Live for nothing OR die for something.
You either choose to live a meaningless life i.e.becoming an average person in society at best or at worse, a totally worthless human being. Or working hard/struggle/die to attain that good u are yearning for in life to become that outstanding person u want to be. Example: What would it take for u to become a rich person? Or if u are still a student in school, do u want to be a doctor in the future? Are u willing to sacrifice something or take that risk or will u opt to give up or shy away?
It's synonymous with the phrase,''give up or die trying''.