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Doesn't our knowledge of death make life more precious?' What good is a preciousness based on fear and anxiety? It's an anxious quivering thing
Don Delillo
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The awareness of death enhances the value of life, but if that awareness is rooted in fear, it undermines true appreciation.

In this quote, Don DeLillo explores the complex relationship between the concepts of life and death. He suggests that while understanding the inevitability of death can inspire us to cherish life, when this understanding is overshadowed by fear and anxiety, it distorts our perception. A life perceived through the lens of fear does not enable genuine appreciation; instead, it contributes to a state of anxiety that diminishes the beauty of existence.

Themes

LifeDeathFearAnxietyAppreciation

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the meaning of life, this quote could emphasize the importance of embracing life despite its impermanence.

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[I]n the American soul there is a lonely individual standing in a vast landscape. 
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