--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the mortality rate seems high we must…" description: "\"If the mortality rate seems high we must realize that Nature is a ruthless teacher. There are no second chances in Mother Nature's Survival Course.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/william-s-burroughs-528_chance_if-the-mortality-rate-seems-high-we-must_2295599.jpg" --- # If the mortality rate seems high we must realize that… ![“If the mortality rate seems high we must realize that Nature is a ruthless teacher. There are no second chances in Mother Nature's Survival Course.” quote by William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/william-s-burroughs-528_chance_if-the-mortality-rate-seems-high-we-must_2295599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/william-s-burroughs-528_chance_if-the-mortality-rate-seems-high-we-must_2295599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/william-s-burroughs-528_chance_if-the-mortality-rate-seems-high-we-must_2295599.jpg) > “If the mortality rate seems high we must realize that Nature is a ruthless teacher. There are no second chances in Mother Nature's Survival Course.” [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nature's harsh lessons teach survival; there are no second chances. **In simple terms:** Nature teaches survival without second chances. Key Takeaway Respect natural limits. Themes survival nature mortality learning Mood somber realistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - environmental policy - personal risk management - health decisions Key Concepts evolution hardship adaptation Questions to Reflect On - What lessons have you learned from failure? - How do you prepare for inevitable risks? A Different Perspective Human resilience can overcome; nature is not always fatal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortality/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-nature/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Ruthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-ruthless-577075/) [Nature Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-survival-5411276/) [No second chances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-second-chances/) [Rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rate/) [Realize Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-nature-625499/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Ruthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruthless/) [Second chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-chance/) [Second chances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-chances/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [Mother Nature's ruthless to the weak, but isn't arbitrary cruel or negative. Mother Nature saves aggression for extreme situations, and instead uses consistent leadership--to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mother-nature-s-ruthless-to-the-weak-but-isn-t-arbitrary-cruel-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In nature, it's survival of the fittest, in a city, it's survival of the richest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-franco/in-nature-it-s-survival-of-the-fittest-in-a-city-it-s-survival-of-the/) [Peter Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-franco/) > [“It is because nature is ruthless, hideous, and cruel beyond belief that it was necessary to invent civilisation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/it-is-because-nature-is-ruthless-hideous-and-cruel-beyond-belief-that/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) > [Mother Nature is a relentless ruthless killer. 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To realize one's nature perfectly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde-the-picture-of-dorian-gray/the-aim-of-life-is-self-development-to-realize-one-s-nature-perfectly-4/) [Oscar Wilde The picture of Dorian Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde-the-picture-of-dorian-gray/) > [The aim of life is self-development. 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Man is destined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/it-has-been-said-repeatedly-that-one-can-never-try-as-he-will-get/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [One has to be alone, under the sky, Before everything falls into place and one finds his or her own place in the midst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/one-has-to-be-alone-under-the-sky-before-everything-falls-into-place/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More by William S. Burroughs > [“Control never be a means to any practical end. It can never be a means to anything but more control… Like punk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/control-never-be-a-means-to-any-practical-end-it-can-never-be-a-means/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [“Well as, one judge said to the other, 'Be just and if you can't be just be arbitrary.' 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No Holy Grail, No Final Satori, no solution. Just conflict. Only thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/there-is-no-final-enough-of-wisdom-experience-any-fucking-thing-no/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [“For John Dillinger In hope he is still alive Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1986 In hope he is still alive Thanks for the wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/for-john-dillinger-in-hope-he-is-still-alive-thanksgiving-day/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [“Did I ever tell you about the man who taught his asshole to talk? His whole abdomen would move up and down, you dig,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/did-i-ever-tell-you-about-the-man-who-taught-his-asshole-to-talk-his/) [William S. 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