--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The chief problem about death…" description: "\"The chief problem about death, incidentally, is the fear that there may be no afterlife - a depressing thought, particularly for those who bothered to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/woody-allen-176_afterlife_the-chief-problem-about-death-incidental_2563504.jpg" --- # The chief problem about death, incidentally, is the fear… ![“The chief problem about death, incidentally, is the fear that there may be no afterlife - a depressing thought, particularly for those who bothered to shave. Also, there is the fear that there is an afterlife but no one will know where it's being held. On the plus side, death is one of the few…” quote by Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/woody-allen-176_afterlife_the-chief-problem-about-death-incidental_2563504.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/woody-allen-176_afterlife_the-chief-problem-about-death-incidental_2563504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/woody-allen-176_afterlife_the-chief-problem-about-death-incidental_2563504.jpg) > “The chief problem about death, incidentally, is the fear that there may be no afterlife - a depressing thought, particularly for those who bothered to shave. Also, there is the fear that there is an afterlife but no one will know where it's being held. On the plus side, death is one of the few things that can be done as easily laying down.” [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Death’s absurdity lies in fearing both nonexistence and unknown afterlife, highlighting human anxiety about the unknown. **In simple terms:** Fear of death’s unknowns creates absurd worry. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and find humor. Themes mortality anxiety humor Mood wry reflective Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - stand‑up comedy - philosophical discussion Key Concepts existentialism absurdity Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront fear of the unknown? - What role does humor play in coping with mortality? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afterlife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afterlife/) [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Depressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressing/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [The chief problem about death ... is the fear that there may be no afterlife - a depressing thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-chief-problem-about-death-is-the-fear-that-there-may-be-no/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I don't think kids have a problem with death. 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We see people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/for-a-culture-that-has-such-a-problem-with-death-we-seem-to-deal-with/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [I might accept immortality, if I had to do it. But I would prefer - if there is any afterlife - to know nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-might-accept-immortality-if-i-had-to-do-it-but-i-would-prefer-if/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“I think of so many people who are no more, and I pity them. 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It is very simple: there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-complete-nihilism-to-propose-laying-down-arms-in-a-world-where/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She looks up at me with those vulnerable eyes. “What if it means something?” She asks. “What if it does?” “Promise me it won’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/she-looks-up-at-me-with-those-vulnerable-eyes-what-if-it-means/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [The best opinion now is, that there are multitudinous forms which are not sufficiently differentiated to be distinctively either plant or animal, while, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-gray/the-best-opinion-now-is-that-there-are-multitudinous-forms-which-are/) [Asa Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-gray/) > [Then a lawyer said, But what of our laws, master? And he answered: 'You delight in laying down laws. Yet you delight more in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-a-lawyer-said-but-what-of-our-laws-master-and-he-answered-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Add the hippie-rock-drugs atmosphere circa 1970, and you get Clinton's rechristened group Parliament, decked out in weird costumes, singing cosmic lyrics and laying down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-griffin/add-the-hippie-rock-drugs-atmosphere-circa-1970-and-you-get-clinton-s/) [Eddie Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-griffin/) > [I just want to keep laying down really great, strong characters, and the more I go unrecognized, the better job I feel I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-just-want-to-keep-laying-down-really-great-strong-characters-and/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) ## More by Woody Allen > [“True, science has conquered many diseases, broken the genetic code, and even placed human beings on the moon, and yet when a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/true-science-has-conquered-many-diseases-broken-the-genetic-code-and/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/bisexuality-immediately-doubles-your-chances-for-a-date-on-saturday/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-people-who-are-authentically/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I think Frank Capra was a much craftier filmmaker, a wonderful filmmaker. He had enormous technique, and he knew how to manipulate the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-frank-capra-was-a-much-craftier-filmmaker-a-wonderful/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The food here is terrible, and the portions are too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-food-here-is-terrible-and-the-portions-are-too-small/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Gauguin flew into a frenzy! 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And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/why-does-man-kill-he-kills-for-food-and-not-only-food-frequently/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [A stockbroker is someone who invests other people's money until it is all gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/a-stockbroker-is-someone-who-invests-other-people-s-money-until-it-is/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Man cannot live by bread alone. Every once in awhile he needs a salad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/man-cannot-live-by-bread-alone-every-once-in-awhile-he-needs-a-salad/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [All literature is a footnote to Faust. I have no idea what I mean by that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/all-literature-is-a-footnote-to-faust-i-have-no-idea-what-i-mean-by/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [There are two important things in the world, the first is sex. The other isn't all that important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/there-are-two-important-things-in-the-world-the-first-is-sex-the/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [You can't ride two horses with one behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-can-t-ride-two-horses-with-one-behind/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Is old age really so terrible? Not if you've brushed your teeth faithfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/is-old-age-really-so-terrible-not-if-you-ve-brushed-your-teeth/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) [Explore all 935 Woody Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## More Afterlife quotes > [I don't believe in an afterlife. I don't believe in a single or multiple godhead. I respect people who do, but I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-don-t-believe-in-an-afterlife-i-don-t-believe-in-a-single-or/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“There was no attack on religion because people were generally indifferent to religion. They were neither hot nor cold. 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