Death is a subject most of us hope to avoid—though none of us will be entirely successful at this evasion. It is, however, a moving, though stern teacher, admonishing us to pay closer attention to the seemingly meaningless moments that fill out our days and give definition to our lives. Just as a work of art is given shape and beauty by its negative space, our lives also find form and purpose in the “dark”, “negative”, or “empty” moments of our lives. 

When we take a moment to compassionately observe our pangs of grief, sighs of sorrow, or moments of existential dread, we connect more directly to the powerful force that is life and its desires, ambitions, and accomplishments— all of which pale in comparison to the miraculous nature of existence itself! To know the fullness of life is to acknowledge the limitations of humanity and certain death. As you reflect on these 20 Quotes on The Nature and Meaning of Death, plant yourself more firmly in the soil of life so that you may flourish in the hallowed grounds of this earthly plane, wholly enriched by the temporal nature of death and fleetingness of  human existence.

1. “Death does not exist, people only die when they are forgotten; if you can remember me I will always be with you.”

– Isabel Allende

2. “To weep is to make less the depth of grief.”

– William Shakespeare

3. “Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive — the risk to be alive and express what we really are.”

– Don Miguel Ruiz

4. “Death never takes a wise man by surprise; he is always ready to go.”

-Jean de la Fontaine

5. “Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation.”

– Alejandro Gonzalez I ́ nã rritu ́

6. “Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives.”

-A. Sachs

7. “Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”

– Rabindranath Tagore

8. “Death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life.”

– Steve Jobs

9. “The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?”

-Edgar Allan Poe

10. “Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.”

– Haruki Murakami

11. “Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.”

-Lao Tzu

12. “Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force.”

– Yoda

13. “Birth and death are not two different states, but they are different aspects of the same state.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

14. “Life is a great surprise. I do not see why death should not be an even greater one.”

– Vladimir Nabokov

15. “The call of death is a call of love. Death can be sweet if we answer it in the affirmative.”

– Hermann Hesse

16. “Death is only the end if you assume the story is about you.”

– Welcome to Night Vale

17. “Death ends a life, not a relationship.”

– Mitch Albom

18. “It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it’s called Life.”

– Terry Pratchett

19. “Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.”

– Norman Cousins

20. “Death truly does have life, and walks with and lives through us every day.

– Nicholas A. McGirr