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A warrior-hunter knows that his death is waiting, and the very act he is performing now may well be his last battle on earth. He calls it a battle because it is a struggle. Most people move from act to act without any struggle or thought. A warrior-hunter, on the contrary, assesses every act; and since he has intimate knowledge of his death, he proceeds judiciously, as if every act were his last battle. Only a fool would fail to notice the advantage a warrior-hunter has over his fellow men. A warrior-hunter gives his last battle its due respect. It's only natural that his last act on earth should be the best of himself. It's pleasurable that way. It dulls the edge of his fright.

Carlos Castaneda#20

LifeDeathFocusMindfulnessStruggle

About this quote

What does it mean?
Accepting death makes every action a meaningful struggle.
In plain terms
Act like each action is your last because it might be.
What can you take from it?
Accept mortality to make every action count.

Where it applies

  • high-stakes decisions
  • daily focus
  • risk taking

Putting it to work

  • practice awareness
  • live intentionally

Questions to consider

  • How would you act if today was your last?
  • Are you living fully?

Another view

Living in constant fear of death can be paralyzing.

More from Carlos Castaneda

  1. A warrior thinks of death when things become unclear. The idea of death is the only thing that tempers our spirit.

    Permalink to quote #19
  2. An average man is too concerned with liking people or with being liked himself. A warrior likes, that's all. He likes whatever or whomever he wants, for the he…

    Permalink to quote #21
  3. A warrior takes responsibility for his acts; for the most trivial of his acts. He waits patiently, knowing that he is waiting, and knowing what he is waiting f…

    Permalink to quote #18

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