--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you get older, it's not about what…" description: "\"When you get older, it's not about what you did that you regret, it's what you didn't do.\" — Grace Slick" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/grace-slick-6380_older_when-you-get-older-it-s-not-about-what-y_3108636.jpg" --- # When you get older, it's not about what you did that you… ![“When you get older, it's not about what you did that you regret, it's what you didn't do.” quote by Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/grace-slick-6380_older_when-you-get-older-it-s-not-about-what-y_3108636.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/grace-slick-6380_older_when-you-get-older-it-s-not-about-what-y_3108636.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/grace-slick-6380_older_when-you-get-older-it-s-not-about-what-y_3108636.jpg) > “When you get older, it's not about what you did that you regret, it's what you didn't do.” [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Regret focuses on missed opportunities rather than past actions; it's about what you didn't try. **In simple terms:** Missing chances hurts more than past mistakes. Key Takeaway Take chances before it's too late. Themes regret opportunity growth Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal goals - relationships Key Concepts risk taking life choices Questions to Reflect On - What opportunities are you avoiding? - How can you overcome fear of failure? A Different Perspective Fear of failure can paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Did Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-regret-537979/) [Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older/) [Older Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-did-3977038/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regret Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret-didn/) ## Related quotes > [“Its better to regrets what you did, than regret what you didn't do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nolan/its-better-to-regrets-what-you-did-than-regret-what-you-didn-t-do/) [William Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-nolan/) > [Regrets are for the weak. Don't regret for something you did, regret for something you didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessel-jane-zozobrado/regrets-are-for-the-weak-don-t-regret-for-something-you-did-regret/) [Jessel Jane Zozobrado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessel-jane-zozobrado/) > [“When people grow old and look back on their lives, they don't regret what they did, they regret what they didn't do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-caraganis-jakobson/when-people-grow-old-and-look-back-on-their-lives-they-don-t-regret/) [Joan Caraganis Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-caraganis-jakobson/) > [I met the Queen, the Pope, and we went all over Europe and Asia. I just wish I was older when I did all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-met-the-queen-the-pope-and-we-went-all-over-europe-and-asia-i-just/) [Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/) > [As I get older, I find I cry much more often than I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-gyllenhaal/as-i-get-older-i-find-i-cry-much-more-often-than-i-did/) [Maggie Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-gyllenhaal/) > [I have had a wonderful life. I have never regretted what I did. I regret things I didn't do. All my life I've done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bergman/i-have-had-a-wonderful-life-i-have-never-regretted-what-i-did-i/) [Ingrid Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bergman/) > [I always had a sort of niggling regret that we didn't come do stuff in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/i-always-had-a-sort-of-niggling-regret-that-we-didn-t-come-do-stuff/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [At the end, regret only what you didn't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-rose/at-the-end-regret-only-what-you-didn-t-do/) [Charlie Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-rose/) > [“That night, when you kissed me, I thought you did it because you were drinking. All I could focus on was getting you home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melyssa-winchester/that-night-when-you-kissed-me-i-thought-you-did-it-because-you-were/) [Melyssa Winchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melyssa-winchester/) > [Patti, did art get us?' I looked away, not really wanting to think about it. 'I don't know, Robert. I don't know.' Perhaps it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/patti-did-art-get-us-i-looked-away-not-really-wanting-to-think-about/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'd rather regret something I did than regret not doing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-regret-something-i-did-than-regret-not-doing-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Did she ever regret her choices? Were her decisions more clear-cut than mine - or are there always shades of gray whe it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/did-she-ever-regret-her-choices-were-her-decisions-more-clear-cut/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Sawyer reached out and twirled a strand of my hair around his finger. “Even if I was wrong to take you without a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/sawyer-reached-out-and-twirled-a-strand-of-my-hair-around-his-finger/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [“I was wrong when I said that I did not regret the past. I do regret it; I weep for that past love which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-was-wrong-when-i-said-that-i-did-not-regret-the-past-i-do-regret-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I have every regret to wht I did to you and every regret leads to love but I cant have you back becoz u…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolas-sixx/i-have-every-regret-to-wht-i-did-to-you-and-every-regret-leads-to/) [NIKOLAS SIXX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolas-sixx/) ## More by Grace Slick > [Things change so fast, you can't use 1971 ethics on someone born in 1971.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/things-change-so-fast-you-can-t-use-1971-ethics-on-someone-born-in/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [Woodstock - I didn't see anybody play, except when I was standing backstage waiting to go on, because it was so muddy. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/woodstock-i-didn-t-see-anybody-play-except-when-i-was-standing/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [I said I'd be honest, I never said I'd be consistant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/i-said-i-d-be-honest-i-never-said-i-d-be-consistant/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [When the truth is found to be lies, and all the joy within you dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/when-the-truth-is-found-to-be-lies-and-all-the-joy-within-you-dies/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [I'm a John Denver freak, and I don't give a sh\*t that he looks like a f\*\*\*ing turkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/i-m-a-john-denver-freak-and-i-don-t-give-a-sh-t-that-he-looks-like-a/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [Rock roll is not obscure, it's really easy to understand. So is my painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/rock-roll-is-not-obscure-it-s-really-easy-to-understand-so-is-my/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [“Remember what the Dormouse said, Feed Your Head!