---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem with living so long is that…"
description: "\"The problem with living so long is that we get used to it. We watch the mortals age and wither and die around us, watch the world change and decay...bu..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/derek-landy-826_age_the-problem-with-living-so-long-is-that_951957.png"
---

#  The problem with living so long is that we get used to it…

![“The problem with living so long is that we get used to it. We watch the mortals age and wither and die around us, watch the world change and decay...but no matter the hardship or the pain or the sorrow we suffer, we choose to continue living. Out of sheer habit, I think.” quote by Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/derek-landy-826_age_the-problem-with-living-so-long-is-that_951957.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/derek-landy-826_age_the-problem-with-living-so-long-is-that_951957.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/derek-landy-826_age_the-problem-with-living-so-long-is-that_951957.png)

> “The problem with living so long is that we get used to it. We watch the mortals age and wither and die around us, watch the world change and decay...but no matter the hardship or the pain or the sorrow we suffer, we choose to continue living. Out of sheer habit, I think.”

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Living long leads to habitual endurance despite loss and decay, prompting a choice to persist out of habit.

**In simple terms:** Longevity creates habit, even amid suffering.

Key Takeaway

Embrace life consciously despite habit.

Themes

mortality habit resilience

Mood

reflective somber

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

- Aging
- grief
- daily routine
- personal growth

Key Concepts

Existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you live out of habit or intention?
- How does awareness change your persistence?

A Different Perspective

Habit may mask deeper dissatisfaction.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Hardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardship/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-long/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Age could not wither nor custom stale her infinite monotony: in fact, neither Age nor Custom could do anything (as they said, their voices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/age-could-not-wither-nor-custom-stale-her-infinite-monotony-in-fact/)

[Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/)

> [Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/age-cannot-wither-her-nor-custom-stale-her-infinite-variety/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety, other women cloy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/age-cannot-wither-her-nor-custom-stale-her-infinite-variety-other/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [The problem of living is at bottom an economic one. And this alone is bad enough, even in a period of so-called "normalcy." But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/the-problem-of-living-is-at-bottom-an-economic-one-and-this-alone-is/)

[Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/)

> [The true problem of living is to keep our hearts sweet and gentle in the hardest conditions and experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/the-true-problem-of-living-is-to-keep-our-hearts-sweet-and-gentle-in/)

[Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/)

> [The problem of aging is the problem of living. There is no simple solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/the-problem-of-aging-is-the-problem-of-living-there-is-no-simple/)

[Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/)

> [The problem with living outside the law is that you no longer have its protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/the-problem-with-living-outside-the-law-is-that-you-no-longer-have/)

[Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/)

> [“The problem with living with miracles was that they made everything seem plausible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/the-problem-with-living-with-miracles-was-that-they-made-everything/)

[James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/)

> [The problem isn't that we have bodies; the problem is that we're not living in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/the-problem-isn-t-that-we-have-bodies-the-problem-is-that-we-re-not/)

[Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/)

> [The problem that we, as living organisms, face - and not we only, humans, but any living organism faces - is the management of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/the-problem-that-we-as-living-organisms-face-and-not-we-only-humans/)

[Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/)

> [You're either living in the problem or you're living in the solution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/you-re-either-living-in-the-problem-or-you-re-living-in-the-solution/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [The main problem of living in the city that never sleeps that neither did I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-dahvana-headley/the-main-problem-of-living-in-the-city-that-never-sleeps-that-neither/)

[Maria Dahvana Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-dahvana-headley/)

> [That's the problem with living in New York. You've got no New York to run away to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/that-s-the-problem-with-living-in-new-york-you-ve-got-no-new-york-to/)

[Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/)

> [“When this uneasy feeling forms, in a context of awareness, the person is thereby already living beyond the problem, already living in and toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-weiser-cornell/when-this-uneasy-feeling-forms-in-a-context-of-awareness-the-person/)

Ann Weiser Cornell

> [“The first problem of living is to minimize friction with the crowds that surround you on all sides.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-first-problem-of-living-is-to-minimize-friction-with-the-crowds/)

[Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/)

