--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't spend your life beating…" description: "\"You can't spend your life beating yourself up for something that happened yesterday. You die if you don't follow your desire.\" — Hanif Kureishi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/hanif-kureishi-3233_beating-yourself-up_you-can-t-spend-your-life-beating-yourse_2680268.jpg" --- # You can't spend your life beating yourself up for… ![“You can't spend your life beating yourself up for something that happened yesterday. You die if you don't follow your desire.” quote by Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/hanif-kureishi-3233_beating-yourself-up_you-can-t-spend-your-life-beating-yourse_2680268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/hanif-kureishi-3233_beating-yourself-up_you-can-t-spend-your-life-beating-yourse_2680268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/hanif-kureishi-3233_beating-yourself-up_you-can-t-spend-your-life-beating-yourse_2680268.jpg) > “You can't spend your life beating yourself up for something that happened yesterday. You die if you don't follow your desire.” [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding onto past mistakes hinders living fully; pursue your true desires now. **In simple terms:** Don't dwell on yesterday; follow your desire. Key Takeaway Act on your passion today. Themes self‑compassion purpose growth Mood reflective determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - career decisions - health goals Key Concepts psychology mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What desire have you ignored? - How can you release self‑criticism? A Different Perspective Past regrets can still dominate thoughts despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beating yourself up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beating-yourself-up/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [“That's kind of the thing of it, isn't it? We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. After so many days of waking up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-timmins/that-s-kind-of-the-thing-of-it-isn-t-it-we-don-t-know-what-s-going-to/) [Kara Timmins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-timmins/) > [“Life's nothing but the beating you take before you die. And I've died so many times already. Killed and lost so much. The remains.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-w-jeter/life-s-nothing-but-the-beating-you-take-before-you-die-and-i-ve-died/) [K.W. Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-w-jeter/) > [In that case I will devote my life to beating my head against that wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/in-that-case-i-will-devote-my-life-to-beating-my-head-against-that/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [“It's not like I've spent my life beating he boys back with a flaming torch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/it-s-not-like-i-ve-spent-my-life-beating-he-boys-back-with-a-flaming/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [Why shouldn't poetry address what happened yesterday and be published in the newspaper?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/why-shouldn-t-poetry-address-what-happened-yesterday-and-be-published/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [Others fear what the morrow may bring. I am afraid of what happened yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/others-fear-what-the-morrow-may-bring-i-am-afraid-of-what-happened/) [Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/) > [No one can change what happened yesterday. No one know exactly what will happen tomorrow. But all of us can know what is happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/no-one-can-change-what-happened-yesterday-no-one-know-exactly-what/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [If beating yourself up worked you'd be rich, thin, and happy. Try loving yourself instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/if-beating-yourself-up-worked-you-d-be-rich-thin-and-happy-try-loving/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [“Remember that setbacks are only challenges in disguise. Look at them as lessons . . . don't waste time beating yourself up. Just gt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-cruise/remember-that-setbacks-are-only-challenges-in-disguise-look-at-them/) [Jorge Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-cruise/) > [Don't beat yourself up if you're not doing right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-hayward/don-t-beat-yourself-up-if-you-re-not-doing-right/) [Courtney Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-hayward/) > [One step at a time is enough for me. Impatience is simply a way of beating yourself up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/one-step-at-a-time-is-enough-for-me-impatience-is-simply-a-way-of/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Management gurus in general are, I think, best avoided. All too often they reduce your working life to a list of rules to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/management-gurus-in-general-are-i-think-best-avoided-all-too-often/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [I want you to have big dreams, big goals. I want you to strive to achieve them. But I don't want to see you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-want-you-to-have-big-dreams-big-goals-i-want-you-to-strive-to/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Have the courage to be exactly who you are without apology. Admit your mistakes without beating yourself up. Release all shame! Release all guilt!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/have-the-courage-to-be-exactly-who-you-are-without-apology-admit-your/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [I think the posture of confidence can serve you well. I'm not sure what's to be gained by sitting at your computer and beating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-shipstead/i-think-the-posture-of-confidence-can-serve-you-well-i-m-not-sure/) [Maggie Shipstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-shipstead/) ## More by Hanif Kureishi > [I'm always writing. I'm an obsessive. It's not because I'm a disciplined person. It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-ve-never-had-any-desire-to-be-good-i-don-t-like-goodness/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [ Harvey \[Weinstein\] didn't want to release \[MY SON THE FANATIC\]; he held it for two years because he wanted a happy ending, although I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/harvey-weinstein-didn-t-want-to-release-my-son-the-fanatic-he-held-it/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“Starenje nije za slabice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/starenje-nije-za-slabice/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“Ali isto tako sam i shvatio da prestupnistvo samo ucvrscuje pravila koja pokusava da prekrsi. Nista ne osnazuje normu kao odstupanje od nje.