--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He can’t understand people who long to…" description: "\"“He can’t understand people who long to retire. How can anyone spend their whole life longing for the day when they become superfluous? Wandering about..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/fredrik-backman-857_life_he-can-t-understand-people-who-long-to-r_1087568.jpg" --- # He can’t understand people who long to retire. How can… ![“He can’t understand people who long to retire. How can anyone spend their whole life longing for the day when they become superfluous? Wandering about, a burden on society, what sort of man would ever wish for that? Staying at home, waiting to die. Or even worse: waiting for them to come and fetch…” quote by Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/fredrik-backman-857_life_he-can-t-understand-people-who-long-to-r_1087568.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/fredrik-backman-857_life_he-can-t-understand-people-who-long-to-r_1087568.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/fredrik-backman-857_life_he-can-t-understand-people-who-long-to-r_1087568.jpg) > ““He can’t understand people who long to retire. How can anyone spend their whole life longing for the day when they become superfluous? Wandering about, a burden on society, what sort of man would ever wish for that? Staying at home, waiting to die. Or even worse: waiting for them to come and fetch you and put you in a home. Being dependent on other people to get to the toilet.”” [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dependency and fear of aging can trap people, urging autonomy and purpose. **In simple terms:** Avoid dependence and aim for purpose. Key Takeaway Seek independence and meaning. Themes aging dependence purpose society loneliness Mood thoughtful empathetic Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - elder care planning - mental health counseling - community building - personal development Key Concepts existentialism social critique autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life purpose? - How can you support aging individuals? A Different Perspective Societal support systems may mitigate dependence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-long/) [Life Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-longing-901358/) [Long Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-retire-2794906/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Retirement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retirement/) [Spend Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spend-life-273163/) [Waiting Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-die-293314/) [Whole life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-life/) ## Related quotes > [I just prepare and train to be able to stay on top as long as I can and retire on top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyron-woodley/i-just-prepare-and-train-to-be-able-to-stay-on-top-as-long-as-i-can/) [Tyron Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyron-woodley/) > [“Seduction and passion are simply life longing for life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-carlton-abrams/seduction-and-passion-are-simply-life-longing-for-life/) [Douglas Carlton Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-carlton-abrams/) > [“If you spend your whole life being someone else, who will be you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/if-you-spend-your-whole-life-being-someone-else-who-will-be-you/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [It was when I was happiest that I longed most...The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing...to find the place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-when-i-was-happiest-that-i-longed-most-the-sweetest-thing-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. 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If he could learn respect to love,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/a-whole-life-s-longing-for-love-but-do-not-you-will-get-so-much-love/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/three-passions-simple-but-overwhelmingly-strong-have-governed-my-life-2/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/three-passions-simple-but-overwhelmingly-strong-have-governed-my-life/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More by Fredrik Backman > [“So she bowed her head and devoted herself to Beartown’s real traditional sports: shame and silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/so-she-bowed-her-head-and-devoted-herself-to-beartown-s-real/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [“If Peter has learned one thing about human nature during all his years in hockey, it’s that almost everyone regards themselves as a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/if-peter-has-learned-one-thing-about-human-nature-during-all-his/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [“That’s what parents often do, I think, we persuade ourselves we’re doing everything for the sake of the child. 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