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When you see a parent pass, and you literally are there, and you're sitting at that deathbed, man, and you have to tell them to go, it defines life for what it really is.
Viola Davis
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects on the profound experience of witnessing a loved one's passing and its impact on understanding life.

Viola Davis articulates the painful yet transformative experience of being present at a loved one's deathbed, which serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life. This experience challenges individuals to confront the essential truths about existence, love, and the impermanence of human connections. Ultimately, it evokes a deeper appreciation for the moments we have and the relationships we cherish.

Themes

LifeDeathLossLoveRelationshipsGrief

In practice

Example use cases

During a eulogy, one could use this quote to emphasize the lessons learned from loss.

More from Viola Davis

The more I'm pushed in a position of leadership and I know I have to be the mouthpiece for so many other people who can't speak for themselves, the more confidence I'm gaining.
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What excites me is just taking some time to breathe in life. The mundane is very exciting.
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I don't care if someone is new to acting or experienced in acting: you always learn something from them. It's just like people in life - whether they're young or middle-aged or old, you always learn something from someone.
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I don't see a lot of narratives written where a woman who looks like me gets to be beautiful and sexualized and upwardly mobile, middle-class, funny, quirky. They're very seldom written.
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And that's what people want to see when they go to the theater. I believe at the end of the day, they want to see themselves - parts of their lives they can recognize. And I feel if I can achieve that, it's pretty spectacular.
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There's no prerequisites to worthiness. You're born worthy, and I think that's a message a lot of women need to hear.
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