Death Quote by William Peter Blatty
“Every man that ever lived craved perfect happiness, the detective poignantly reflected. But how can we have it when we know we’re going to die? Each joy was clouded by the knowledge it would end. And so nature had implanted in us a desire for something unattainable? No. It couldn’t be. It makes no sense. Every other striving implanted by nature had a corresponding object that wasn’t a phantom. Why this exception? the detective reasoned. It was nature making hunger when there wasn’t any food. We continue. We go on. Thus death proved life.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Exorcist, 1971
Human longing for perfect happiness is impossible; death gives meaning to life’s pursuits.
In simple terms: Perfect happiness is unattainable; death gives purpose.
Key Takeaway
Accept imperfection.
Themes
mortality
desire
meaning
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
existential
literary
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- existential reflection
- creative writing
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does mortality influence your goals?
- Can happiness exist without an end?
A Different Perspective
Some find meaning without death.
![“Nature [has] implanted in our breasts a love of others, a sense of duty to them, a moral instinct, in short, which prompts us irresistibly to feel and to succor their distresses.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af7/thomas-jefferson-43_breasts_nature-has-implanted-in-our-breasts-a-lo_531725.jpg)
