Live by X

I’ve been pondering the following idiom:

“Live by the sword, die by the sword.”

This seems plain enough. If one lives by violence, then violence will be their end. My pondering has led me to wonder if this idiom works in other areas. Example:

“Live by ice cream, die by ice cream.”

Could it be that whatever we believe gives us life (through protection, a heightened emotion, or some other promise) is what ultimately will be our end?

If this is true,

“Live by x, die by x.”

The only thing I can think of to complete that equation with any sense of peace is to live by Love.