--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At any age it does us no harm to look…" description: "\"At any age it does us no harm to look over our past shortcomings and plan to improve our characters and actions in the coming year.\" — Eleanor Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/eleanor-roosevelt-381_action_at-any-age-it-does-us-no-harm-to-look-ov_2492373.jpg" --- # At any age it does us no harm to look over our past… ![“At any age it does us no harm to look over our past shortcomings and plan to improve our characters and actions in the coming year.” quote by Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/eleanor-roosevelt-381_action_at-any-age-it-does-us-no-harm-to-look-ov_2492373.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/eleanor-roosevelt-381_action_at-any-age-it-does-us-no-harm-to-look-ov_2492373.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/eleanor-roosevelt-381_action_at-any-age-it-does-us-no-harm-to-look-ov_2492373.jpg) > “At any age it does us no harm to look over our past shortcomings and plan to improve our characters and actions in the coming year.” [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflecting on past mistakes helps shape better behavior and character in the future. **In simple terms:** Learning from past mistakes improves future character. Key Takeaway Regularly review and improve yourself. Themes self-improvement reflection growth future planning Mood hopeful motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career reviews - annual goal setting - relationship counseling - educational planning Key Concepts psychology ethics personal development Questions to Reflect On - What past mistake will you address this year? - How can you turn reflection into action? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can become paralyzing if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Improve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improve/) [Improve Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improve-characters-978078/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Miscellaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miscellaneous/) [Our past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Shortcomings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-shortcomings-978075/) [Plan Improve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan-improve-978076/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Shortcomings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcomings/) [Shortcomings Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcomings-plan-978077/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Look at the United States today. We have made mistakes in the past. We have had shortcomings. We shall make mistakes in the future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cabot-lodge/look-at-the-united-states-today-we-have-made-mistakes-in-the-past-we/) [Henry Cabot Lodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cabot-lodge/) > [I deplore my shortcomings, but plan to keep them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/i-deplore-my-shortcomings-but-plan-to-keep-them/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [It is our freedom to progress that makes us all want to live and to go on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/it-is-our-freedom-to-progress-that-makes-us-all-want-to-live-and-to/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Long ago, I made up my mind that when things were said involving only me, I would pay no attention to them, except when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/long-ago-i-made-up-my-mind-that-when-things-were-said-involving-only/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I have learned long ago to possess my soul in patience and accept the inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-have-learned-long-ago-to-possess-my-soul-in-patience-and-accept-the/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [One should always sleep in all of one's guest beds, to make sure that they are comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-should-always-sleep-in-all-of-one-s-guest-beds-to-make-sure-that/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I think we ought to impress on both our girls and boys that successful marriages require just as much work, just as much intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-think-we-ought-to-impress-on-both-our-girls-and-boys-that/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [One of the blessings of age is to learn not to part on a note of sharpness, to treasure the moments spent with those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-of-the-blessings-of-age-is-to-learn-not-to-part-on-a-note-of/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I would not be happy unless I had some regular work to do every day and I imagine that I will always feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-would-not-be-happy-unless-i-had-some-regular-work-to-do-every-day/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [An economic policy which does not consider the well-being of all will not serve the purposes of peace and the growth of well-being among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/an-economic-policy-which-does-not-consider-the-well-being-of-all-will/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [My life can be so arranged that I can live on whatever I have. If I cannot live as I have lived in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/my-life-can-be-so-arranged-that-i-can-live-on-whatever-i-have-if-i/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Whatever come we have to meet it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/whatever-come-we-have-to-meet-it/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [To some of us, hunger was more academic than real, but we must try to develop the ability to feel the urgency of such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/to-some-of-us-hunger-was-more-academic-than-real-but-we-must-try-to/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [This living in a democracy is a problem, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/this-living-in-a-democracy-is-a-problem-isn-t-it/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [More good things in life are lost by indifference than ever were lost by active hostility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-menzies/more-good-things-in-life-are-lost-by-indifference-than-ever-were-lost/) [Robert Menzies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-menzies/) ## More by Eleanor Roosevelt > [My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/my-experience-has-been-that-work-is-almost-the-best-way-to-pull/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [experience should teach us that it is always the unexpected that does occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/experience-should-teach-us-that-it-is-always-the-unexpected-that-does/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [To be mature you have to realize what you value most... Not to arrive at a clear understanding of one's own values is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/to-be-mature-you-have-to-realize-what-you-value-most-not-to-arrive-at/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I'm enormously interested in freedom and retaining the right to have whatever economy we want and to shape it as we want and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-m-enormously-interested-in-freedom-and-retaining-the-right-to-have/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [When you look fear in the face, you are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/when-you-look-fear-in-the-face-you-are-able-to-say-to-yourself-i/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [The destiny of human rights is in the hands of all our citizens in all our communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-destiny-of-human-rights-is-in-the-hands-of-all-our-citizens-in/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/you-can-never-really-live-anyone-else-s-life-not-even-your-child-s/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“One of the things I believe most intensely is that every child’s why should be answered with care—and with respect. If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-of-the-things-i-believe-most-intensely-is-that-every-child-s-why/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [What we must learn to do is to create unbreakable bonds between the sciences and the humanities. We cannot procrastinate. The world of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/what-we-must-learn-to-do-is-to-create-unbreakable-bonds-between-the/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/never-allow-a-person-to-tell-you-no-who-doesn-t-have-the-power-to-say/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/do-not-stop-thinking-of-life-as-an-adventure-you-have-no-security/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/we-stand-today-at-the-threshold-of-a-great-event-both-in-the-life-of/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Some friends leave footprints in your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/some-friends-leave-footprints-in-your-heart/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [If we want a free and peaceful world, if we want to make the deserts bloom and man grow to greater dignity as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/if-we-want-a-free-and-peaceful-world-if-we-want-to-make-the-deserts/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) [Explore all 612 Eleanor Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At any age it does us no harm to look over our past shortcomings and plan to improve our characters and actions in the coming year.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eleanor Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/at-any-age-it-does-us-no-harm-to-look-over-our-past-shortcomings-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/at-any-age-it-does-us-no-harm-to-look-over-our-past-shortcomings-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/eleanor-roosevelt-381_action_at-any-age-it-does-us-no-harm-to-look-ov_2492373.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/eleanor-roosevelt-381_action_at-any-age-it-does-us-no-harm-to-look-ov_2492373.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/eleanor-roosevelt-381_action_at-any-age-it-does-us-no-harm-to-look-ov_2492373.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At any age it does us no harm to look over our past shortcomings and plan to improve our characters and…” — Eleanor Roosevelt", "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": "Eleanor Roosevelt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "At any age it does us...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/at-any-age-it-does-us-no-harm-to-look-over-our-past-shortcomings-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/at-any-age-it-does-us-no-harm-to-look-over-our-past-shortcomings-and/#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 } } ] } ```