--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let people who do not know what to do…" description: "\"Let people who do not know what to do with themselves in this life, but fritter away their time reading magazines and watching television, hope for ete..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/walter-kaufmann-14133_creation_let-people-who-do-not-know-what-to-do-wi_920434.png" --- # Let people who do not know what to do with themselves in… ![“Let people who do not know what to do with themselves in this life, but fritter away their time reading magazines and watching television, hope for eternal life... The life I want is a life I could not endure in eternity. It is a life of love and intensity, suffering and creation, that makes life…” quote by Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/walter-kaufmann-14133_creation_let-people-who-do-not-know-what-to-do-wi_920434.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/walter-kaufmann-14133_creation_let-people-who-do-not-know-what-to-do-wi_920434.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/walter-kaufmann-14133_creation_let-people-who-do-not-know-what-to-do-wi_920434.png) > “Let people who do not know what to do with themselves in this life, but fritter away their time reading magazines and watching television, hope for eternal life... The life I want is a life I could not endure in eternity. It is a life of love and intensity, suffering and creation, that makes life worthwhile and death welcome. There is no other life I should prefer. Neither should I like not to die.” [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author contrasts a shallow, passive life with a passionate, creative existence that embraces love, suffering, and mortality as essential. **In simple terms:** A meaningful life embraces love, intensity, and acceptance of death. Key Takeaway Choose a life of depth over comfort. Themes existentialism meaning mortality creation Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - artistic pursuits - relationships - end‑of‑life planning Key Concepts authenticity acceptance intensity Questions to Reflect On - What does a life worth living look like for you? - How do you balance intensity with wellbeing? A Different Perspective Such intensity can cause existential dread or burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Eternal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-life/) [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Intensity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [There are men I could spend eternity with. But not this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-norris/there-are-men-i-could-spend-eternity-with-but-not-this-life/) [Kathleen Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-norris/) > [“Those who loved with all their heart and mind and might have always thought of death, and those who knew the endless nights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/those-who-loved-with-all-their-heart-and-mind-and-might-have-always/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [LIVE YOUR LIFE HOW YOU WANT TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR LIFE CAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT YOUR LIFE BUT REMEMBER YOU ONLY…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-watkins/live-your-life-how-you-want-to-have-fun-with-your-life-cause-there/) [JASMINE WATKINS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-watkins/) > [You don't get out of life what you want. You get out of life who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/you-don-t-get-out-of-life-what-you-want-you-get-out-of-life-who-you/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [I want the world to be better because I was here. I want my life, I want my work, my family, I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/i-want-the-world-to-be-better-because-i-was-here-i-want-my-life-i/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Forget about your life situation and pay attention to your life. Your life situation exists in time. Your life is now. Your life situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/forget-about-your-life-situation-and-pay-attention-to-your-life-your/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Being single doesn't mean nobody wanted you. It means you're only taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-single-doesn-t-mean-nobody-wanted-you-it-means-you-re-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I want more. I need more. I want to be the one—the only one in your life. I want you need to me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-lane/i-want-more-i-need-more-i-want-to-be-the-one-the-only-one-in-your/) [Courtney Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-lane/) > [Bod said, 'I want to see life. I want to hold it in my hands. I want to leave a footprint on the sand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/bod-said-i-want-to-see-life-i-want-to-hold-it-in-my-hands-i-want-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I want to do something with my life; I want to be a cyborg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-warwick/i-want-to-do-something-with-my-life-i-want-to-be-a-cyborg/) [Kevin Warwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-warwick/) > [I need you more than anything in my life. I want you more than anything in my life. I'll miss you more than anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daft-punk/i-need-you-more-than-anything-in-my-life-i-want-you-more-than/) [Daft Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daft-punk/) > [I've just always believed you can get anything you want in this life - anything you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-basinger/i-ve-just-always-believed-you-can-get-anything-you-want-in-this-life/) [Kim Basinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-basinger/) > [Everything I want to do in my life, I want to be at the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-dos-anjos/everything-i-want-to-do-in-my-life-i-want-to-be-at-the-top/) [Rafael dos Anjos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-dos-anjos/) > [Don't beg for anyone to stay in your life. If they want to be a part of your life, they will stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-beg-for-anyone-to-stay-in-your-life-if-they-want-to-be-a-part/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I spit on your happiness! I spit on your idea of life--that life that must go on, come what may. You are all like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anouilh/i-spit-on-your-happiness-i-spit-on-your-idea-of-life-that-life-that/) [Jean Anouilh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anouilh/) ## More by Walter Kaufmann > [Life ceases to be so oppressive: we are free to give our own lives meaning and purpose, free to redeem our suffering by