What is the meaning of the quote “Each person is born to one possession which outvalues all his others – his last breath” by Mark Twain?

(Follow The Equator; A Journey Around The world By Mark Twain, The American Publishing Company, Hartford, 1897, Ch. XLI, Pudd’shead Wilson’s New Calendar; p.386)

(This quote is also found in: Follow The Equator; A Journey Around The world By Mark Twain, Courier Corporation, 2011, Ch. XLI, Pudd’shead Wilson’s New Calendar; p.386)

As you know we all will live until our very last breath.

What Mark Twain meant is, whatever you have or possess (money, fame, good look, etc) cannot be compared to your own life.

In short, our life is the most precious thing we possess.

When you are dead, all our material possessions have no value to us any more. Except probably to our beneficiaries.

As what is mentioned in the book by the English motorcycle racer and television personality Guy Martin, titled “Guy Martin: When You Dead, You Dead“.

Guy Martin’s grandfather frequently reminded him,‘When you dead, you dead.’

So, before it’s all over, we should be making the most of the time we still got.

By the way, here is another quotation on last breath by Mark Twain:

“A distinguished man should be as particular about his last words as he is about his last breath.” – Mark Twain

(Life As I Find It: A Treasury of Mark Twain Rarities Edited By Charles Neider, Cooper Square Press, 2000, Last Words Of Great Men; p.29)

Read my selection of verified authentic quotes by Mark Twain that linked to credible sources.