"In the last analysis, it is our conception of death which decides our answers to all the questions that life puts to us."

Life

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Insight & Reflection

This reflection on life by Dag Hammarskjold resonates across generations. It highlights a fundamental truth about human nature: our continuous search for meaning in life is what ultimately defines our character and our path forward.

About Dag Hammarskjold

Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in September 1961. As of 2026, he remains the youngest person to have held the post, having been only 47 years old when he was elected. He was a son of Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, who served as Prime Minister of Sweden from 1914 to 1917.

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Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the Quotes Archive Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by Dag Hammarskjold

"Your body must become familiar with its death - in all its possible forms and degrees - as a self-evident, imminent, and emotionally neutral step on the way towards the goal you have found worthy of your life."

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"Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find the right road."

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More about Life

"It is a profound truth that the ocean of adversity cannot drown the spirit that resolves to stay afloat — an essential principle for the reflective life."

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