--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was not death or dying that frightened…" description: "\"It was not death or dying that frightened him, but the unexpectedness of both. In sorting it all out, he hit on the notion that if one day a year were ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/toni-morrison-271_death_it-was-not-death-or-dying-that-frightene_472315.jpg" --- # It was not death or dying that frightened him, but the… ![“It was not death or dying that frightened him, but the unexpectedness of both. In sorting it all out, he hit on the notion that if one day a year were devoted to it, everybody could get it out of the way and the rest of the year would be safe and free. In this manner he instituted National Suicide…” quote by Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/toni-morrison-271_death_it-was-not-death-or-dying-that-frightene_472315.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/toni-morrison-271_death_it-was-not-death-or-dying-that-frightene_472315.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/toni-morrison-271_death_it-was-not-death-or-dying-that-frightene_472315.jpg) > “It was not death or dying that frightened him, but the unexpectedness of both. In sorting it all out, he hit on the notion that if one day a year were devoted to it, everybody could get it out of the way and the rest of the year would be safe and free. In this manner he instituted National Suicide Day.” [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He fears not death itself but its sudden, unpredictable nature, leading him to propose a dedicated day to confront it, creating National Suicide Day. **In simple terms:** Fear of sudden death leads to a planned day to confront it. Key Takeaway Address fears directly through structured time. Themes mortality psychology ritual Mood somber thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - mental health counseling - public awareness campaigns - personal reflection Key Concepts existentialism coping mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - Is a single day sufficient to address deep-rooted despair? - How can society support ongoing mental health care? A Different Perspective May trivialize complex mental health issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) [Unexpectedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpectedness/) ## Related quotes > [“It was not death or dying that frightened him, but the unexpectedness of both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/it-was-not-death-or-dying-that-frightened-him-but-the-unexpectedness-2/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Nothing would bring peace to Samuel’s anguished soul. Nothing except finding Eliza. He would die without her, just as surely as she was dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-lynn-perry/nothing-would-bring-peace-to-samuel-s-anguished-soul-nothing-except/) [Amber Lynn Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-lynn-perry/) > [Multiculturalism, if its logic is fully played out, is the ideology of national suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-lowry/multiculturalism-if-its-logic-is-fully-played-out-is-the-ideology-of/) [Rich Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-lowry/) > [“David Lawrence, founder of US News & World Report, warned, "Confiscation of wealth may satisfy the vengeful in us. It may sooth a retaliatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-powell/david-lawrence-founder-of-us-news-world-report-warned-confiscation-of/) Jim Powell > [No sane society chooses to commit national suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/no-sane-society-chooses-to-commit-national-suicide/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Writing! The activity for which the only adequate bribe is the possibility of suicide, one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/writing-the-activity-for-which-the-only-adequate-bribe-is-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Over 105 people commit suicide a day.. if you see someone or think that someone might commit then tel someone.. you could save a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/over-105-people-commit-suicide-a-day-if-you-see-someone-or-think-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I tried to commit suicide one day. It was a very Woody Allen-type suicide. 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To avoid corners altogether is, after all, to refuse to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-unexpectedness-of-life-waiting-round-every-corner-catches-even/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [The great artist, whether he be musician, painter, or poet, is known for this absolute unexpectedness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/the-great-artist-whether-he-be-musician-painter-or-poet-is-known-for/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) ## More by Toni Morrison > [Perhaps that's what all human relationships boiled down to: Would you save my life? or would you take it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/perhaps-that-s-what-all-human-relationships-boiled-down-to-would-you/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [In times of dread, artists must never choose to remain silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/in-times-of-dread-artists-must-never-choose-to-remain-silent/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Not know it was hard;knowing it was harder”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/not-know-it-was-hard-knowing-it-was-harder/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Didn’t everything on God’s earth have or acquire defense?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/didn-t-everything-on-god-s-earth-have-or-acquire-defense/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [If you can't count, they can cheat you. 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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 > [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. 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