--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You hit a certain age, and you haven't…" description: "\"You hit a certain age, and you haven't died yet, and you become an elder statesman. I think I get a lot of applause because I'm not keeling over.\" — Al..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/alan-arkin-5379_age_you-hit-a-certain-age-and-you-haven-t-di_568694.png" --- # You hit a certain age, and you haven't died yet, and you… ![“You hit a certain age, and you haven't died yet, and you become an elder statesman. I think I get a lot of applause because I'm not keeling over.” quote by Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/alan-arkin-5379_age_you-hit-a-certain-age-and-you-haven-t-di_568694.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/alan-arkin-5379_age_you-hit-a-certain-age-and-you-haven-t-di_568694.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/alan-arkin-5379_age_you-hit-a-certain-age-and-you-haven-t-di_568694.png) > “You hit a certain age, and you haven't died yet, and you become an elder statesman. I think I get a lot of applause because I'm not keeling over.” [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aging brings respect and visibility, but also highlights the fragility of life and the privilege of still being active. **In simple terms:** Getting older gives you respect and notice, but also shows how lucky you are to be alive. Key Takeaway Cherish health and stay engaged. Themes age respect visibility mortality celebration Mood reflective grateful thoughtful Type inspirational philosophical personal When to use this quote - public speaking - celebrity events - mentor roles - health advocacy Key Concepts longevity public perception career longevity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance gratitude for health with the pressures of public expectation? - What responsibilities come with being an elder statesman? A Different Perspective Being alive is not guaranteed; fame can mask underlying health issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) [Certain age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-age/) [Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elder/) ## Related quotes > [He has not yet become an elder statesman, though his foreign policy credentials are considerable, but he is certainly our ancient mariner, forever tugging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-steel/he-has-not-yet-become-an-elder-statesman-though-his-foreign-policy/) [Ronald Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-steel/) > [I definitely get the sense that I'm an elder statesman, but I don't know if there's an impact - and I'm not saying that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-definitely-get-the-sense-that-i-m-an-elder-statesman-but-i-don-t/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [He's passed from rising hope to elder statesman without any intervening period whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-foot/he-s-passed-from-rising-hope-to-elder-statesman-without-any/) [Michael Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foot/) > [“Boonie wondered with sadness, Why don't I have any real memories like that of this elder statesman who happens to live in our house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-stroh/boonie-wondered-with-sadness-why-don-t-i-have-any-real-memories-like/) [Suzanne Stroh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-stroh/) > [You'll hear a lot of applause in your life, but none will mean more to you than that applause from your peers. I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/you-ll-hear-a-lot-of-applause-in-your-life-but-none-will-mean-more-to/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [“I tell the players: You'll hear a lot of applause in your life, fellas, but none will mean more to you than that applause-from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/i-tell-the-players-you-ll-hear-a-lot-of-applause-in-your-life-fellas/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [ Getting a lot of applause, announcing military reforms and upgrades. It's a really good speech \[of Donald Trump\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/getting-a-lot-of-applause-announcing-military-reforms-and-upgrades-it/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Part of me would love to have been a leading lady because there's a lot of glamour that goes with that and a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-blair/part-of-me-would-love-to-have-been-a-leading-lady-because-there-s-a/) [Selma Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-blair/) > [The fastest way for a politician to become an elder statesman is to lose an election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/the-fastest-way-for-a-politician-to-become-an-elder-statesman-is-to/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [The difference between being an elder statesman And posing successfully as an elder statesman Is practically negligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/the-difference-between-being-an-elder-statesman-and-posing/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [At 82, Nelson (who wrote the song "On the Road Again," among a thousand or more others) is the elder statesman of country music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/at-82-nelson-who-wrote-the-song-on-the-road-again-among-a-thousand-or/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [To be called an elder statesman is so unbelievably insulting. Brad Pitt is exactly three years younger than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/to-be-called-an-elder-statesman-is-so-unbelievably-insulting-brad/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [“Useless the Elder was looking at me in amusement. “Not exactly stalwart, are you?” he said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/useless-the-elder-was-looking-at-me-in-amusement-not-exactly-stalwart/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [Find…this...elder boy…any guess…if found…tell me…….](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun/find-this-elder-boy-any-guess-if-found-tell-me/) [Arun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun/) > [Poetry is the elder sister of history, the mother of language, the ancestress of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-f-whitney/poetry-is-the-elder-sister-of-history-the-mother-of-language-the/) [Orson F. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-f-whitney/) ## More by Alan Arkin > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [If I'm going to make a fake movie, it's going to be a fake hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/if-i-m-going-to-make-a-fake-movie-it-s-going-to-be-a-fake-hit/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I don't mind watching plays once in a while, but as long as I don't have to be in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-mind-watching-plays-once-in-a-while-but-as-long-as-i-don-t/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I had a hard time treating my field as if it's horse racing, putting actors in competition against each other. I see how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-had-a-hard-time-treating-my-field-as-if-it-s-horse-racing-putting/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Creativity means learning where the rules exist, and then breaking them! Saying, "It's better this way." But you have to know the rules in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/creativity-means-learning-where-the-rules-exist-and-then-breaking/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Things have got to add up to 100 points. The script is part of it, the character is part of it, the people I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/things-have-got-to-add-up-to-100-points-the-script-is-part-of-it-the/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I don't sense that I am someone's hero, though I'm happy when people like my work. 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To isolate things is not the way the universe works - winning best actor is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/every-physicist-knows-that-things-connect-with-each-other-to-isolate/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I don't know why we have to put things in boxes of superlatives. That isolates them. Life is fluid, and the minute you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-know-why-we-have-to-put-things-in-boxes-of-superlatives-that/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [People think that the people in Hollywood have some master plan. They just make the movies that people go to see. I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/people-think-that-the-people-in-hollywood-have-some-master-plan-they/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I'm very old. I haven't got time to be charming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-m-very-old-i-haven-t-got-time-to-be-charming/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I'm an actor. My life as an actor depends on who sends me what. I'm just taking the best stuff that I can find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-m-an-actor-my-life-as-an-actor-depends-on-who-sends-me-what-i-m/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Education does not mean jamming information into somebody's head. Rather, it's that ancient idea that all knowledge is within us; to teach is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/education-does-not-mean-jamming-information-into-somebody-s-head/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) [Explore all 101 Alan Arkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You hit a certain age, and you haven't died yet, and you become an elder statesman. 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