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About this quote

What does it mean?
Death is compared to the tediousness of an insurance salesman to highlight the latter's unbearable nature.
In plain terms
Life with a salesman is worse than dying.
What can you take from it?
Use hyperbole to emphasize how unpleasant an experience feels.

Where it applies

  • social gatherings
  • small talk
  • existential humor

Putting it to work

  • writing jokes
  • lightening mood
  • storytelling

Questions to consider

  • What makes you dread social situations?
  • How do you describe boredom?

Another view

It equates a mundane annoyance with the finality of death.

More from Woody Allen

  1. The important thing, I think, is not to be bitter... if it turns about that there is a God, I don't think that he is evil. I think that the worst thing you cou…

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  2. The key is, to not think of death as an end, but as more of a very effective way to cut down on your expenses.

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  3. Human beings are divided into mind and body. The mind embraces all the nobler aspirations, like poetry and philosophy, but the body has all the fun.

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