About this quote

Facing the end of life without terror requires a daily commitment to truth. You cannot buy peace of mind on your deathbed if you spent your years chasing cheap distractions. Do you examine your choices right now, or are you just drifting? Living deliberately means aligning your actions with what is honest and good, leaving no room for regret. When you live this way, finality loses its power to scare you.

When to use it

• An elderly grandfather refuses to panic when his doctor shares a terminal prognosis, telling his crying family that he spent his years loving them well and has nothing left to fear.
• A corporate lawyer walks away from a highly lucrative partnership because the firm's corrupt practices keep him awake at night. He chooses his peace of mind over a fat bank account.
• A university student decides to major in philosophy despite her parents' insistence on business school, knowing that learning how to live well matters more than immediate financial utility.