## More by Derek Landy

> [Stephanie could see the greed seep into the watery eyes of her father’s other brother, a horrible little man called Fergus, as he nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/stephanie-could-see-the-greed-seep-into-the-watery-eyes-of-her-father/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“strike from the shadows, disapear into darkness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/strike-from-the-shadows-disapear-into-darkness/)

[derek landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“But if you can confront your inner demons—" "I did confront my inner demon. I punched him in the face and he exploded." Valkyrie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/but-if-you-can-confront-your-inner-demons-i-did-confront-my-inner/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“What does a clue look like?" Tanith whispered. Stephanie fought the giggle down and whispered back. "I'm looking for a footprint or something." "Have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-does-a-clue-look-like-tanith-whispered-stephanie-fought-the/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“He took her hand in his and knelt before her. Valkyrie looked at him. He was serious. (...)'Dude, I'm sixteen.' 'I love you.' 'That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-took-her-hand-in-his-and-knelt-before-her-valkyrie-looked-at-him/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [I find it rude to laugh at a man with a sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-find-it-rude-to-laugh-at-a-man-with-a-sword/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [What?" she asked again. He pointed ahead of them. "See that?" "What, the snow?" "Beyond that." "More snow?" "Stop looking at the snow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-she-asked-again-he-pointed-ahead-of-them-see-that-what-the-snow/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [The Baron, unfortunately, turns it all the way up to eleven." "Seriously? Because, you know, that's one more evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-baron-unfortunately-turns-it-all-the-way-up-to-eleven-seriously/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“Valkyrie walked over to her. Since she had met her, all she'd wanted to do was punch her face in. But that was when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/valkyrie-walked-over-to-her-since-she-had-met-her-all-she-d-wanted-to/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“I've always been a monster,' Scapegrace told her, 'but now, finally, my physical for reflects my inner darkness.' 'You smell terrible.' 'That's the smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-ve-always-been-a-monster-scapegrace-told-her-but-now-finally-my/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [The rain battered the cottage. Valkyrie risked a look up at Skulduggery. “What is it?” she whispered. “It’s a box,” he whispered back. “What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-rain-battered-the-cottage-valkyrie-risked-a-look-up-at/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/there-s-no-such-thing-as-winning-or-losing-there-is-won-and-there-is/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [“He liked murder. Murder and long walks had been two of his favorite things when he was younger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-liked-murder-murder-and-long-walks-had-been-two-of-his-favorite/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [Of course I want to kill you," said Skulduggery. "I want to kill most people. But then where would I be? In a field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/of-course-i-want-to-kill-you-said-skulduggery-i-want-to-kill-most/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

> [We don’t need a cure,” the other zombie said. “That’s right,” Scapegrace nodded. “We’re happy the way we are.” “Happy with the power,” Scapegrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/we-don-t-need-a-cure-the-other-zombie-said-that-s-right-scapegrace/)

[Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

[Explore all 355 Derek Landy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/)

## More Age quotes

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/)

> [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/)

[Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/)

> [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/)

[Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/)

> [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/)

[Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/)

> [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/)

[Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/)

> [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/)

[Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/)

> [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/)

[Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/)

> [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/)

[Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/)

> [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/)

[Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/)

> [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/)

[Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/)

> [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/)

[Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/)

[Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The problem with living so long is that we get used to it. We watch the mortals age and wither and die around us, watch the world change and decay...but no matter the hardship or the pain or the sorrow we suffer, we choose to continue living. Out of sheer habit, I think.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Derek Landy"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-problem-with-living-so-long-is-that-we-get-used-to-it-we-watch/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Age"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-problem-with-living-so-long-is-that-we-get-used-to-it-we-watch/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/derek-landy-826_age_the-problem-with-living-so-long-is-that_951957.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/derek-landy-826_age_the-problem-with-living-so-long-is-that_951957.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/derek-landy-826_age_the-problem-with-living-so-long-is-that_951957.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The problem with living so long is that we get used to it. We watch the mortals age and wither and die…” — Derek Landy",
                "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": "Derek Landy",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The problem with living so long...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-problem-with-living-so-long-is-that-we-get-used-to-it-we-watch/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-problem-with-living-so-long-is-that-we-get-used-to-it-we-watch/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
