--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's better to regret something you HAVE…" description: "\"It's better to regret something you HAVE done than something you haven't done.\" — Billie Joe Armstrong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00f/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_better_it-s-better-to-regret-something-you-have_2037002.jpg" --- # It's better to regret something you HAVE done than… ![“It's better to regret something you HAVE done than something you haven't done.” quote by Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00f/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_better_it-s-better-to-regret-something-you-have_2037002.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00f/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_better_it-s-better-to-regret-something-you-have_2037002.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00f/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_better_it-s-better-to-regret-something-you-have_2037002.jpg) > “It's better to regret something you HAVE done than something you haven't done.” [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Regretting actions taken is preferable to missing opportunities, because experience, even painful, offers growth and learning. **In simple terms:** Acting and regretting is better than never trying. Key Takeaway Choose action over in. Themes regret action growth opportunity learning Mood motivational cautious Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - starting a new project - speaking up in meetings - traveling alone - trying a new hobby Key Concepts risk‑taking personal development decision‑making Questions to Reflect On - What action have you avoided out of fear? - How might regret shape your future choices? A Different Perspective Regret can also cause lingering guilt; not all actions lead to positive outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haven/) [Live for the moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-for-the-moment/) [Live for today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-for-today/) [Live life to the fullest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-life-to-the-fullest/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) ## Related quotes > [It's better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven't done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-better-to-regret-something-you-have-done-than-to-regret/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's better to regret what you have done than what you haven't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-arden/it-s-better-to-regret-what-you-have-done-than-what-you-haven-t/) [Paul Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-arden/) > [“it’s not what you’ve done that will fill you with regret, but what you haven’t done?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/it-s-not-what-you-ve-done-that-will-fill-you-with-regret-but-what-you/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) > [I don't regret anything I haven't done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-green/i-don-t-regret-anything-i-haven-t-done/) [Philip Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-green/) > [There's no guarantee for the future; might as well be HAPPY now, and give my BEST in everything I do! In that way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/there-s-no-guarantee-for-the-future-might-as-well-be-happy-now-and/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [To live, we just need to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/to-live-we-just-need-to-be-alive/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [The way I see it, you should live everyday like it's your birthday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paris-hilton/the-way-i-see-it-you-should-live-everyday-like-it-s-your-birthday/) [Paris Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paris-hilton/) > [I very much regret that I haven't been taken more seriously. I would love to have been at the National or the RSC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/i-very-much-regret-that-i-haven-t-been-taken-more-seriously-i-would/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) > [Dance before the music is over. Live before your Life is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dance-before-the-music-is-over-live-before-your-life-is-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Make Use of this moment right now to create something precious, sometimes there is no next time. Sometimes, there are no second chances. Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/make-use-of-this-moment-right-now-to-create-something-precious/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [Today's moment becomes memory of tomorrow. Embrace each moment with happiness, joy and fulfillment. Strive to enjoy your day to the fullest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/today-s-moment-becomes-memory-of-tomorrow-embrace-each-moment-with/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [Your capacity to live now will endure, those who live life in the moment have no fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/your-capacity-to-live-now-will-endure-those-who-live-life-in-the/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Hands down, this is the best day of my life. And quite possibly the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-the-snowman/hands-down-this-is-the-best-day-of-my-life-and-quite-possibly-the-last/) Olaf The Snowman > [People Say you only live life once... I say live life the way it was meant to be with Family, Friends, and Laughter. Live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/people-say-you-only-live-life-once-i-say-live-life-the-way-it-was/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [There is no limit to what you can do. Don't focus on money or success just be the moment. Forget the naysayers, forget the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/there-is-no-limit-to-what-you-can-do-don-t-focus-on-money-or-success/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) ## More by Billie Joe Armstrong > [You want a drumstick? Like a ice cream cone or a chicken wing!?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/you-want-a-drumstick-like-a-ice-cream-cone-or-a-chicken-wing/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [Time passes by like lightning. Before you know it you're struck down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/time-passes-by-like-lightning-before-you-know-it-you-re-struck-down/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I just wanted to get the hell out of my town. I wanted to leave with reckless abandon. 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But I was the joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-thought-everybody-was-in-on-the-joke-but-i-was-the-joke/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I just open my mouth and out it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-just-open-my-mouth-and-out-it-comes/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I never thought being obnoxious would get me where I am today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-never-thought-being-obnoxious-would-get-me-where-i-am-today/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [When someone is in a car accident and they're driving at 100 mph, drunk, who's tape do you think his listening to at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/when-someone-is-in-a-car-accident-and-they-re-driving-at-100-mph/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [History will tell if we were really a good band or just a one day fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/history-will-tell-if-we-were-really-a-good-band-or-just-a-one-day-fly/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [“If someone falls down, please pick them back up. 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