--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any attempts at autobiography before the…" description: "\"Any attempts at autobiography before the age of eighty seem pretty self-involved to me. There are a lot of smart middle aged people but not many wise o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/jimmy-buffett-1774_age_any-attempts-at-autobiography-before-the_1707916.jpg" --- # Any attempts at autobiography before the age of eighty… ![“Any attempts at autobiography before the age of eighty seem pretty self-involved to me. There are a lot of smart middle aged people but not many wise ones.” quote by Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/jimmy-buffett-1774_age_any-attempts-at-autobiography-before-the_1707916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/jimmy-buffett-1774_age_any-attempts-at-autobiography-before-the_1707916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/jimmy-buffett-1774_age_any-attempts-at-autobiography-before-the_1707916.jpg) > “Any attempts at autobiography before the age of eighty seem pretty self-involved to me. There are a lot of smart middle aged people but not many wise ones.” [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing an autobiography before eighty feels self‑absorbed; many are smart but few are wise. **In simple terms:** Late‑life memoirs risk self‑indulgence; wisdom grows with age. Key Takeaway Reflect before publishing; seek humility. Themes aging wisdom self‑reflection Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal memoirs - public speaking - teaching Key Concepts autobiography life stages humility Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to share your story? - How does age affect perspective? A Different Perspective Youthful memoirs can be insightful if honest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Autobiography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiography/) [Middle aged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-aged/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [She decided she'd rather die in some less memorable way- maybe falling down the stairs, or going peacefully in her sleep at the age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/she-decided-she-d-rather-die-in-some-less-memorable-way-maybe-falling/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [A bishop keeps on saying at the age of eighty what he was told to say at the age of eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-bishop-keeps-on-saying-at-the-age-of-eighty-what-he-was-told-to-say/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [My Aunt Ida at age eighty-three: 'Yeah,' she said, 'I'll be dead pretty soon. 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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/) ## More by Jimmy Buffett > [Where it all ends I can't fathom, my friends. If I knew, I might toss out my anchor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/where-it-all-ends-i-can-t-fathom-my-friends-if-i-knew-i-might-toss/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [I still consider it a summer job, though. So, I try to maintain that summer job as long as I can. But it's exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/i-still-consider-it-a-summer-job-though-so-i-try-to-maintain-that/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [He went to Paris looking for answers to questions that bothered him so. 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Cannons don't thunder, there's nothing to plunder, I'm an over forty victim of fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/yes-i-am-a-pirate-two-hundred-years-to-late-cannons-don-t-thunder/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [If the phone doesn't ring, it's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/if-the-phone-doesn-t-ring-it-s-me/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/i-d-rather-die-while-i-m-living-then-live-while-i-m-dead/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) [Explore all 209 Jimmy Buffett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. 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