---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Aging is no accident. It is necessary to…"
description: "\"Aging is no accident. It is necessary to the human condition, intended by the soul. We become more characteristic of who we are simply by lasting into ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/james-hillman-2336_accidents_aging-is-no-accident-it-is-necessary-to_898896.jpg"
---

#  Aging is no accident. It is necessary to the human…

![“Aging is no accident. It is necessary to the human condition, intended by the soul. We become more characteristic of who we are simply by lasting into later years; the older we become, the more our true natures emerge. Thus the final years have a very important purpose: the fulfillment and…” quote by James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/james-hillman-2336_accidents_aging-is-no-accident-it-is-necessary-to_898896.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/james-hillman-2336_accidents_aging-is-no-accident-it-is-necessary-to_898896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/james-hillman-2336_accidents_aging-is-no-accident-it-is-necessary-to_898896.jpg)

> “Aging is no accident. It is necessary to the human condition, intended by the soul. We become more characteristic of who we are simply by lasting into later years; the older we become, the more our true natures emerge. Thus the final years have a very important purpose: the fulfillment and confirmation of one’s character.”

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Aging reveals our true character, fulfilling the purpose of life by confirming who we truly are.

**In simple terms:** Aging shows our real self.

Key Takeaway

Embrace later years as a time of self‑realization.

Themes

growth identity purpose aging self‑discovery

Mood

reflective hopeful serene

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career reflection
- personal journaling
- mentoring younger people
- life coaching

Key Concepts

psychology human development existential meaning

Questions to Reflect On

- How does aging change your sense of self?
- What can you do to honor your later years?

A Different Perspective

Aging can also bring health decline and societal marginalization.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Aging Accident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging-accident-1221940/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characteristics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characteristics/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Confirmation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confirmation/) [Finals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finals/) [Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment/) [Human condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-condition/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Lasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting/) [Later Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/later-years-522882/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [True nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-nature/) [Who we are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-we-are/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-older/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/)

## Related quotes

> [The good news is that even a bad and painful childhood may be put behind in our later years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-anupam/the-good-news-is-that-even-a-bad-and-painful-childhood-may-be-put/)

[Kumar Anupam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-anupam/)

> [I am content in my later years. I have kept my good humor and take neither myself nor the next person seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-am-content-in-my-later-years-i-have-kept-my-good-humor-and-take/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Negative thinking is prevalent, in particular, among so many women in their later years, and, as a result, they live out their lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/negative-thinking-is-prevalent-in-particular-among-so-many-women-in/)

[Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/)

> [ \[On being asked in her later years if she were Tallulah:\] I'm what's left of her, dahling. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tallulah-bankhead/on-being-asked-in-her-later-years-if-she-were-tallulah-i-m-what-s/)

[Tallulah Bankhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tallulah-bankhead/)

> [In my father's later years he asked several times that I remember him the way I knew him. He said that after his death,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/in-my-father-s-later-years-he-asked-several-times-that-i-remember-him/)

[Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/)

> [“When he recalls it in later years, he will wonder if he is distorting it, embellishing it, because each time he consciously recalls her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/when-he-recalls-it-in-later-years-he-will-wonder-if-he-is-distorting/)

[Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/)

> [In later years, during what might be called my gray-outs — when I was conscious but not myself — I craved foods that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/in-later-years-during-what-might-be-called-my-gray-outs-when-i-was/)

[Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/)

> [My later years are my treasure years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/my-later-years-are-my-treasure-years/)

[Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/)

> [...the hard work and poverty of my childhoodturned out to be my greatest asset in later years. Nothing could ever seem too hard after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-sanders/the-hard-work-and-poverty-of-my-childhoodturned-out-to-be-my-greatest/)

[Sue Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-sanders/)

> [I have known plenty of people who, in their later years, had the energy of children and the kind of curiosity and fascination with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-have-known-plenty-of-people-who-in-their-later-years-had-the-energy/)

[Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/)

> [People who have escaped from poverty are like old soldiers. In later years they recount the little, amusing incidents that happened infrequently, and conveniently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-maxwell/people-who-have-escaped-from-poverty-are-like-old-soldiers-in-later/)

[Elsa Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-maxwell/)

> [“I know only that civilizations seem to be like people. They are born, they grow to maturity, then they age and lose their vitality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/i-know-only-that-civilizations-seem-to-be-like-people-they-are-born/)

[Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/)

> [In the early years, you fight because you don't understand each other. In the later years, you fight because you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/in-the-early-years-you-fight-because-you-don-t-understand-each-other/)

[Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/)

