--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We shall live for no reason. Then die and…" description: "\"“We shall live for no reason. Then die and be done with it. What a recognition! What shall save us? Only the knowledge that we have lived without illus..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/william-h-gass-4166_books_we-shall-live-for-no-reason-then-die-and_2511130.jpg" --- # We shall live for no reason. Then die and be done with it… ![“We shall live for no reason. Then die and be done with it. What a recognition! What shall save us? Only the knowledge that we have lived without illusion, not excluding the illusion that something will save us. —William H. Gass, “Mr. Gaddis and His Goddamn Books” (2006)” quote by William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/william-h-gass-4166_books_we-shall-live-for-no-reason-then-die-and_2511130.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/william-h-gass-4166_books_we-shall-live-for-no-reason-then-die-and_2511130.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/william-h-gass-4166_books_we-shall-live-for-no-reason-then-die-and_2511130.jpg) > ““We shall live for no reason. Then die and be done with it. What a recognition! What shall save us? Only the knowledge that we have lived without illusion, not excluding the illusion that something will save us. —William H. Gass, “Mr. Gaddis and His Goddamn Books” (2006)”” [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is lived without purpose, ending in death; only the illusion of meaning offers comfort. **In simple terms:** Life lacks purpose, illusion comforts us. Key Takeaway Accept life's absurdity, find personal meaning. Themes existentialism illusion meaninglessness Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - daily routine - philosophical contemplation - creative work Key Concepts nihilism comfort in narrative Questions to Reflect On - Do you find meaning in illusion? - How do you confront emptiness? 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