--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We live only a few conscious decades, and…" description: "\"We live only a few conscious decades, and we fret ourselves enough for several lifetimes.\" — Christopher Hitchens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/christopher-hitchens-117_anxiety_we-live-only-a-few-conscious-decades-and_1980788.jpg" --- # We live only a few conscious decades, and we fret… ![“We live only a few conscious decades, and we fret ourselves enough for several lifetimes.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/christopher-hitchens-117_anxiety_we-live-only-a-few-conscious-decades-and_1980788.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/christopher-hitchens-117_anxiety_we-live-only-a-few-conscious-decades-and_1980788.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/christopher-hitchens-117_anxiety_we-live-only-a-few-conscious-decades-and_1980788.jpg) > “We live only a few conscious decades, and we fret ourselves enough for several lifetimes.” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human consciousness is brief, yet we waste much time worrying as though we had many lifetimes. **In simple terms:** We over‑worry despite short lives. Key Takeaway Focus on present meaning. Themes mortality mindfulness existentialism Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - daily routines - long‑term planning - health decisions Key Concepts time perception anxiety purpose Questions to Reflect On - What worries consume your day? - How can you reframe anxiety into purpose? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on worry can paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Conscious Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-decades-3380677/) [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Decades Fret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades-fret-3380678/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Lifetimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetimes/) [Live Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-conscious-1741314/) ## Related quotes > [Energy use, transportation options, food choices, water use, purchasing choices, participating in elections, volunteering for nonprofits . . . and within each of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayni-chase/energy-use-transportation-options-food-choices-water-use-purchasing/) [Jayni Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayni-chase/) > [To live with the conscious knowledge of the shadow of uncertainty, with the knowledge that disaster or tragedy could strike at any time; to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-abrahams/to-live-with-the-conscious-knowledge-of-the-shadow-of-uncertainty/) [Peter Abrahams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-abrahams/) > [The busier we are, the more acutely we feel that we live, the more conscious we are of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-busier-we-are-the-more-acutely-we-feel-that-we-live-the-more/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“Do not look up to celebrities. Learn to live a conscious and celebrated life yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kulkarni/do-not-look-up-to-celebrities-learn-to-live-a-conscious-and/) [Akshay Kulkarni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kulkarni/) > [And for me there's still more material than 20 lifetimes that I can use up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/and-for-me-there-s-still-more-material-than-20-lifetimes-that-i-can/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [“In our lifetimes, we can only know a small portion of what exists. The world is endless and its treasures are inexhaustible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-webster/in-our-lifetimes-we-can-only-know-a-small-portion-of-what-exists-the/) [Barry Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-webster/) > [That's why their realization is not integrated and complete, and they must go through many, many lifetimes very often before that acceptance will take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/that-s-why-their-realization-is-not-integrated-and-complete-and-they/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [With all the technology we're inventing and what they're coming up with scientifically, people are having longer lifetimes. It's scary, but in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-murphy/with-all-the-technology-we-re-inventing-and-what-they-re-coming-up/) [Brittany Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-murphy/) > [Some of our most powerful works of art have been produced by older Americans-by hands that have engaged in years of hard work, eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/some-of-our-most-powerful-works-of-art-have-been-produced-by-older/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If the politics of inaction and delay that have triumphed in this country continues for another decade, then Planetary Purgatory in the likely future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-romm/if-the-politics-of-inaction-and-delay-that-have-triumphed-in-this/) [Joseph J. Romm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-romm/) > [Michael Jackson was not an artist who comes along once in a decade, a generation, or a lifetime. He was an artist who comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berry-gordy/michael-jackson-was-not-an-artist-who-comes-along-once-in-a-decade-a/) [Berry Gordy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berry-gordy/) > [“You could live a hundred lifetimes and not deserve him, you know,” Haymitch says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/you-could-live-a-hundred-lifetimes-and-not-deserve-him-you-know/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Most of us would be happy with one big idea implemented in our lifetimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-swan/most-of-us-would-be-happy-with-one-big-idea-implemented-in-our/) [Norman Swan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-swan/) > [“People spend entire lifetimes trying to avoid the things that have already happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvia-hartmann/people-spend-entire-lifetimes-trying-to-avoid-the-things-that-have/) [Silvia Hartmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvia-hartmann/) > [I feel like I've lived four or five lifetimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/i-feel-like-i-ve-lived-four-or-five-lifetimes/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We live only a few conscious decades, and we fret ourselves enough for several lifetimes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Hitchens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/we-live-only-a-few-conscious-decades-and-we-fret-ourselves-enough-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/we-live-only-a-few-conscious-decades-and-we-fret-ourselves-enough-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/christopher-hitchens-117_anxiety_we-live-only-a-few-conscious-decades-and_1980788.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/christopher-hitchens-117_anxiety_we-live-only-a-few-conscious-decades-and_1980788.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/christopher-hitchens-117_anxiety_we-live-only-a-few-conscious-decades-and_1980788.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We live only a few conscious decades, and we fret ourselves enough for several lifetimes.” — Christopher Hitchens", "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": "Christopher Hitchens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We live only a few conscious...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/we-live-only-a-few-conscious-decades-and-we-fret-ourselves-enough-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/we-live-only-a-few-conscious-decades-and-we-fret-ourselves-enough-for/#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 } } ] } ```