--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You never know how long you have-there…" description: "\"“You never know how long you have-there might not BE a later-so don't let things go unsaid or unforgiven.”\" — Dawn Metcalf" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/dawn-metcalf-52303_forgive_you-never-know-how-long-you-have-there-m_2908707.jpg" --- # You never know how long you have-there might not BE a… ![“You never know how long you have-there might not BE a later-so don't let things go unsaid or unforgiven.” quote by Dawn Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/dawn-metcalf-52303_forgive_you-never-know-how-long-you-have-there-m_2908707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/dawn-metcalf-52303_forgive_you-never-know-how-long-you-have-there-m_2908707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/dawn-metcalf-52303_forgive_you-never-know-how-long-you-have-there-m_2908707.jpg) > ““You never know how long you have-there might not BE a later-so don't let things go unsaid or unforgiven.”” [Dawn Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-metcalf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is uncertain; we should express feelings and resolve conflicts before it’s too late, because future opportunities may never come. **In simple terms:** Speak your truth now; don’t postpone forgiveness. Key Takeaway Communicate openly and forgive promptly. Themes mortality communication forgiveness urgency Mood thoughtful urgent inspirational Type advice emotional relationship When to use this quote - personal conversations - family gatherings - end‑of‑life discussions Key Concepts impermanence emotional honesty relationship dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What unsaid words are you holding? - How might you approach a difficult conversation? A Different Perspective Procrastination and fear of conflict can hinder honest dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [“The fact that he’d been the first guy I ever loved and the one who made me face some terrifying things about myself...well, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarina-bowen/the-fact-that-he-d-been-the-first-guy-i-ever-loved-and-the-one-who-2/) [Sarina Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarina-bowen/) > [Any good movie is filled with secrets. If a director doesn't leave anything unsaid, it's a lousy picture. If a picture's unsaid, it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-lubitsch/any-good-movie-is-filled-with-secrets-if-a-director-doesn-t-leave/) [Ernst Lubitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-lubitsch/) > [Sometimes things unsaid are much more powerful than things said...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-things-unsaid-are-much-more-powerful-than-things-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People in bands don't have the kind of conversations people might think they have. The best things about being in a band are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/people-in-bands-don-t-have-the-kind-of-conversations-people-might/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [And things go unsaid soon get forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/and-things-go-unsaid-soon-get-forgotten/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [“At this time in his life some things unsaid hurt. But hadn't hurt less when they got said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mcelroy/at-this-time-in-his-life-some-things-unsaid-hurt-but-hadn-t-hurt-less/) [Joseph McElroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mcelroy/) > [“The fact that he’d been the first guy I ever loved and the one who made me face some terrifying things about myself… well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarina-bowen-elle-kennedy/the-fact-that-he-d-been-the-first-guy-i-ever-loved-and-the-one-who/) Sarina Bowen, Elle Kennedy > [every death diminishes us, but those that leave differences unresolved and things unsaid are the most painful of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-muller/every-death-diminishes-us-but-those-that-leave-differences-unresolved/) [Marcia Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-muller/) > [Women often seemed to leave things unsaid, and in his limited experience it was what they did not say that proved the most trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/women-often-seemed-to-leave-things-unsaid-and-in-his-limited/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“A good rule of thumb for any relationship is to leave three unimportant things unsaid each day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/a-good-rule-of-thumb-for-any-relationship-is-to-leave-three/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [You have to live within your means as you don't know how long it will last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rochelle-humes/you-have-to-live-within-your-means-as-you-don-t-know-how-long-it-will/) [Rochelle Humes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rochelle-humes/) > [If I have to look a certain way for something, I know how long it's going to take me do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/if-i-have-to-look-a-certain-way-for-something-i-know-how-long-it-s/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [Half the ish you think I don't know, I found out a long time ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trilla/half-the-ish-you-think-i-don-t-know-i-found-out-a-long-time-ago/) [Trilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trilla/) > [I've always wanted to know how long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sk-chown-rocky/i-ve-always-wanted-to-know-how-long/) Sk Chown Rocky > [The dear good people don't know how long it takes to learn to read. I've been at it eighty years, and can't say yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-dear-good-people-don-t-know-how-long-it-takes-to-learn-to-read-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More by Dawn Metcalf > [“Do you trust me?" She could still hear him, through flesh and noise. "I love you!" she shouted. It wasn't the answer he'd expected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-metcalf/do-you-trust-me-she-could-still-hear-him-through-flesh-and-noise-i/) [Dawn Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-metcalf/) > [“The world snapped open. The world snapped shut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-metcalf/the-world-snapped-open-the-world-snapped-shut/) [Dawn Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-metcalf/) > [“I was born with the Sight, Ink," she said, voice trembling. "So tell me, why were you the first person I'd ever seen from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-metcalf/i-was-born-with-the-sight-ink-she-said-voice-trembling-so-tell-me-why/) [Dawn Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-metcalf/) > [“I am only an idea, a requirement breathed to life-an instrument. A tool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-metcalf/i-am-only-an-idea-a-requirement-breathed-to-life-an-instrument-a-tool/) [Dawn Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-metcalf/) > [“Lehman?" Joy said. The word sounded familiar. "What does that mean?" Inq shrugged as she considered the overhead lights. "A human who has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-metcalf/lehman-joy-said-the-word-sounded-familiar-what-does-that-mean-inq/) [Dawn Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-metcalf/) [Explore all 6 Dawn Metcalf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-metcalf/) ## More Forgive quotes > [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/) Serge Kahili King > [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [Im so sorry,i screwed up again.i didnt meant hurting you.please,forgive me,again?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redeyeen/im-so-sorry-i-screwed-up-again-i-didnt-meant-hurting-you-please/) Redeyeen > [“He fell back. He had cried out so loud that even if there had been no breach in the wall, I should have heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-barbusse/he-fell-back-he-had-cried-out-so-loud-that-even-if-there-had-been-no/) [Henri Barbusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-barbusse/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Ive learned¦ that no matter how good a friend is, theyre going to hurt you every once in a while, and you must forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ive-learned-that-no-matter-how-good-a-friend-is-theyre-going-to-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/) [Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/) > [I feel people relate with your entire journey and forgive your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-feel-people-relate-with-your-entire-journey-and-forgive-your/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [“The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-bible-says-you-must-make-allowance-for-each-other-s-faults-and/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“By choosing to forgive, you are choosing to love. By choosing to operate in love, you are choosing to operate in an unconditional state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-watterson/by-choosing-to-forgive-you-are-choosing-to-love-by-choosing-to/) Eric Watterson > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) Browse all 3,381 Forgive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You never know how long you have-there might not BE a later-so don't let things go unsaid or unforgiven.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dawn Metcalf" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-metcalf/you-never-know-how-long-you-have-there-might-not-be-a-later-so-don-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Forgive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-metcalf/you-never-know-how-long-you-have-there-might-not-be-a-later-so-don-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/dawn-metcalf-52303_forgive_you-never-know-how-long-you-have-there-m_2908707.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/dawn-metcalf-52303_forgive_you-never-know-how-long-you-have-there-m_2908707.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/dawn-metcalf-52303_forgive_you-never-know-how-long-you-have-there-m_2908707.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You never know how long you have-there might not BE a later-so don't let things go unsaid or unforgiven.” — Dawn Metcalf", "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": "Dawn Metcalf", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-metcalf/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You never know how long you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-metcalf/you-never-know-how-long-you-have-there-might-not-be-a-later-so-don-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-metcalf/you-never-know-how-long-you-have-there-might-not-be-a-later-so-don-t/#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 } } ] } ```