--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not the young man who should be…" description: "\"It is not the young man who should be considered fortunate but the old man who has lived well, because the young man in his prime wanders much by chanc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/epicurus-1642_belief_it-is-not-the-young-man-who-should-be-co_1172661.jpg" --- # It is not the young man who should be considered fortunate… ![“It is not the young man who should be considered fortunate but the old man who has lived well, because the young man in his prime wanders much by chance, vacillating in his beliefs, while the old man has docked in the harbor, having safeguarded his true happiness.” quote by Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/epicurus-1642_belief_it-is-not-the-young-man-who-should-be-co_1172661.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/epicurus-1642_belief_it-is-not-the-young-man-who-should-be-co_1172661.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/epicurus-1642_belief_it-is-not-the-young-man-who-should-be-co_1172661.jpg) > “It is not the young man who should be considered fortunate but the old man who has lived well, because the young man in his prime wanders much by chance, vacillating in his beliefs, while the old man has docked in the harbor, having safeguarded his true happiness.” [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True happiness comes from a well-lived life, not youthful chance; the elderly have secured contentment. **In simple terms:** A well-lived life yields true happiness, not youthful wandering. Key Takeaway Seek a fulfilling life. Themes happiness wisdom age contentment Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - retirement - midlife crisis - personal development Key Concepts philosophy life fulfillment ethical living Questions to Reflect On - What does a well-lived life look like for you? - How can you cultivate lasting happiness now? A Different Perspective Youthful spontaneity can also bring joy; not all elders are content. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Beliefs Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs-old-2309441/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Considered Fortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considered-fortunate-1681627/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate/) [Fortunate Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate-old-3406331/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Harbors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harbors/) [Man Considered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-considered-1148478/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Prime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prime/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [True happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-happiness/) [Wander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wander/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) ## Related quotes > [I have always considered myself to be very fortunate. To play for the biggest club in the world, which also happens to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-giggs/i-have-always-considered-myself-to-be-very-fortunate-to-play-for-the/) [Ryan Giggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-giggs/) > [“Ildiko might not reciprocate the feeling, but Brishen considered himself fortunate to have such a wife.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-draven/ildiko-might-not-reciprocate-the-feeling-but-brishen-considered/) [Grace Draven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-draven/) > [Well, I have considered myself to be very fortunate in that I have been able to do mostly only that which my inner self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/well-i-have-considered-myself-to-be-very-fortunate-in-that-i-have/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [He who is born with a silver spoon in his mouth is generally considered a fortunate person, but his good fortune is small compared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-thaxter/he-who-is-born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-his-mouth-is-generally/) [Celia Thaxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-thaxter/) > [I just have a sense that, you know, I'm curious about what is religion about, you know? Why do some of us still engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/i-just-have-a-sense-that-you-know-i-m-curious-about-what-is-religion/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“Too many times we discredit God’s will because it does not coincide with our own ambitions and beliefs.” The old man replied. “But you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/too-many-times-we-discredit-god-s-will-because-it-does-not-coincide/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Socialists have always spent much of their time seeking new titles for their beliefs, because the old versions so quickly become outdated and discredited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/socialists-have-always-spent-much-of-their-time-seeking-new-titles/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [“An old man is never at home save in his own garments: his own old thinking and beliefs; old hands and feet, elbow, knee,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/an-old-man-is-never-at-home-save-in-his-own-garments-his-own-old/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [We can only touch spontaneity when we let go of dogma, old beliefs, old certitude's, because these things are what prevents the body to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-odier/we-can-only-touch-spontaneity-when-we-let-go-of-dogma-old-beliefs-old/) [Daniel Odier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-odier/) > [The sum of the whole is plainly this: The nature of man considered in his single capacity, and with respect only to the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/the-sum-of-the-whole-is-plainly-this-the-nature-of-man-considered-in/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [Throughout the centuries, man has considered himself beautiful. I rather suppose that man only believes in his own beauty out of pride; that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/throughout-the-centuries-man-has-considered-himself-beautiful-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I