--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know whether my life has been a…" description: "\"I don't know whether my life has been a success or a failure. But not having any anxiety about becoming one instead of the other, and just taking thing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/harpo-marx-30891_anxiety_i-don-t-know-whether-my-life-has-been-a_1975212.jpg" --- # I don't know whether my life has been a success or a… ![“I don't know whether my life has been a success or a failure. But not having any anxiety about becoming one instead of the other, and just taking things as they come along, I've had a lot of extra time to enjoy life.” quote by Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/harpo-marx-30891_anxiety_i-don-t-know-whether-my-life-has-been-a_1975212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/harpo-marx-30891_anxiety_i-don-t-know-whether-my-life-has-been-a_1975212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/harpo-marx-30891_anxiety_i-don-t-know-whether-my-life-has-been-a_1975212.jpg) > “I don't know whether my life has been a success or a failure. But not having any anxiety about becoming one instead of the other, and just taking things as they come along, I've had a lot of extra time to enjoy life.” [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects that success isn’t crucial; living anxiously about it wastes time, while acceptance brings more enjoyment. **In simple terms:** Accept life as it is and enjoy more time. Key Takeaway Let go of success anxiety to savor life. Themes contentment anxiety life philosophy Mood reflective lighthearted Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily routines - career decisions - personal relationships Key Concepts acceptance mindfulness time management Questions to Reflect On - What would you change if you stopped fearing failure? - How can you practice acceptance daily? A Different Perspective Success pressure can still cause stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxiety Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-instead-673973/) [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Becoming one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming-one/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Enjoy life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy-life/) [Extra time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extra-time/) [Extras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extras/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-success/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I tried to scrounge up some awe but only got anxiety instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-tried-to-scrounge-up-some-awe-but-only-got-anxiety-instead/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [There's always that possibility. 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If you don't enjoy what you're doing, it will be difficult to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-whitworth/make-sure-that-the-career-you-choose-is-one-you-enjoy-if-you-don-t/) [Kathy Whitworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-whitworth/) > [Right now, for instance, we resist giving people extra time on exams or for assignments, as though it's unfair to the faster students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-todd-rose/right-now-for-instance-we-resist-giving-people-extra-time-on-exams-or/) [L. Todd Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-todd-rose/) > [When I have extra time I just go out to the Hamptons. I have a house in Southampton I go out to as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-rhoda/when-i-have-extra-time-i-just-go-out-to-the-hamptons-i-have-a-house/) [Hilary Rhoda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-rhoda/) > [The pace at eBay was frantic and urgent. We knew that if we didn't move fast, somebody would come into the market and quash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-skoll/the-pace-at-ebay-was-frantic-and-urgent-we-knew-that-if-we-didn-t/) [Jeffrey Skoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-skoll/) > [Be enthusiastic, be energetic, put your thoughts into action and enjoy a life full of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/be-enthusiastic-be-energetic-put-your-thoughts-into-action-and-enjoy/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [Pure and simple, any person who is enjoying life is a success,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/pure-and-simple-any-person-who-is-enjoying-life-is-a-success/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Next time, you question what you are doing - ask yourself? What could I do more? In most cases, extra time will be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pena/next-time-you-question-what-you-are-doing-ask-yourself-what-could-i/) [Dan Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pena/) > [“It was nice to borrow a slice of extra time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-marciano/it-was-nice-to-borrow-a-slice-of-extra-time/) [Francesca Marciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-marciano/) ## More by Harpo Marx > [Susan, an only child who never had any roots, and I, a lone wolf who got married 20 years to late, were adopted by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/susan-an-only-child-who-never-had-any-roots-and-i-a-lone-wolf-who-got/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [The passing of an ordinary man is sad. The passing of a great man is tragic, and doubly tragic when the greatness passes before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/the-passing-of-an-ordinary-man-is-sad-the-passing-of-a-great-man-is/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [But I guess that's the way it is. When you lose something irreplaceable, you don't mourn for the thing you lost. you mourn for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/but-i-guess-that-s-the-way-it-is-when-you-lose-something/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [In 1944 James Arthur and Minnie Susan were added to the Marx household.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/in-1944-james-arthur-and-minnie-susan-were-added-to-the-marx-household/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [In the house in Beverly Hills where our four children grew up, living conditions were a few thousand times improved over the old tenement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/in-the-house-in-beverly-hills-where-our-four-children-grew-up-living/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [Many years ago a very wise man named Bernard Baruch took me aside and put his arm around my shoulder. 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If you can think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/if-things-get-too-much-for-you-and-you-feel-the-whole-world-s-against/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [“Money isn’t everything, but the lack of money isn’t anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/money-isn-t-everything-but-the-lack-of-money-isn-t-anything/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [“My name is whaddya care My home is anywhere People say I'm awful dumb So I thought to you I'd come”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/my-name-is-whaddya-care-my-home-is-anywhere-people-say-i-m-awful-dumb/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [He looked like something that had gotten loose from Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/he-looked-like-something-that-had-gotten-loose-from-macy-s/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [In the fall of 1943 we brought home our second son, whom we named Alexander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/in-the-fall-of-1943-we-brought-home-our-second-son-whom-we-named/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [Like the East Side tenement, our house was seldom without the sound of music or laughter or questions being asked or stories being told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/like-the-east-side-tenement-our-house-was-seldom-without-the-sound-of/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) > [I was the same kind of father as I was a harpist - I played by ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/i-was-the-same-kind-of-father-as-i-was-a-harpist-i-played-by-ear/) [Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) [Explore all 16 Harpo Marx quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know whether my life has been a success or a failure. 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