The quote from Richard Adams' "Watership Down" reflects the precarious existence of rabbits, who are constantly aware of their mortality. Living in an environment filled with natural predators, their lives are a relentless pursuit of survival. When faced with heightened threats, their focus narrows significantly, limiting their capacity for anything beyond the instinct to survive. This encapsulates the harsh realities of nature and the challenges that all living beings must confront in the face of danger.

Adams uses this perspective to illustrate a broader theme about life and survival. By emphasizing the rabbits' acute awareness of death, he invites readers to consider how fear influences behavior and thought. In times of crisis, the instinct for self-preservation often overshadows other emotions and pursuits, highlighting the deep instinctual drives that govern not just animals but also humans in their struggles against adversity.