met another man who considered himself perfect, but he was thoroughly mad; and I do not believe that any of the pretenders to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-met-another-man-who-considered-himself-perfect-but-he-was/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Man, considered not merely as an organized being, but as a rational agent and a member of society, is perhaps the most wonderfully contrived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/man-considered-not-merely-as-an-organized-being-but-as-a-rational/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Man was not then considered a good goldsmith unless he could draw well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-vasari/man-was-not-then-considered-a-good-goldsmith-unless-he-could-draw-well/) [Giorgio Vasari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-vasari/) > [Every man is to be considered in two capacities, the private and public; as designed to pursue his own interest, and likewise to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/every-man-is-to-be-considered-in-two-capacities-the-private-and/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) ## More by Epicurus > [Most beautiful is the sight of those near and dear to us when our original kinship makes us of one mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/most-beautiful-is-the-sight-of-those-near-and-dear-to-us-when-our/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Any man who does not think that what he has is more than ample, is an unhappy man, even if he is the master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/any-man-who-does-not-think-that-what-he-has-is-more-than-ample-is-an/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [“The opinions held by most people about the gods are not true conceptions of them but fallacious notions, according to which awful penalties are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/the-opinions-held-by-most-people-about-the-gods-are-not-true/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Death is nothing to us: for that which is dissolved is without sensation; and that which lacks sensation is nothing to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/death-is-nothing-to-us-for-that-which-is-dissolved-is-without/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Neither one should hesitate about dedicating oneself to philosophy when young, nor should get tired of doing it when one's old, because no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/neither-one-should-hesitate-about-dedicating-oneself-to-philosophy/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/if-thou-wilt-make-a-man-happy-add-not-unto-his-riches-but-take-away/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Being happy is knowing how to be content with little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/being-happy-is-knowing-how-to-be-content-with-little/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Injustice is not evil in itself, but only in the fear and apprehension that one will not escape those who have been set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/injustice-is-not-evil-in-itself-but-only-in-the-fear-and-apprehension/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Riches do not exhilarate us so much with their possession as they torment us with their loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/riches-do-not-exhilarate-us-so-much-with-their-possession-as-they/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/i-have-never-wished-to-cater-to-the-crowd-for-what-i-know-they-do-not/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [The pleasant life is not produced by continual drinking and dancing, nor sexual intercourse, nor rare dishes of sea food and other delicacies of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/the-pleasant-life-is-not-produced-by-continual-drinking-and-dancing/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/be-moderate-in-order-to-taste-the-joys-of-life-in-abundance/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [If the gods have the will to remove evil and cannot, then they are not all-powerful. If they are neither able nor willing, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/if-the-gods-have-the-will-to-remove-evil-and-cannot-then-they-are-not/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Of all things which wisdom provides to make life entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/of-all-things-which-wisdom-provides-to-make-life-entirely-happy-much/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/death-does-not-concern-us-because-as-long-as-we-exist-death-is-not/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) [Explore all 209 Epicurus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not the young man who should be considered fortunate but the old man who has lived well, because the young man in his prime wanders much by chance, vacillating in his beliefs, while the old man has docked in the harbor, having safeguarded his true happiness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epicurus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/it-is-not-the-young-man-who-should-be-considered-fortunate-but-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/it-is-not-the-young-man-who-should-be-considered-fortunate-but-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/epicurus-1642_belief_it-is-not-the-young-man-who-should-be-co_1172661.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/epicurus-1642_belief_it-is-not-the-young-man-who-should-be-co_1172661.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/epicurus-1642_belief_it-is-not-the-young-man-who-should-be-co_1172661.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not the young man who should be considered fortunate but the old man who has lived well, because the…” — Epicurus", "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": "Epicurus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not the young man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/it-is-not-the-young-man-who-should-be-considered-fortunate-but-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/it-is-not-the-young-man-who-should-be-considered-fortunate-but-the/#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 } } ] } ```