--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am all for the short and merry life." description: "\"I am all for the short and merry life.\" — Edward Fitzgerald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/edward-fitzgerald-23180_life_i-am-all-for-the-short-and-merry-life-27_2765667.png" --- # I am all for the short and merry life. ![“I am all for the short and merry life.” quote by Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/edward-fitzgerald-23180_life_i-am-all-for-the-short-and-merry-life-27_2765667.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/edward-fitzgerald-23180_life_i-am-all-for-the-short-and-merry-life-27_2765667.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/edward-fitzgerald-23180_life_i-am-all-for-the-short-and-merry-life-27_2765667.png) > “I am all for the short and merry life.” [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) ## 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 embraces a brief, joyful existence, valuing brevity and happiness. **In simple terms:** Live a short, joyful life. Key Takeaway Cherish fleeting happiness. Themes joy ephemerality contentment Mood lighthearted philosophical Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - travel - celebrations - daily gratitude Key Concepts carpe diem mindfulness life philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you find meaning in brevity? - What brings lasting joy? A Different Perspective Shortness may ignore deeper purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Merry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merry/) [Merry Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merry-life-1893279/) [Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short/) [Short Merry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-merry-3203986/) ## Related quotes > [Be merry, really merry. The life of a true Christian should be a perpetual jubilee, a prelude to the festivals of eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophane-venard/be-merry-really-merry-the-life-of-a-true-christian-should-be-a/) [Theophane Venard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophane-venard/) > [In an honest service there is thin commons, low wages, and hard labor; in this, plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bartholomew-roberts/in-an-honest-service-there-is-thin-commons-low-wages-and-hard-labor/) [Bartholomew Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bartholomew-roberts/) > [A merry life and a short one shall be my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bartholomew-roberts/a-merry-life-and-a-short-one-shall-be-my-motto/) [Bartholomew Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bartholomew-roberts/) > [Heaven give you many, many merry days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/heaven-give-you-many-many-merry-days/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I guess you will have to go to jail. If that is the result of not understanding the Income Tax Law, I will meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/i-guess-you-will-have-to-go-to-jail-if-that-is-the-result-of-not/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster. Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride! I always wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lowell-ganz/you-know-when-i-was-nineteen-grandpa-took-me-on-a-roller-coaster-up/) [Lowell Ganz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lowell-ganz/) > [I would much rather have been merry than wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-would-much-rather-have-been-merry-than-wise/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Kate Bernheimer's fiction offers a unique and delicate gift, the tempting mirage of a grace that constantly escapes. The Complete Tales of Merry Gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-millet/kate-bernheimer-s-fiction-offers-a-unique-and-delicate-gift-the/) [Lydia Millet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-millet/) > [“For the good are always the merry, Save by an evil chance, And the merry love the fiddle, And the merry love to dance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/for-the-good-are-always-the-merry-save-by-an-evil-chance-and-the/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [I have always considered The Merry Wives one of the worst plays, if not altogether the worst, that Shakespeare has left us. The wit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/i-have-always-considered-the-merry-wives-one-of-the-worst-plays-if/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [French wines may be said but to pickle meat in the stomach, but this is the wine that digests, and doth not only breed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/french-wines-may-be-said-but-to-pickle-meat-in-the-stomach-but-this/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [Middle-aged life is merry, and I love to lead it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/middle-aged-life-is-merry-and-i-love-to-lead-it/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [The merry cuckow, messenger of Spring, His trumpet shrill hath thrice already sounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/the-merry-cuckow-messenger-of-spring-his-trumpet-shrill-hath-thrice/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) ## More by Edward Fitzgerald > [Yesterday This Day's Madness did prepare; tomorrow's Silence, Triumph, or Despair: Drink! for you know not whence you came, nor why: Drink! for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/yesterday-this-day-s-madness-did-prepare-tomorrow-s-silence-triumph/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the sky I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry: 'Awake, my Little ones, and fill the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/dreaming-when-dawn-s-left-hand-was-in-the-sky-i-heard-a-voice-within/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [A book of verses underneath the bough, A jug of wine, a loaf of bread-and thou.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/a-book-of-verses-underneath-the-bough-a-jug-of-wine-a-loaf-of-bread/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [Whether we wake or we sleep, Whether we carol or weep, The Sun with his Planets in chime, Marketh the going of Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/whether-we-wake-or-we-sleep-whether-we-carol-or-weep-the-sun-with-his/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [Ah, take the Cash in hand and waive the Rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/ah-take-the-cash-in-hand-and-waive-the-rest/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [“Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend, Before we too into the Dust descend; Dust into Dust, and under Dust to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/ah-make-the-most-of-what-we-yet-may-spend-before-we-too-into-the-dust/) [Edward FitzGerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [If there is no hell, why in heavens name not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/if-there-is-no-hell-why-in-heavens-name-not/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [I come like Water, and like Wind I go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/i-come-like-water-and-like-wind-i-go/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop, The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/the-wine-of-life-keeps-oozing-drop-by-drop-the-leaves-of-life-keep/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [“But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays Upon this chequer-board of Nights and Days Hither and thither moves, and checks and slays”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/but-helpless-pieces-of-the-game-he-plays-upon-this-chequer-board-of/) [Edward FitzGerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [“Tis all a chequer board of nights and days, where destiny with men for pieces plays; hither and thither, and mates and slays.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/tis-all-a-chequer-board-of-nights-and-days-where-destiny-with-men-for/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [“And if the Wine you drink, the Lip you press, End in the Nothing all Things end in - Yes - Then fancy while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/and-if-the-wine-you-drink-the-lip-you-press-end-in-the-nothing-all/) [Edward FitzGerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [“One thing is certain and the rest is Lies;/The Flower that once has blown forever dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/one-thing-is-certain-and-the-rest-is-lies-the-flower-that-once-has/) [Edward FitzGerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [“With them the Seed of Wisdom did I sow, And with my own hand labour'd it to grow: And this was all the Harvest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/with-them-the-seed-of-wisdom-did-i-sow-and-with-my-own-hand-labour-d/) [Edward FitzGerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [“And fear not lest Existence closing your Account, and mine, should know the like no more; The Eternal Saki from that Bowl has pour'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/and-fear-not-lest-existence-closing-your-account-and-mine-should-know/) [Edward FitzGerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) [Explore all 26 Edward Fitzgerald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) ## 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. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. 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": "I am all for the short and merry life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Fitzgerald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/i-am-all-for-the-short-and-merry-life/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/i-am-all-for-the-short-and-merry-life/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/edward-fitzgerald-23180_life_i-am-all-for-the-short-and-merry-life-27_2765667.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/edward-fitzgerald-23180_life_i-am-all-for-the-short-and-merry-life-27_2765667.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/034/edward-fitzgerald-23180_life_i-am-all-for-the-short-and-merry-life-27_2765667.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am all for the short and merry life.” — Edward Fitzgerald", "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": "Edward Fitzgerald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am all for the short...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/i-am-all-for-the-short-and-merry-life/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/i-am-all-for-the-short-and-merry-life/#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 } } ] } ```