--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You think about getting old, but when you…" description: "\"You think about getting old, but when you get there, it's not what you thought it would be.\" — Jerry Lewis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/jerry-lewis-3118_about_you-think-about-getting-old-but-when-you_1879541.jpg" --- # You think about getting old, but when you get there, it's… ![“You think about getting old, but when you get there, it's not what you thought it would be.” quote by Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/jerry-lewis-3118_about_you-think-about-getting-old-but-when-you_1879541.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/jerry-lewis-3118_about_you-think-about-getting-old-but-when-you_1879541.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/jerry-lewis-3118_about_you-think-about-getting-old-but-when-you_1879541.jpg) > “You think about getting old, but when you get there, it's not what you thought it would be.” [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aging often defies our expectations, revealing experiences different from imagined. **In simple terms:** Old age isn’t what we picture. Key Takeaway Adjust expectations as you age. Themes aging expectation reality Mood reflective nostalgic Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - retirement - health care - family gatherings - personal reflection Key Concepts life cycle perception Questions to Reflect On - How have your views on aging changed? - What surprised you about growing older? A Different Perspective May overlook the challenges of aging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Getting old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-old/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [I don't want to know I'm getting older. Then I'll start to think about getting checkups and insurance. I don't want that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akon/i-don-t-want-to-know-i-m-getting-older-then-i-ll-start-to-think-about/) [Akon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akon/) > [Old things need not be therefore true, O brother men, nor yet the new; Ah! still awhile the old thought retain, And yet consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hugh-clough/old-things-need-not-be-therefore-true-o-brother-men-nor-yet-the-new/) [Arthur Hugh Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hugh-clough/) > [Where I grew up, in a remote village at the back of a valley, the old still thought the dead needed attending to -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald/where-i-grew-up-in-a-remote-village-at-the-back-of-a-valley-the-old/) [W. G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald/) > [We get stuck in old thought and behavior patterns that may have been effective when we were twelve months or twelve years old, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-strauss/we-get-stuck-in-old-thought-and-behavior-patterns-that-may-have-been/) [Neil Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-strauss/) > [I was 82 years old before Who's Who thought I was enough of a big shot to do a piece on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barbera/i-was-82-years-old-before-who-s-who-thought-i-was-enough-of-a-big/) [Joseph Barbera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barbera/) > [Up until I was eleven years old, I thought I was the only one of my kind in the world. I couldn't find anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hay/up-until-i-was-eleven-years-old-i-thought-i-was-the-only-one-of-my/) [Harry Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hay/) > [When I was 3 years old, I thought I was very good at skiing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikaela-shiffrin/when-i-was-3-years-old-i-thought-i-was-very-good-at-skiing/) [Mikaela Shiffrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikaela-shiffrin/) > [“HIS chosen comrades thought at school He must grow a famous man; He thought the same and lived by rule, All his twenties crammed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/his-chosen-comrades-thought-at-school-he-must-grow-a-famous-man-he/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [Though old the thought and oft expressed, 'Tis his at last who says it best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/though-old-the-thought-and-oft-expressed-tis-his-at-last-who-says-it/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [“The very old, he thought, make our past. Once they go it seems for a moment that neither it nor we have any real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-james-2/the-very-old-he-thought-make-our-past-once-they-go-it-seems-for-a/) [P.D. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-james-2/) > [I thought it odd that the woman was over a thousand years old but thought the microwave was primitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/i-thought-it-odd-that-the-woman-was-over-a-thousand-years-old-but/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [Actually, when John died, for the first time I thought - for the first time I realized how old I was, because I'd always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/actually-when-john-died-for-the-first-time-i-thought-for-the-first/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“In college, twenty-nine had seemed impossibly old. By now, she'd thought, she'd be married and have kids. But as each year went by, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-close/in-college-twenty-nine-had-seemed-impossibly-old-by-now-she-d-thought/) [Jennifer Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-close/) > [“I’m not going to stand for it any longer," said Mr. Flood. "I’m going to put my foot down. All I want in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mitchell/i-m-not-going-to-stand-for-it-any-longer-said-mr-flood-i-m-going-to/) [Joseph Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mitchell/) > [I