“It is not death that alarms me, but dying.”

Simplified Meaning:

The quote talks about how the author is not scared of being dead, but is afraid of the process of dying. Imagine someone who is nervous about going to the dentist. They are not worried about having clean teeth at the end, but they are scared of the pain and discomfort they might feel during the dental procedure. In the same way, many people are not frightened by the idea of no longer being alive, because they think that once you are dead, you can't feel anything anymore. However, the fear comes from thinking about the time just before death, which might involve a lot of pain or suffering. For instance, a person with a serious illness might not be scared of being dead, but might be very worried about the treatments they have to go through that could be painful or make them feel very weak and sick. They’re more concerned about enduring those moments of pain and uncertainty. This idea can help us understand our fears better. Maybe we can focus on finding ways to make those last moments as comfortable and peaceful as possible, rather than dwelling on the fear. Living a full and meaningful life can also help us feel less scared about the way it might end.