making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/life-ceases-to-be-so-oppressive-we-are-free-to-give-our-own-lives/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [Thirdly, even if we assume that the world is governed by purpose, we need only add that this purpose - or, if there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/thirdly-even-if-we-assume-that-the-world-is-governed-by-purpose-we/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [Mundus vult decipi: the world wants to be deceived. The truth is too complex and frightening; the taste for the truth is an acquired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/mundus-vult-decipi-the-world-wants-to-be-deceived-the-truth-is-too/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [It is widely assumed, contrary to fact, that theism necessarily involves the two assumptions which cannot be squared with the existence of so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/it-is-widely-assumed-contrary-to-fact-that-theism-necessarily/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [The refusal to belong to any school of thought, the repudiation of the adequacy of any body of beliefs whatever, and especially of systems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/the-refusal-to-belong-to-any-school-of-thought-the-repudiation-of-the/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [“One need not believe in Pallas Athena, the virgin goddess, to be overwhelmed by the Parthenon. Similarly, a man who rejects all dogmas, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/one-need-not-believe-in-pallas-athena-the-virgin-goddess-to-be/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [In all three cases, and for most human beings, the problem of suffering poses no difficult problem at all: one has a world picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/in-all-three-cases-and-for-most-human-beings-the-problem-of-suffering/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [The only theism worthy of our respect believes in God not because of the way the world is made but in spite of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/the-only-theism-worthy-of-our-respect-believes-in-god-not-because-of/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [The deepest difference between religions is not that between polytheism and monotheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/the-deepest-difference-between-religions-is-not-that-between/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [Job's forthright indictment of the injustice of this world is surely right. The ways of the world are weird and much more unpredictable than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/job-s-forthright-indictment-of-the-injustice-of-this-world-is-surely/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [“Renouncing false beliefs will not usher in the millennium. Few things about the strategy of contemporary apologists are more repellent than their frequent recourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/renouncing-false-beliefs-will-not-usher-in-the-millennium-few-things/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [“Not all deceptions are palatable. Untruths are too easy to come by, too quickly exploded, too cheap and ephemeral to give lasting comfort. Mundus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/not-all-deceptions-are-palatable-untruths-are-too-easy-to-come-by-too/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [“The Golden Rule is intolerable; if millions did to others whatever they wished others to do to them, few would be safe from molestation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/the-golden-rule-is-intolerable-if-millions-did-to-others-whatever/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [To try to fashion something from suffering, to relish our triumphs, and to endure defeats without resentment: all that is compatible with the faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/to-try-to-fashion-something-from-suffering-to-relish-our-triumphs-and/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [“To an even moderately sophisticated and well-read person it should come as no surprise that any religion at all has its hidden as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/to-an-even-moderately-sophisticated-and-well-read-person-it-should/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) [Explore all 47 Walter Kaufmann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) ## More Creation quotes > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [And wheresoever, in his rich creation, Sweet music breathes--in wave, or bird, or soul-- 'Tis but the faint and far reverberation Of that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-sargent-osgood/and-wheresoever-in-his-rich-creation-sweet-music-breathes-in-wave-or/) [Frances Sargent Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-sargent-osgood/) > [I believe if there is a creator it will basically ask me two questions, how well did you enjoy my creation and what did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-believe-if-there-is-a-creator-it-will-basically-ask-me-two/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [With no other choices open to us, we'd turned our gaze seaward. The oceans were our America: they reached farther than any prairie, untamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/with-no-other-choices-open-to-us-we-d-turned-our-gaze-seaward-the/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) > [In the quiet moments of your day, what do you think and do? When you are with your Self and no one else, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/in-the-quiet-moments-of-your-day-what-do-you-think-and-do-when-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I think that storytelling and creation are very close to what the center of what magic is about. I think not just for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-think-that-storytelling-and-creation-are-very-close-to-what-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [To be part of the creation, I must act humbly. I'll take that over a goddess any day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-o-hara/to-be-part-of-the-creation-i-must-act-humbly-i-ll-take-that-over-a/) [Maureen O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-o-hara/) > [The country of Iraq is somewhat of an artificial creation going back to colonial days. And so you have the Kurds and then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clapper/the-country-of-iraq-is-somewhat-of-an-artificial-creation-going-back/) [James Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clapper/) [Browse all 5,225 Creation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let people who do not know what to do with themselves in this life, but fritter away their time reading magazines and watching television, hope for eternal life... The life I want is a life I could not endure in eternity. 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