--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing you have to do is accept…" description: "\"The first thing you have to do is accept that decay sets in and there's nothing you can do about it.\" — Francesca Annis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/francesca-annis-7461_accept_the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-accept_3116827.jpg" --- # The first thing you have to do is accept that decay sets… ![“The first thing you have to do is accept that decay sets in and there's nothing you can do about it.” quote by Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/francesca-annis-7461_accept_the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-accept_3116827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/francesca-annis-7461_accept_the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-accept_3116827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/francesca-annis-7461_accept_the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-accept_3116827.jpg) > “The first thing you have to do is accept that decay sets in and there's nothing you can do about it.” [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accepting inevitable decline is the first step toward realistic expectations and peace. **In simple terms:** Accept decay, find peace. Key Takeaway Embrace reality, adjust expectations. Themes acceptance realism mortality Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - aging - health care - environmental policy - personal loss Key Concepts impermanence acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How does acceptance affect your actions? - Can acceptance coexist with hope? A Different Perspective It may foster fatalism, reducing motivation to improve. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept/) [Accept Decay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-decay-5458477/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Decay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/) [Decay Sets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay-sets-883782/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Thing Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-accept-2620905/) ## Related quotes > [When learning stops, decay sets in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/when-learning-stops-decay-sets-in/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“It's easy to hear words. It's another thing to accept them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/it-s-easy-to-hear-words-it-s-another-thing-to-accept-them/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [“The only thing that's ours to accept is the fact that we don't always get to know the answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ockler/the-only-thing-that-s-ours-to-accept-is-the-fact-that-we-don-t-always/) [Sarah Ockler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ockler/) > [Youth should be radical. Youth should demand change in the world. Youth should not accept the old order if the world is to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-allen-white/youth-should-be-radical-youth-should-demand-change-in-the-world-youth/) [William Allen White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-allen-white/) > [We are children of chaos, and the deep structure of change is decay. At root, there is only corruption, and the unstemmable tide of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-atkins/we-are-children-of-chaos-and-the-deep-structure-of-change-is-decay-at/) [Peter Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-atkins/) > [it's best to accept life as it really is and not as I imagined it to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-best-to-accept-life-as-it-really-is-and-not-as-i-imagined-it-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Don't breed, don't buy, don't even accept giveaways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hoyt/don-t-breed-don-t-buy-don-t-even-accept-giveaways/) [John Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hoyt/) > [No one on earth can hurt you, unless you accept the hurt in your own mind. . . The problem is not other people;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/no-one-on-earth-can-hurt-you-unless-you-accept-the-hurt-in-your-own/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [The moment you accept yourself, you become beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-moment-you-accept-yourself-you-become-beautiful/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Accept The Movement, Everything Is Ok.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rishi-prabhakar/accept-the-movement-everything-is-ok/) [Rishi Prabhakar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rishi-prabhakar/) > [You can't have any successes unless you can accept failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/you-can-t-have-any-successes-unless-you-can-accept-failure/) [George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/) > [there is nothing to be done. only accept it... and hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/there-is-nothing-to-be-done-only-accept-it-and-hurt/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Accept the fact that you're never gonna be someone else and embrace the fact that the world needs you as God made you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/accept-the-fact-that-you-re-never-gonna-be-someone-else-and-embrace/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) ## More by Francesca Annis > [I'm an actress, not a pin-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-m-an-actress-not-a-pin-up/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [Some actors get fired up by the sound of the audience. I just want to retreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/some-actors-get-fired-up-by-the-sound-of-the-audience-i-just-want-to/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [I couldn't imagine playing someone young now; it would be so boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-couldn-t-imagine-playing-someone-young-now-it-would-be-so-boring/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [We all know now that people can look good for their age. It isn't so extraordinary, I don't know why people go on about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/we-all-know-now-that-people-can-look-good-for-their-age-it-isn-t-so/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [Fame and stardom sat very easily on Elizabeth Taylor's shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/fame-and-stardom-sat-very-easily-on-elizabeth-taylor-s-shoulders/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [I was always going to be a dancer - I drifted into acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-was-always-going-to-be-a-dancer-i-drifted-into-acting/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [Truly charismatic people, in my experience, don't come along very often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/truly-charismatic-people-in-my-experience-don-t-come-along-very-often/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [The funny thing is I'm not bothered or sad about being on my own - after all I've never had a husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/the-funny-thing-is-i-m-not-bothered-or-sad-about-being-on-my-own/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [I used to suffer from excessive pride. Well, I got over that one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-used-to-suffer-from-excessive-pride-well-i-got-over-that-one/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [Eat well and sleep well. That will feed your nervous system and your psyche. As you get older, you look how you feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/eat-well-and-sleep-well-that-will-feed-your-nervous-system-and-your/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [However successful you are, there is no substitute for a close relationship. We all need them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/however-successful-you-are-there-is-no-substitute-for-a-close/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [I am not going to share my private life with millions of people. I don't find a need to do that and nobody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-am-not-going-to-share-my-private-life-with-millions-of-people-i-don/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [In the theatre, once you've gone about eight rows back, everybody else is just listening to you. You're very small, and nobody can really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/in-the-theatre-once-you-ve-gone-about-eight-rows-back-everybody-else/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [I don't believe in expending energy on something you can't do anything about. If there was some easy way of fixing things, I'd probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-don-t-believe-in-expending-energy-on-something-you-can-t-do/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [As you grow older, your whole life becomes very rich, multifaceted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/as-you-grow-older-your-whole-life-becomes-very-rich-multifaceted/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) [Explore all 91 Francesca Annis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) ## More Accept quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [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/) > [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [“See, I know what they think about me. That I’m some project. And, yeah, I’ll accept their help. But I’m gonna pay my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/see-i-know-what-they-think-about-me-that-i-m-some-project-and-yeah-i/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [It's very important to me that people accept me as a transgendered female. But it's ridiculous to a lot of people and I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-accept-me-as-a-transgendered/) [Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [“I hope there is less stigma and judgment against working moms and childless career women. All should be acceptable positions and society should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chan-heng-chee/i-hope-there-is-less-stigma-and-judgment-against-working-moms-and/) [Chan Heng Chee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chan-heng-chee/) > [“Of course I can accept you for who you are. You are someone I need to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-glasbergen/of-course-i-can-accept-you-for-who-you-are-you-are-someone-i-need-to/) [Randy Glasbergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-glasbergen/) > [I can't be that kind of person others want me to be.I know I can't please everybody for just being me But I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/i-can-t-be-that-kind-of-person-others-want-me-to-be-i-know-i-can-t/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [I don't care who you are,Where you from,As long as you love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mks-vibz/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-where-you-from-as-long-as-you-love-me/) [Mks Vibz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mks-vibz/) [Browse all 2,963 Accept quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first thing you have to do is accept that decay sets in and there's nothing you can do about it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francesca Annis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-accept-that-decay-sets-in-and-there/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accept" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-accept-that-decay-sets-in-and-there/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/francesca-annis-7461_accept_the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-accept_3116827.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/francesca-annis-7461_accept_the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-accept_3116827.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/francesca-annis-7461_accept_the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-accept_3116827.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The first thing you have to do is accept that decay sets in and there's nothing you can do about it.” — Francesca Annis", "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": "Francesca Annis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The first thing you have to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-accept-that-decay-sets-in-and-there/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-accept-that-decay-sets-in-and-there/#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 } } ] } ```