This sadness is one of the great trials of the human experiment. As far as we know, we are the only species on the planet who have been given the gift—or curse, perhaps—of awareness about our own mortality. Everything here eventually dies; we're just the lucky ones who get to think about this fact every day.

About Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert (born July 18, 1969) is an American journalist and author. Her 2006 memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, has sold over 12 million copies and has been translated into over 30 languages. The book was also made into a film of the same name in 2010.

More quotations from Elizabeth Gilbert

Big deal. So you fell in love with someone. Don't you see what happened? This guy touched a place in your heart deeper than you thought you were capable of reaching, I mean, you got zapped. But that love you felt, that's just the beginning. You just got a taste of love. That's just limited little rinky-dink mortal love. Wait till you see how much more deeply you can love than that.

—Elizabeth Gilbert in Love

You should never give yourself the chance to fall apart because, when you do, it becomes a tendency and it happens over and over again. You must practice being strong instead.

—Elizabeth Gilbert in Love

strength falling apart

Why must everything be repeat and repeat, never finish, never resting? You work so hard one day, but the next day you must only work again. You eat, but the next day, you are already hungry. You find love, then love goes away. You are born with nothing, you work hard, then you die with nothing. You are young, then you are old. No matter how hard you work, you cannot stop getting old.

—Elizabeth Gilbert in Love

My hypersensitive awareness of time's speed led me to push myself to experience life at a maximum pace. If I were going to have such a short visit on earth, I had to do everything possible to experience it now.

—Elizabeth Gilbert in Love

awareness time experience speed maximizing

Find somebody new to love someday. Take the time you need to heal, but don't forget to eventually share your heart with someone.

—Elizabeth Gilbert in Love

love heart sharing healing

History

10 Feb 2015 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

This sadness is one of the great trials of the human experiment. As far as we know, we are the only species on the planet who have been given the gift―or curse, perhaps―of awareness about our own mortality. Everything here eventually dies; we're just the lucky ones who get to think about this fact every day.