--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Content' is a word that has never sat…" description: "\"'Content' is a word that has never sat well with me. Like 'maturity'. They are two words I've never liked. I think they imply some sort of decay. A set..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/elvis-costello-1931_aging_content-is-a-word-that-has-never-sat-wel_878426.jpg" --- # 'Content' is a word that has never sat well with me. Like… ![“'Content' is a word that has never sat well with me. Like 'maturity'. They are two words I've never liked. I think they imply some sort of decay. A settling.” quote by Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/elvis-costello-1931_aging_content-is-a-word-that-has-never-sat-wel_878426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/elvis-costello-1931_aging_content-is-a-word-that-has-never-sat-wel_878426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/elvis-costello-1931_aging_content-is-a-word-that-has-never-sat-wel_878426.jpg) > “'Content' is a word that has never sat well with me. Like 'maturity'. They are two words I've never liked. I think they imply some sort of decay. A settling.” [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words like “content” and “maturity” suggest stagnation and decay, which the speaker dislikes. **In simple terms:** He dislikes terms that imply settling. Key Takeaway Choose language that conveys growth, not decay. Themes communication language perception branding Mood reflective critical Type analysis philosophical When to use this quote - marketing copy - product descriptions - team meetings - public speaking Key Concepts semantic framing psychology of words Questions to Reflect On - Can you replace “content” with a more dynamic term? - How does language shape perception? A Different Perspective These terms can be reinterpreted positively, but may still carry negative connotations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Imply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imply/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturity/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [Content is a word unknown to life; it is also a word unknown to man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/content-is-a-word-unknown-to-life-it-is-also-a-word-unknown-to-man/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [To the extent that we even understand string theory, it may imply a massive number of possible different universes with different laws of physics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/to-the-extent-that-we-even-understand-string-theory-it-may-imply-a/) [Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/) > [My father had no influence on my political beliefs, and to imply otherwise is wrong and irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-father-had-no-influence-on-my-political-beliefs-and-to-imply/) M.I.A > [There's just something wonderful about getting a small group of people together in an isolated location, and there's something about cabins themselves that imply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/there-s-just-something-wonderful-about-getting-a-small-group-of/) [Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/) > [“I've never made fun of you. Making fun of you would imply that something about you is fun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/i-ve-never-made-fun-of-you-making-fun-of-you-would-imply-that/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [“Politicians are either there or here or totally at home. Their finitude is more than sufficient unto itself. I don’t mean to imply that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or-totally-at-home-their/) [Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/) > [“Knowing the difference between “infer” and “imply” is no more likely to create a skeptical, bullshit-detecting citizen than knowing the atomic weight of uranium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lane-greene/knowing-the-difference-between-infer-and-imply-is-no-more-likely-to/) [Robert Lane Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lane-greene/) > [Most of the time, economic data is fairly benign. I don't wish to imply it is meaningless, but it is not a driver of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/most-of-the-time-economic-data-is-fairly-benign-i-don-t-wish-to-imply/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [“Coincidences undeniably imply meaning. I am rereading Hart Crane. I notice the date On which he stepped off that boat Was April 26. Tomorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-markson/coincidences-undeniably-imply-meaning-i-am-rereading-hart-crane-i/) [David Markson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-markson/) > [“To do what you imply would require nothing short of divine intervention. you must change man, not systems. Can you and our vapouring friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/to-do-what-you-imply-would-require-nothing-short-of-divine/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [Beethoven, Schubert, Schoenberg, Berg imply a type of pianist who is intellectual. That's not always associated with female soloists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tate/beethoven-schubert-schoenberg-berg-imply-a-type-of-pianist-who-is/) [Jeffrey Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tate/) > [The Qur'an not only lacks any earthly punishment for someone who abandons Islam, it even includes verses that imply that such a change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/the-qur-an-not-only-lacks-any-earthly-punishment-for-someone-who/) [Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/) > [Even if I'm there, they'll all imply that I might not last the day and then you call me and it's not so bad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-meadows/even-if-i-m-there-they-ll-all-imply-that-i-might-not-last-the-day-and/) [Marion Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-meadows/) > [In thus pointing out certain respects in which philosophy resembles literature more than science, I do not mean, of course, to imply that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-raphael-cohen/in-thus-pointing-out-certain-respects-in-which-philosophy-resembles/) [Morris Raphael Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-raphael-cohen/) ## More by Elvis Costello > [Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/good-manners-and-bad-breath-will-get-you-nowhere/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [History repeats the old conceits, the glib replies, the same defeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/history-repeats-the-old-conceits-the-glib-replies-the-same-defeats/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [People think it is all about country music, and I know a lot of country music has come out of there, but like Blonde…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/people-think-it-is-all-about-country-music-and-i-know-a-lot-of/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-get-very-frustrated-by-this-term-genre-exercise-i-mean-what-exactly/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Even in a perfect world where everyone was equal. I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/even-in-a-perfect-world-where-everyone-was-equal-i-d-still-own-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Somebody should clip Sting around the head and tell him to stop using that ridiculous Jamaican accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/somebody-should-clip-sting-around-the-head-and-tell-him-to-stop-using/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [There is something wrong with you if you don't get angry about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/there-is-something-wrong-with-you-if-you-don-t-get-angry-about/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [“Was it a millionaire who said "imagine no possessions?" A poor little schoolboy who said "we don't need no lessons?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/was-it-a-millionaire-who-said-imagine-no-possessions-a-poor-little/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Though the passion still flutters and flickers, it never got into our knickers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/though-the-passion-still-flutters-and-flickers-it-never-got-into-our/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [My dad's father was a White Star Line trumpet player in the '20s. It shaped the way that I think about music. My grandfather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/my-dad-s-father-was-a-white-star-line-trumpet-player-in-the-20s-it/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Life for me is about movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/life-for-me-is-about-movement/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Maybe I just never learned my harmony part, because what everybody says sounds odd to them sounds perfectly natural to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/maybe-i-just-never-learned-my-harmony-part-because-what-everybody/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [There are a lot of things that you can like at a distance without spending a huge amount of time pondering. It's not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-you-can-like-at-a-distance-without/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Don't wear your heart on your sleeve when your remarks are off the cuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/don-t-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-when-your-remarks-are-off-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [I'm just the mere shadow of my former selfishness. I crave the silhouette of your kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-m-just-the-mere-shadow-of-my-former-selfishness-i-crave-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) [Explore all 197 Elvis Costello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) ## More Aging quotes > [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/) > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“You could see the signs of female aging as diseased, especially if you had a vested interest in making women too see them your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/you-could-see-the-signs-of-female-aging-as-diseased-especially-if-you/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [“It takes maturity to be able to laugh like a child again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/it-takes-maturity-to-be-able-to-laugh-like-a-child-again/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Growing old-it's not nice, but it's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/growing-old-it-s-not-nice-but-it-s-interesting/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Anything is possible in the life of a man if he lives long enough. Even maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-raines/anything-is-possible-in-the-life-of-a-man-if-he-lives-long-enough/) [Howell Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-raines/) > [I just want to be Patty McCormack. I want to spend every year aging the way she has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-just-want-to-be-patty-mccormack-i-want-to-spend-every-year-aging/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Maturity is reached the day we don't need to be lied to about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-yerby/maturity-is-reached-the-day-we-don-t-need-to-be-lied-to-about-anything/) [Frank Yerby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-yerby/) [Browse all 2,792 Aging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Content' is a word that has never sat well with me. Like 'maturity'. They are two words I've never liked. 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