5 ms·

Steve Jobs turned the ideas in that quote into a commencement speech after his cancer diagnosis. It concludes with: Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the m

Steve Jobs turned the ideas in that quote into a commencement speech after his cancer diagnosis. It concludes with: Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

scandox 4y ago
It is handy when your heart is in something financially remunerative though. My heart tends toward the gutter. Not complaining though.
- matwood 4y ago
  I knew I would get your comment and almost left out the last line because of it. But, I wanted to keep the quote complete. It still works even if you leave out follow your heart.
smoldesu 4y ago
It's a shame he never took the advice to heart. Jobs' last days were unnecessarily painful for both himself and his family, who desperately tried helping him only to be pushed away and insulted. Jobs was good at echoing the wisdom of people smarter than him, but not so great at using those principles to fix his own life.
- voisin 4y ago
  > Jobs was good at echoing the wisdom of people smarter than him, but not so great at using those principles to fix his own life. This applies to most people.
  - hirvi74 4y ago
    Yep, my favorite philosopher, Alan Watts basically died from alcoholism. Though, I am not sure whether his teachings would condone that or not for I have seen a few people argue either way.
    - parroteal 4y ago
      Oh, wow! I didn't know that. I've listened to him for hours and hours. The thing with alcohol (and most psychoactive drugs) is it literally changes the brain - and by that the person. The young person that says: "I would never let it get this far!" is basically right when it says that. But prolonged use of the drug changes that person. And that new person definitely will let it get this far, because it sees new justifications for doing so. I know from experience unfortunately. I don't think sober Alan Watts would approve of severe alcoholism as something 'no better or worse' than any other activity to spend your day. But I can clearly see a drinking Alan Watts run circles around anybody arguing the same thing.
    - paidefsou 4y ago
      One of my best too! Best line i have ever read is quoted in a few lines i wrote here...https://www.pedefsou.com/posts/still-forgeting-to-live-the-moment/ https://www.pedefsou.com/posts/still-forgeting-to-live-the-m...
- fakedang 4y ago
  > Jobs was good at echoing the wisdom of people smarter than him, but not so great at using those principles to fix his own life. One quote by Konosuke Matsushita that I've heard (which I think he quoted from a Japanese one) : The light is darkest underneath the lighthouse.

scandox 4y ago

It is handy when your heart is in something financially remunerative though. My heart tends toward the gutter. Not complaining though.

matwood 4y ago
I knew I would get your comment and almost left out the last line because of it. But, I wanted to keep the quote complete. It still works even if you leave out follow your heart.

smoldesu 4y ago

It's a shame he never took the advice to heart. Jobs' last days were unnecessarily painful for both himself and his family, who desperately tried helping him only to be pushed away and insulted. Jobs was good at echoing the wisdom of people smarter than him, but not so great at using those principles to fix his own life.

voisin 4y ago
> Jobs was good at echoing the wisdom of people smarter than him, but not so great at using those principles to fix his own life. This applies to most people.
- hirvi74 4y ago
  Yep, my favorite philosopher, Alan Watts basically died from alcoholism. Though, I am not sure whether his teachings would condone that or not for I have seen a few people argue either way.
  - parroteal 4y ago
    Oh, wow! I didn't know that. I've listened to him for hours and hours. The thing with alcohol (and most psychoactive drugs) is it literally changes the brain - and by that the person. The young person that says: "I would never let it get this far!" is basically right when it says that. But prolonged use of the drug changes that person. And that new person definitely will let it get this far, because it sees new justifications for doing so. I know from experience unfortunately. I don't think sober Alan Watts would approve of severe alcoholism as something 'no better or worse' than any other activity to spend your day. But I can clearly see a drinking Alan Watts run circles around anybody arguing the same thing.
  - paidefsou 4y ago
    One of my best too! Best line i have ever read is quoted in a few lines i wrote here...https://www.pedefsou.com/posts/still-forgeting-to-live-the-moment/ https://www.pedefsou.com/posts/still-forgeting-to-live-the-m...
fakedang 4y ago
> Jobs was good at echoing the wisdom of people smarter than him, but not so great at using those principles to fix his own life. One quote by Konosuke Matsushita that I've heard (which I think he quoted from a Japanese one) : The light is darkest underneath the lighthouse.