--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I open this envelope fifty years from…" description: "\"“If I open this envelope fifty years from now, I will be again as I am now and there will be no being old for me. There's a long, long time yet before ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/betty-smith-1012_life_if-i-open-this-envelope-fifty-years-from_939140.png" --- # If I open this envelope fifty years from now, I will be… ![“If I open this envelope fifty years from now, I will be again as I am now and there will be no being old for me. There's a long, long time yet before fifty years...millions of hours of time. But one hour has gone already since I sat here...one hour less to live...one hour gone away from all the…” quote by Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/betty-smith-1012_life_if-i-open-this-envelope-fifty-years-from_939140.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/betty-smith-1012_life_if-i-open-this-envelope-fifty-years-from_939140.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/betty-smith-1012_life_if-i-open-this-envelope-fifty-years-from_939140.png) > ““If I open this envelope fifty years from now, I will be again as I am now and there will be no being old for me. There's a long, long time yet before fifty years...millions of hours of time. But one hour has gone already since I sat here...one hour less to live...one hour gone away from all the hours of my life.”” [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of time, realizing each hour lost diminishes a long life ahead. **In simple terms:** Time passes quickly, each hour matters. Key Takeaway Cherish each moment. Themes time mortality reflection Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal journaling - planning - mindfulness - legacy building Key Concepts existentialism temporal awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize moments? - What does this perspective change about your daily choices? A Different Perspective Life is finite; we cannot stop aging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Envelope Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envelope-years-1591028/) [Hour Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hour-gone-662993/) [Hours Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-life-1025716/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Long Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Millions Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions-hours-1591029/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Ah! what is human life? How, like the dial's tardy-moving shade, Day after day slides from us unperceiv'd! The cunning fugitive is swift by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/ah-what-is-human-life-how-like-the-dial-s-tardy-moving-shade-day/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [We spend millions of hours doing taxes and spend so much money doing our taxes. It should be very simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cohn/we-spend-millions-of-hours-doing-taxes-and-spend-so-much-money-doing/) [Gary Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cohn/) > [We said, there's another second gone, there's another minute and another hour and another day, when, as a matter of fact the second or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/we-said-there-s-another-second-gone-there-s-another-minute-and/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [That was the truly horrifying thing about it: the sense of time as an enemy, to be fought tooth and nail--but there was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-parker/that-was-the-truly-horrifying-thing-about-it-the-sense-of-time-as-an/) [K.J. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-parker/) > [I depart, Whither I know not; but the hour's gone by When Albion's lessening shores could grieve or glad mine eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/i-depart-whither-i-know-not-but-the-hour-s-gone-by-when-albion-s/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [I claim to know my millions. All the hours of the day I am with them. They are my first care and God that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-claim-to-know-my-millions-all-the-hours-of-the-day-i-am-with-them/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [You don't pay with money, you pay with hours of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-pay-with-money-you-pay-with-hours-of-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The average person living to age 70 has 613, 000 hours of life. This is too long a period not to have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-average-person-living-to-age-70-has-613-000-hours-of-life-this-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The heroic hours of life do not announce their presence by drum and trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-cardozo/the-heroic-hours-of-life-do-not-announce-their-presence-by-drum-and/) [Benjamin Cardozo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-cardozo/) > [ I was staying on \[writer/director/actor\] Eric Schaeffer's couch in New York, and he said, "I've got this movie \[If Lucy Fell\]. Can you do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-was-staying-on-writer-director-actor-eric-schaeffer-s-couch-in-new/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [S.C.H.O.O.L. Seven Crappy Hours of our Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/s-c-h-o-o-l-seven-crappy-hours-of-our-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I seem to spend a minimum of eight hours a day in transit of some sort or another... that's eight hours of your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skrillex/i-seem-to-spend-a-minimum-of-eight-hours-a-day-in-transit-of-some/) [Skrillex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skrillex/) > [The hours of your life are the most valuable currency you will ever have. How will you spend them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/the-hours-of-your-life-are-the-most-valuable-currency-you-will-ever/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Lonely hours are the best hours in life. Because its the only time we share our deepest secrets with the most trusted person in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/lonely-hours-are-the-best-hours-in-life-because-its-the-only-time-we/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [S.C.H.O.O.L Seven Crappy Hours OF Life C.L.A.S.S Come Late And Start Sleeping F.I.N.A.L.S Fuck I Never Actually Learned Shit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/s-c-h-o-o-l-seven-crappy-hours-of-life-c-l-a-s-s-come-late-and-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Betty Smith > [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Several times that day, the name or thought of Papa had come up. And each time, Francie had felt a flash of tenderness instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/several-times-that-day-the-name-or-thought-of-papa-had-come-up-and/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [As long as one can suffer, one is living…live and suffer until life is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/as-long-as-one-can-suffer-one-is-living-live-and-suffer-until-life-is/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Sissy told them they were way behind the times; that midwives were things of the past. Besides, she informed them proudly, she had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/sissy-told-them-they-were-way-behind-the-times-that-midwives-were/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Why, Mrs McGarrity's all right. Mr McGarrity's all right, too. 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It gets no sun, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/who-wants-to-die-everything-struggles-to-live-look-at-that-tree/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [It takes a lot of doing to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/it-takes-a-lot-of-doing-to-die/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“She sat in the sunshine watching the life on the street and guarding within herself, her own mystery of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/she-sat-in-the-sunshine-watching-the-life-on-the-street-and-guarding/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [...the reading, the observing, the living from day to day. It was something that had been born into her and her only - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/the-reading-the-observing-the-living-from-day-to-day-it-was-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [People always think that happiness is a faraway thing … something complicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/people-always-think-that-happiness-is-a-faraway-thing-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Hildy O’Dair is old for her age,” she thought. “It’s like powder was sprinkled on her yellow hair. But she’s not much older than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/hildy-o-dair-is-old-for-her-age-she-thought-it-s-like-powder-was/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“One day they’re babies in buggies and the next day they’re in here taking picks. Kids grow up quick in this neighborhood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/one-day-they-re-babies-in-buggies-and-the-next-day-they-re-in-here/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“If she never had any lovers, she kicks herself around when the change comes, thinking of all the fun she could have had, didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/if-she-never-had-any-lovers-she-kicks-herself-around-when-the-change/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) [Explore all 306 Betty Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. 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That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) [Deanna L. Lawlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-l-lawlis/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If I open this envelope fifty years from now, I will be again as I am now and there will be no being old for me. 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