-harris/) ## More Death 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/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) [J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) [Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [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/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [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/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If death, mused the great thinker Dr. Samuel Johnson, is merely a gateway on the path from life into eternity, a portal from mortality to immortality, then what does it matter how a man dies? The act of dying is not of importance. 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