What we live by we die by!

[Anonymous]

What did Robert Frost really mean with this quote.

What we live by we die by?

[immaterial]

That's an interesting question.

The quote would seem to possess obvious parallels to the fairly well known adage: "live by the sword, die by the sword." Suggesting perhaps that the manner in which we choose to live our lives will determine the manner by which we meet our end.

Alternatively, it could be that Frost was suggesting that what we truly live by, we will be willing to die for. To offer a possible example of what he may have meant... if one truly lives by their honor, then one would be willing to die for their honor. If a person is not willing to die for something, then Frost might be suggesting they don't truly live by it.

I imagine there are other possible interpretations as well.

[BatDoc]

In simplest terms, it appears to mean that what ever you live by, trust, friendship, honor, loyalty, etc., you are willing to die for that cause.

Now with any writing, who knows what the hell Robert Frost meant when he wrote it. He may have wrote it just because it sounded good at the time and fit the piece he was writing.

Are you doing this for some sort of Literature class assignment?

[snow-white-eyes]

The way you live, however you choose to do so, will kill you. The only guarantee of life is death.

[Anonymous]

well that what we do changes how we are going to end up

[Blobb]

Well he forgot an essential part of the sentence being by "something" in both instances. So I guess Robert Frost needs some lessons in making quotes less cryptic, you could fill in the blanks with literally anything and the meaning will change every time.

[Alessus]

I'd say it means that what you believe in will be with you to the end. If you really believe in being altruistic, for example, then you'll be like that to the very end. It might also mean that you'll die because of it.

[GreatnessPersonified]

It's like the bible quote, "by the measure you judge others, you will be judged." or something like that.

However, you live your life you will live that way until the end. If you are angry, you will die angry. You are happy, you will die happy.

[Sekrett]

Not sure probably meant what Jesus said in the Bible. Put down your sword. Who live by the sword die by the sword.

[Anonymous]

Live by the sword, die by the sword. It means, if you're going to live dangerously, you're probably going to die pretty quickly

[Anonymous]

It says that you're gonna die either way.