--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have never been able, really, to regret…" description: "\"I have never been able, really, to regret anything in all my life. I have always been far much too absorbed in the present moment or the immediate futu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/albert-camus-47_able_i-have-never-been-able-really-to-regret_2067523.jpg" --- # I have never been able, really, to regret anything in all… ![“I have never been able, really, to regret anything in all my life. I have always been far much too absorbed in the present moment or the immediate future to think back.” quote by Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/albert-camus-47_able_i-have-never-been-able-really-to-regret_2067523.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/albert-camus-47_able_i-have-never-been-able-really-to-regret_2067523.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/albert-camus-47_able_i-have-never-been-able-really-to-regret_2067523.jpg) > “I have never been able, really, to regret anything in all my life. I have always been far much too absorbed in the present moment or the immediate future to think back.” [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator lives fully in the present, avoiding regret by not dwelling on past or future. **In simple terms:** Living now prevents regret. Key Takeaway Embrace present moments without over‑analyzing. Themes presentism existentialism mindfulness Mood thoughtful philosophical Type existential reflective When to use this quote - daily routines - creative work - stressful decisions Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on now affect your decisions? - What balance of past, present, and future is healthy? A Different Perspective Neglecting reflection can repeat mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-moment/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I don't really regret anything in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cavallari/i-don-t-really-regret-anything-in-my-life/) [Kristin Cavallari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cavallari/) > [I know they say you shouldn't regret anything life, because at some point, it's what you wanted. But I really regret him. I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-they-say-you-shouldn-t-regret-anything-life-because-at-some/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't really regret things; you just have to move on and live your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-mccain/i-can-t-really-regret-things-you-just-have-to-move-on-and-live-your/) [Meghan McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-mccain/) > [I was asked the other day if I would be interested in the Nobel Prize, but I think that for me it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/i-was-asked-the-other-day-if-i-would-be-interested-in-the-nobel-prize/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [Actually, the only thing that I can honestly say I really regret now is the blackface thing. I did not understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-waltman/actually-the-only-thing-that-i-can-honestly-say-i-really-regret-now/) [Sean Waltman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-waltman/) > [Dear Internet users, One day you will really regret not reading me. Sincerely, Terms and Conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-internet-users-one-day-you-will-really-regret-not-reading-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you were a Democrat getting ready to run for office in the 2000s, as I was, you were told to stay clear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/if-you-were-a-democrat-getting-ready-to-run-for-office-in-the-2000s/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) > [I never sort of really regret anything because you make your choices and I like to stand by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-burton/i-never-sort-of-really-regret-anything-because-you-make-your-choices/) [Tim Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-burton/) > [I smoked for almost 10 years. I really regret that. Thankfully, I came out on the other side. I hope my lungs are repairing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-monaghan/i-smoked-for-almost-10-years-i-really-regret-that-thankfully-i-came/) [Michelle Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-monaghan/) > [I don't really regret anything about my youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-ryder/i-don-t-really-regret-anything-about-my-youth/) [Shaun Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-ryder/) > [I don't really regret much of my music life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/i-don-t-really-regret-much-of-my-music-life/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [When I look at my life I realise that the mistakes I have made, the things I really regret, were not errors of judgement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/when-i-look-at-my-life-i-realise-that-the-mistakes-i-have-made-the/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Sometimes I really regret that I did not live in those times when there was still so much that was new; to be sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-hertz/sometimes-i-really-regret-that-i-did-not-live-in-those-times-when/) [Heinrich Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-hertz/) > [I don't really regret much. I know there are things that I've done that have been wrong, and wish I could do over again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tebow/i-don-t-really-regret-much-i-know-there-are-things-that-i-ve-done/) [Tim Tebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tebow/) > [I really regret not making time to hang out with you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-really-regret-not-making-time-to-hang-out-with-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Albert Camus > [“The whole town rushed outside to celebrate this crowded minute when the time of suffering had ended and the time of forgetting had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-whole-town-rushed-outside-to-celebrate-this-crowded-minute-when/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Being is good, but getting rich is better… If the gods had only the riches of men's adoration, they would be as poor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/being-is-good-but-getting-rich-is-better-if-the-gods-had-only-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Having been, not only mutilated in our country, wounded in our very flesh, but also divested of our most beautiful images, for you gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/having-been-not-only-mutilated-in-our-country-wounded-in-our-very/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I've seen of enough of people who die for an idea. I don't believe in heroism; I know it's easy and I've learned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-ve-seen-of-enough-of-people-who-die-for-an-idea-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The best are led to make greater demands upon themselves. As for those who succumb, they did not deserve to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-best-are-led-to-make-greater-demands-upon-themselves-as-for-those/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Then he asked me if I wasn’t interested in a change of life. I said that people never change their lives, that in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/then-he-asked-me-if-i-wasn-t-interested-in-a-change-of-life-i-said/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Life is meaningless, but worth living, provided you recognize it's meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/life-is-meaningless-but-worth-living-provided-you-recognize-it-s/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Thinking of the future, establishing aims for oneself, having preferences-all this presupposes a belief in freedom, even if one occasionally ascertains that one doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/thinking-of-the-future-establishing-aims-for-oneself-having/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I explained to him, however, that my nature was such that my physical needs often got in the way of my feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-explained-to-him-however-that-my-nature-was-such-that-my-physical/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-only-way-to-deal-with-an-unfree-world-is-to-become-so-absolutely/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“We love people not because for good they did for us, but for good we did for them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-love-people-not-because-for-good-they-did-for-us-but-for-good-we/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [You have so much inside you, and the noblest happiness of all. Don’t just wait for a man to come along. That’s the mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/you-have-so-much-inside-you-and-the-noblest-happiness-of-all-don-t/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The desire for possession is insatiable, to such a point that it can survive even love itself. To love, therefore, is to sterilize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-desire-for-possession-is-insatiable-to-such-a-point-that-it-can/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) [Explore all 1,600 Albert Camus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have never been able, really, to regret anything in all my life. I have always been far much too absorbed in the present moment or the immediate future to think back.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Camus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-have-never-been-able-really-to-regret-anything-in-all-my-life-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-have-never-been-able-really-to-regret-anything-in-all-my-life-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/albert-camus-47_able_i-have-never-been-able-really-to-regret_2067523.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/albert-camus-47_able_i-have-never-been-able-really-to-regret_2067523.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/albert-camus-47_able_i-have-never-been-able-really-to-regret_2067523.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have never been able, really, to regret anything in all my life. I have always been far much too absorbed…” — Albert Camus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Camus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have never been able, really,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-have-never-been-able-really-to-regret-anything-in-all-my-life-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-have-never-been-able-really-to-regret-anything-in-all-my-life-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```