--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I found after seventy years that I was…" description: "\"I found after seventy years that I was not a lunatic but a moron… I should have been able to do better.\" — Ezra Pound" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/ezra-pound-1208_able_i-found-after-seventy-years-that-i-was-n_603265.png" --- # I found after seventy years that I was not a lunatic but a… ![“I found after seventy years that I was not a lunatic but a moron… I should have been able to do better.” quote by Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/ezra-pound-1208_able_i-found-after-seventy-years-that-i-was-n_603265.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/ezra-pound-1208_able_i-found-after-seventy-years-that-i-was-n_603265.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/ezra-pound-1208_able_i-found-after-seventy-years-that-i-was-n_603265.png) > “I found after seventy years that I was not a lunatic but a moron… I should have been able to do better.” [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) ## 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 reflects on a lifetime of self‑deception, realizing he was merely foolish rather than mad, and regrets missed opportunities for improvement. **In simple terms:** He admits he was a fool, not crazy, and could have done better. Key Takeaway Recognize self‑deception and strive for growth. Themes self‑awareness regret humility Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career stagnation - long‑term relationships - personal development - education choices Key Concepts cognitive bias personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What patterns of self‑deception have you ignored? - How can you turn regret into actionable change? A Different Perspective Self‑deception can be hard to confront, especially after many years. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Seventies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seventies/) ## Related quotes > [Idiot! Lunatic! Moron! Jackass! Selfish irresponsible fool!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/idiot-lunatic-moron-jackass-selfish-irresponsible-fool/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [I have achieved my seventy years in the usual way, by sticking strictly to a scheme of life which would kill anybody else…I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-achieved-my-seventy-years-in-the-usual-way-by-sticking/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Almost seventy years later I remember clearly how the magic of translating the words in books into images enriched my life, breaking the barriers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/almost-seventy-years-later-i-remember-clearly-how-the-magic-of/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Must one become seventy years old to recognize that one's greatest strength lies in creating musical kitsch?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-strauss/must-one-become-seventy-years-old-to-recognize-that-one-s-greatest/) [Richard Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-strauss/) > [To be seventy years young is sometimes for more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-2/to-be-seventy-years-young-is-sometimes-for-more-cheerful-and-hopeful/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr-2/) > [Regardless of what happens, when I'm seventy years old, I can look back and say that I did this the way I wanted to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-spears/regardless-of-what-happens-when-i-m-seventy-years-old-i-can-look-back/) [Shawn Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-spears/) > [Obama's IRS is not the IRS I've ever known for over seventy years as an American citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/obama-s-irs-is-not-the-irs-i-ve-ever-known-for-over-seventy-years-as/) [Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/) > [To be seventy years old is like climbing the Alps. You reach a snow-crowned summit, and see behind you the deep valley stretching miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/to-be-seventy-years-old-is-like-climbing-the-alps-you-reach-a-snow/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [I've been in the struggle over seventy years - it doesn't bother me I may not win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/i-ve-been-in-the-struggle-over-seventy-years-it-doesn-t-bother-me-i/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [Since we are what we are, what shall we be But what we are? We are, we have Six feet and seventy years, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/since-we-are-what-we-are-what-shall-we-be-but-what-we-are-we-are-we/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [It's frightening how much things change in seventy-one years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-carter/it-s-frightening-how-much-things-change-in-seventy-one-years/) [Aimee Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-carter/) > [To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-seventy-years-young-is-sometimes-far-more-cheerful-and-hopeful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am seventy years old, a gray age weighted with uncompromising biblical allusions. It ought to have a gray outlook, but it hasn't, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/i-am-seventy-years-old-a-gray-age-weighted-with-uncompromising/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [After seventy years of expository preaching, I have yet to touch the hem of His garment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-a-criswell/after-seventy-years-of-expository-preaching-i-have-yet-to-touch-the/) [W. A. Criswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-a-criswell/) > [I died last night. Seventy years too young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-thompson/i-died-last-night-seventy-years-too-young/) [Colin Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-thompson/) ## More by Ezra Pound > [“I once saw a small child go to an electric light switch as say, "Mamma, can I open the light?" She was using the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/i-once-saw-a-small-child-go-to-an-electric-light-switch-as-say-mamma/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“Till now they send him dreams and no more deed; So doth he flame again with might for action, Forgetful of the council of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/till-now-they-send-him-dreams-and-no-more-deed-so-doth-he-flame-again/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [A great age of literature is perhaps always a great age of translations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/a-great-age-of-literature-is-perhaps-always-a-great-age-of/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [It would be about as easy for an American to become a Chinaman or a Hindoo as for him to acquire an Englishness or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/it-would-be-about-as-easy-for-an-american-to-become-a-chinaman-or-a/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Poets who are not interested in music are, or become, bad poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/poets-who-are-not-interested-in-music-are-or-become-bad-poets/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Anyone who is too lazy to master the comparatively small glossary necessary to understand Chaucer deserves to be shut out from the reading of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/anyone-who-is-too-lazy-to-master-the-comparatively-small-glossary/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Mass ought to be in Latin, unless you could do it in Greek or Chinese. In fact, any abracadabra that no bloody member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/mass-ought-to-be-in-latin-unless-you-could-do-it-in-greek-or-chinese/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [where the dead walked and the living were made of cardboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/where-the-dead-walked-and-the-living-were-made-of-cardboard/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Liberty is not a right but a duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/liberty-is-not-a-right-but-a-duty/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [The artist is always beginning. Any work of art which is not a beginning, an invention, a discovery is of little worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/the-artist-is-always-beginning-any-work-of-art-which-is-not-a/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“Any general statement is like a cheque drawn on a bank. Its value depends on what is there to meet it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/any-general-statement-is-like-a-cheque-drawn-on-a-bank-its-value/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [The author's conviction on this day of New Year is that music begins to atrophy when it departs too far from the dance; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/the-author-s-conviction-on-this-day-of-new-year-is-that-music-begins/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [In case I conk out, this is provisionally what I have to do: I must clarify obscurities; I must make clearer definite ideas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/in-case-i-conk-out-this-is-provisionally-what-i-have-to-do-i-must/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“Adolf Hitler was a Jeanne d'Arc, a saint. He was a martyr.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/adolf-hitler-was-a-jeanne-d-arc-a-saint-he-was-a-martyr/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [I could I trust starve like a gentleman. It's listed as part of the poetic training, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/i-could-i-trust-starve-like-a-gentleman-it-s-listed-as-part-of-the/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) [Explore all 273 Ezra Pound quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [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/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I found after seventy years that I was not a lunatic but a moron… I should have been able to do better.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ezra Pound" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/i-found-after-seventy-years-that-i-was-not-a-lunatic-but-a-moron-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/i-found-after-seventy-years-that-i-was-not-a-lunatic-but-a-moron-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/ezra-pound-1208_able_i-found-after-seventy-years-that-i-was-n_603265.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/ezra-pound-1208_able_i-found-after-seventy-years-that-i-was-n_603265.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/ezra-pound-1208_able_i-found-after-seventy-years-that-i-was-n_603265.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I found after seventy years that I was not a lunatic but a moron… I should have been able to do better.” — Ezra Pound", "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": "Ezra Pound", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I found after seventy years that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/i-found-after-seventy-years-that-i-was-not-a-lunatic-but-a-moron-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/i-found-after-seventy-years-that-i-was-not-a-lunatic-but-a-moron-i/#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 } } ] } ```