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/ali-isto-tako-sam-i-shvatio-da-prestupnistvo-samo-ucvrscuje-pravila/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [One would hope, as well that intimacy would leave more of a mark, that more of it would remain. But it doesn’t. You just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/one-would-hope-as-well-that-intimacy-would-leave-more-of-a-mark-that/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“You see people truly when they enjoy the most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/you-see-people-truly-when-they-enjoy-the-most/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [I guess writing is a kind of therapy in the sense that there are things you need to say and you say them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-guess-writing-is-a-kind-of-therapy-in-the-sense-that-there-are/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [What a quality of innocence people have when they don't expect to be harmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/what-a-quality-of-innocence-people-have-when-they-don-t-expect-to-be/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“People who were only ever half right about things drove me mad. I hated the flood of opinion, the certainty, the easy talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/people-who-were-only-ever-half-right-about-things-drove-me-mad-i/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“Desire is naughty and doesn't conform to our ideals, which is why we have such a need of them. Desire mocks all human endeavour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/desire-is-naughty-and-doesn-t-conform-to-our-ideals-which-is-why-we/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [I began to enjoy my own generosity; I felt the pleasure of pleasing others, especially as this was accompanied by money-power. I was paying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-began-to-enjoy-my-own-generosity-i-felt-the-pleasure-of-pleasing/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“Maybe you never stop feeling like an eight-year-old in front of your parents. You resolve to be your mature self, to react in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/maybe-you-never-stop-feeling-like-an-eight-year-old-in-front-of-your/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“I don’t like being left for long struggling with my dangerous self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-don-t-like-being-left-for-long-struggling-with-my-dangerous-self/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“Who doesn’t love cock?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/who-doesn-t-love-cock/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) [Explore all 129 Hanif Kureishi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) ## More Beating yourself up quotes > [I think the posture of confidence can serve you well. I'm not sure what's to be gained by sitting at your computer and beating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-shipstead/i-think-the-posture-of-confidence-can-serve-you-well-i-m-not-sure/) [Maggie Shipstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-shipstead/) > [Have the courage to be exactly who you are without apology. Admit your mistakes without beating yourself up. Release all shame! Release all guilt!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/have-the-courage-to-be-exactly-who-you-are-without-apology-admit-your/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [I want you to have big dreams, big goals. I want you to strive to achieve them. But I don't want to see you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-want-you-to-have-big-dreams-big-goals-i-want-you-to-strive-to/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Management gurus in general are, I think, best avoided. All too often they reduce your working life to a list of rules to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/management-gurus-in-general-are-i-think-best-avoided-all-too-often/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [One step at a time is enough for me. Impatience is simply a way of beating yourself up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/one-step-at-a-time-is-enough-for-me-impatience-is-simply-a-way-of/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Don't beat yourself up if you're not doing right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-hayward/don-t-beat-yourself-up-if-you-re-not-doing-right/) [Courtney Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-hayward/) > [“Remember that setbacks are only challenges in disguise. Look at them as lessons . . . don't waste time beating yourself up. Just gt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-cruise/remember-that-setbacks-are-only-challenges-in-disguise-look-at-them/) [Jorge Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-cruise/) > [If beating yourself up worked you'd be rich, thin, and happy. Try loving yourself instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/if-beating-yourself-up-worked-you-d-be-rich-thin-and-happy-try-loving/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [I continue to be amazed by our bodies' ability for self-repair. ... Our bodies want to be healthy, if we would just let them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-greger/i-continue-to-be-amazed-by-our-bodies-ability-for-self-repair-our/) [Michael Greger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-greger/) > [Give yourself a break. Stop beating yourself up! Everyone makes mistakes, has setbacks and failures. You don't come with a book on how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/give-yourself-a-break-stop-beating-yourself-up-everyone-makes/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) > [You have to hide what you are and it's really stressful and very bad for your self esteem. Because it's not obvious to people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/you-have-to-hide-what-you-are-and-it-s-really-stressful-and-very-bad/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) > [Rather than beating yourself up for what you are not doing, appreciate and celebrate the things you are doing. When you shift your focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/rather-than-beating-yourself-up-for-what-you-are-not-doing-appreciate/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [There's absolutely no point in beating yourself up. Focus on going forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-harron/there-s-absolutely-no-point-in-beating-yourself-up-focus-on-going/) [Mary Harron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-harron/) [Browse all 14 Beating yourself up quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beating-yourself-up/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't spend your life beating yourself up for something that happened yesterday. 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