was surprised when I started getting old. I always thought it was one of those things that would happen to someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-was-surprised-when-i-started-getting-old-i-always-thought-it-was/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More by Jerry Lewis > [Marriage is the result of the longing for the deep, deep peace of the double bed after the hurly-burly of the chaise-longue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/marriage-is-the-result-of-the-longing-for-the-deep-deep-peace-of-the/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [Every mans dream is to be able to sink into the arms of a woman without also falling into her hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/every-mans-dream-is-to-be-able-to-sink-into-the-arms-of-a-woman/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [When I hit around 65, 66, I started to feel tremendous worth and incredible personal esteem. I was becoming very cognisant of my contribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/when-i-hit-around-65-66-i-started-to-feel-tremendous-worth-and/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [People say, "How would you like to be remembered?" I don't want to be remembered. Gimme a break. What I want is to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/people-say-how-would-you-like-to-be-remembered-i-don-t-want-to-be/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [I think it has helped that I am so curious about what has been happening to me and that I have enjoyed watching the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/i-think-it-has-helped-that-i-am-so-curious-about-what-has-been/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [I'm really, basically, nine, and I've always been that. I've never, ever allowed the child within me to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/i-m-really-basically-nine-and-i-ve-always-been-that-i-ve-never-ever/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [I would not want to do one-episode television - that's just a brief encounter with your audience. The arc takes the actor into an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/i-would-not-want-to-do-one-episode-television-that-s-just-a-brief/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [I don't talk about anything negative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/i-don-t-talk-about-anything-negative/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [This is the pain pacemaker. I've got a battery under my skin. From that battery are two electrodes that go into the spine where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/this-is-the-pain-pacemaker-i-ve-got-a-battery-under-my-skin-from-that/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [When you are debilitated, and you're very depressed, and you believe there's no hope, you cannot get a better potpourri of down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/when-you-are-debilitated-and-you-re-very-depressed-and-you-believe/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [I'm always thinking about future projects and at the same time trying to finish the project you're in the middle off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/i-m-always-thinking-about-future-projects-and-at-the-same-time-trying/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [A lot of people resent that I've been in someone's life for 50 years. Why shouldn't people have an affection for me and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/a-lot-of-people-resent-that-i-ve-been-in-someone-s-life-for-50-years/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [It'll keep you alive for another 10 years if you get yourself a laugh once a day: either provoke it, or look around in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/it-ll-keep-you-alive-for-another-10-years-if-you-get-yourself-a-laugh/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [We're leaving the House to people who either were born with a silver spoon in their mouth... or couldn't get better jobs in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/we-re-leaving-the-house-to-people-who-either-were-born-with-a-silver/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [I don't want to be remembered. I want the nice words when I can hear them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/i-don-t-want-to-be-remembered-i-want-the-nice-words-when-i-can-hear/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) [Explore all 139 Jerry Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You think about getting old, but when you get there, it's not what you thought it would be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerry Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/you-think-about-getting-old-but-when-you-get-there-it-s-not-what-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/you-think-about-getting-old-but-when-you-get-there-it-s-not-what-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/jerry-lewis-3118_about_you-think-about-getting-old-but-when-you_1879541.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/jerry-lewis-3118_about_you-think-about-getting-old-but-when-you_1879541.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96e/jerry-lewis-3118_about_you-think-about-getting-old-but-when-you_1879541.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You think about getting old, but when you get there, it's not what you thought it would be.” — Jerry Lewis", "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": "Jerry Lewis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You think about getting old, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/you-think-about-getting-old-but-when-you-get-there-it-s-not-what-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/you-think-about-getting-old-but-when-you-get-there-it-s-not-what-you/#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 } } ] } ```