> [“For however one may come in later years to reassess one’s achievements, it is always a consolation to know that one’s life has contained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/for-however-one-may-come-in-later-years-to-reassess-one-s/)

[Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/)

> [See your later years as becoming your treasure years. Sit quietly and think of all the times you were joyful, and let your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/see-your-later-years-as-becoming-your-treasure-years-sit-quietly-and/)

[Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/)

## More by James Hillman

> [“Each life is formed by its unique image, an image that is the essence of that life and calls it to a destiny. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/each-life-is-formed-by-its-unique-image-an-image-that-is-the-essence/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [Fear is a huge thing for older people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/fear-is-a-huge-thing-for-older-people/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [It's a terrible cruelty of predatory capitalism: both parents now have to work. A family has to have two incomes in order to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/it-s-a-terrible-cruelty-of-predatory-capitalism-both-parents-now-have/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [You know, people come to therapy really for a blessing. Not so much to fix what's broken, but to get what's broken blessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/you-know-people-come-to-therapy-really-for-a-blessing-not-so-much-to/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [Until the culture recognizes the legitimacy of growing down, each person in the culture struggles blindly to make sense of the darkness that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/until-the-culture-recognizes-the-legitimacy-of-growing-down-each/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [ “The first way has been excellently presented by David Holt in his lecture on “Jung and Marx.” \[1\] There Holt shows that Jung imagined his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-first-way-has-been-excellently-presented-by-david-holt-in-his/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [I'm the result of upbringing, class, race, gender, social prejudices, and economics. So I'm a victim again. A result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/i-m-the-result-of-upbringing-class-race-gender-social-prejudices-and/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [There is more in a human life than our theories of it allow. Sooner or later something seems to call us onto a particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/there-is-more-in-a-human-life-than-our-theories-of-it-allow-sooner-or/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [Depression opens the door to beauty of some kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/depression-opens-the-door-to-beauty-of-some-kind/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [The idea of death robs inquiry of its passionate vitality and empties our efforts of their purpose by coming to one predestined conclusion, death.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-idea-of-death-robs-inquiry-of-its-passionate-vitality-and-empties/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [I'm in favor of destruction, aggression, hating things. Not bearing things anymore. We think the breakdown comes because our life is in bad shape.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/i-m-in-favor-of-destruction-aggression-hating-things-not-bearing/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [In the past, friendship was a huge thing. But it's hard for us to think of friendship as a calling, because it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/in-the-past-friendship-was-a-huge-thing-but-it-s-hard-for-us-to-think/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [Psychotherapy theory turns it all on you: you are the one who is wrong. If a kid is having trouble or is discouraged, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/psychotherapy-theory-turns-it-all-on-you-you-are-the-one-who-is-wrong/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [The self divided is precisely where the self is authentically located. . . We all have identity crises because a single identity is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-self-divided-is-precisely-where-the-self-is-authentically-located/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [Love alone is not enough. Without imagination, love stales into sentiment, duty, boredom. Relationships fail not because we have stopped loving but because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/love-alone-is-not-enough-without-imagination-love-stales-into/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

[Explore all 171 James Hillman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

## More Accidents quotes

> [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/)

[Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/)

> [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/)

[Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/)

> [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/)

[Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/)

> [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/)

[John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/)

> [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/)

[Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/)

> [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/)

[Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/)

> [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/)

[Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/)

> [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/)

[Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/)

> [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/)

[Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/)

> [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/)

[Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/)

> [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/)

[Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/)

> [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/)

[Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/)

> [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/)

[Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/)

> [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/)

[Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/)

> [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/)

[Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/)

[Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Aging is no accident. It is necessary to the human condition, intended by the soul. We become more characteristic of who we are simply by lasting into later years; the older we become, the more our true natures emerge. Thus the final years have a very important purpose: the fulfillment and confirmation of one’s character.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Hillman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/aging-is-no-accident-it-is-necessary-to-the-human-condition-intended/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accidents"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/aging-is-no-accident-it-is-necessary-to-the-human-condition-intended/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/james-hillman-2336_accidents_aging-is-no-accident-it-is-necessary-to_898896.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/james-hillman-2336_accidents_aging-is-no-accident-it-is-necessary-to_898896.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/james-hillman-2336_accidents_aging-is-no-accident-it-is-necessary-to_898896.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Aging is no accident. It is necessary to the human condition, intended by the soul. We become more…” — James Hillman",
                "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": "James Hillman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Aging is no accident. It is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/aging-is-no-accident-it-is-necessary-to-the-human-condition-intended/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/aging-is-no-accident-it-is-necessary-to-the-human-condition-intended/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