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/remember-what-the-dormouse-said-feed-your-head/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [I think it jumps generations. You get a screwball in one, and then the next one is straight, then you get a screwball. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/i-think-it-jumps-generations-you-get-a-screwball-in-one-and-then-the/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [It's a bit difficult to get hippies organized into anything, but I think if they get annoyed enough with the stuff that's going down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/it-s-a-bit-difficult-to-get-hippies-organized-into-anything-but-i/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [I don't imagine my parents are too excited about my kind of life. The surrounding weirdness bothers them. Still, I think they're pretty good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/i-don-t-imagine-my-parents-are-too-excited-about-my-kind-of-life-the/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [You can do any number of things in the music business aside from trying to look like you're 25. To me it's embarrassing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/you-can-do-any-number-of-things-in-the-music-business-aside-from/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [I didn't want to write a book. They made me do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-they-made-me-do-it/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [People say Altamont was the end of the 60s. It was unfortunate, but at the time we didnt think of it as signaling anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/people-say-altamont-was-the-end-of-the-60s-it-was-unfortunate-but-at/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [I fall down all the time because I'm such a klutz, but I have never broken a bone, and I don't eat milk or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/i-fall-down-all-the-time-because-i-m-such-a-klutz-but-i-have-never/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [I think of myself as a positive agnostic. I don't know, therefore I'm open. I don't know, therefore I'm interested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/i-think-of-myself-as-a-positive-agnostic-i-don-t-know-therefore-i-m/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) [Explore all 99 Grace Slick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) ## More Older quotes > [Clearly, I'm way older than everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/clearly-i-m-way-older-than-everyone/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [There are definite reference points to older Depeche Mode records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/there-are-definite-reference-points-to-older-depeche-mode-records/) [Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/) > [I'd love to talk to myself at 40 and see what I've achieved and what I feel... but I will just be the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-d-love-to-talk-to-myself-at-40-and-see-what-i-ve-achieved-and-what/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [Getting older doesn't help you in the fact that you might have covered some of this ground before. So you're listening to a song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/getting-older-doesn-t-help-you-in-the-fact-that-you-might-have/) [Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/) > [This is me and my older brother alasandro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother/this-is-me-and-my-older-brother-alasandro/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother/) > [The older I get, the more I'm saving the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-millsap/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-m-saving-the-day/) [Paul Millsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-millsap/) > [When I hear that I realize how quickly time passes and how everybody goes on their journeys and they're always unbelievable and they never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/when-i-hear-that-i-realize-how-quickly-time-passes-and-how-everybody/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I may be forty, but every morning when I get up, I feel like a twenty-year-old. Unfortunately, there's never one around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/i-may-be-forty-but-every-morning-when-i-get-up-i-feel-like-a-twenty/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [As I get older I realize how short & sometimes difficult life is & if you are not adding to my joy I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/as-i-get-older-i-realize-how-short-sometimes-difficult-life-is-if-you/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [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/) > [I'm 25, but I look like I'm 16 so I don't really don't consider age personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-barden/i-m-25-but-i-look-like-i-m-16-so-i-don-t-really-don-t-consider-age/) [Jessica Barden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-barden/) > [The older I get, the more I look like my favorite shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-look-like-my-favorite-shoes/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I’m 59 and people call me middle aged. How many 118 year old men do you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-cryer/i-m-59-and-people-call-me-middle-aged-how-many-118-year-old-men-do/) [Barry Cryer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-cryer/) > [I like to think I'm a very mature person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-courtney/i-like-to-think-i-m-a-very-mature-person/) [Joel Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-courtney/) [Browse all 3,706 Older quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you get older, it's not about what you did that you regret, it's what you didn't do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Grace Slick" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/when-you-get-older-it-s-not-about-what-you-did-that-you-regret-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Older" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/when-you-get-older-it-s-not-about-what-you-did-that-you-regret-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/grace-slick-6380_older_when-you-get-older-it-s-not-about-what-y_3108636.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/grace-slick-6380_older_when-you-get-older-it-s-not-about-what-y_3108636.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/grace-slick-6380_older_when-you-get-older-it-s-not-about-what-y_3108636.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you get older, it's not about what you did that you regret, it's what you didn't do.” — Grace Slick", "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": "Grace Slick", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you get older, it's not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/when-you-get-older-it-s-not-about-what-you-did-that-you-regret-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/when-you-get-older-it-s-not-about-what-you-did-that-you-regret-it-s/#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 } } ] } ```