--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is the ability to start over again." description: "\"Life is the ability to start over again.\" — Joan D. Chittister" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eda/joan-d-chittister-2635_ability_life-is-the-ability-to-start-over-again_2823533.png" --- # Life is the ability to start over again. ![“Life is the ability to start over again.” quote by Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eda/joan-d-chittister-2635_ability_life-is-the-ability-to-start-over-again_2823533.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eda/joan-d-chittister-2635_ability_life-is-the-ability-to-start-over-again_2823533.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eda/joan-d-chittister-2635_ability_life-is-the-ability-to-start-over-again_2823533.png) > “Life is the ability to start over again.” [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life allows continual fresh starts and new beginnings. **In simple terms:** Life is about restarting. Key Takeaway Embrace opportunities to begin anew. Themes renewal resilience growth Mood hopeful encouraging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career changes - personal setbacks - health recoveries Key Concepts philosophy psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance stability with renewal? - What practices support healthy restarts? A Different Perspective Constant change can cause instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Starting over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-over/) ## Related quotes > [It is not merely enough to have the ability to be persistant, you must also have the ability to start over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/it-is-not-merely-enough-to-have-the-ability-to-be-persistant-you-must/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I know I have the ability to start, and I have the ability to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-foles/i-know-i-have-the-ability-to-start-and-i-have-the-ability-to-play/) [Nick Foles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-foles/) > [“Your brain never stops developing and changing. It's been doing it from the time you were an embryo, and will keep doing it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-trefil/your-brain-never-stops-developing-and-changing-it-s-been-doing-it/) James Trefil > [Life is the ability to see what you can become before you realize what you've become, it is the hope for the future and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredericaehimen/life-is-the-ability-to-see-what-you-can-become-before-you-realize/) [FredericaEhimen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredericaehimen/) > [The greatest gift in life is the ability to think great thoughts and have the strength to take action so that those thoughts become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-black/the-greatest-gift-in-life-is-the-ability-to-think-great-thoughts-and/) [Jack Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-black/) > [Words people say not only have a shelf life but have the ability to shape life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/words-people-say-not-only-have-a-shelf-life-but-have-the-ability-to/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [If I could give you one thing in life...i would give u d ability to see urself through my eyes...only then would u realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritzy/if-i-could-give-you-one-thing-in-life-i-would-give-u-d-ability-to-see/) [Ritzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritzy/) > [To do something well is so worthwhile that to die trying to do it better cannot be foolhardy. It would be a waste of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mclaren/to-do-something-well-is-so-worthwhile-that-to-die-trying-to-do-it/) Bruce McLaren > [Success in life is the ability to move from one mistake to another without loosing enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/success-in-life-is-the-ability-to-move-from-one-mistake-to-another/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“You can have as many do-overs as you need. Life is imperfect and so are we. We are never going to make all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalisa-grant/you-can-have-as-many-do-overs-as-you-need-life-is-imperfect-and-so/) [AnnaLisa Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalisa-grant/) > [Just remember that once you have life and you have the ability to execute a gift, just use that to the fullness of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koffee/just-remember-that-once-you-have-life-and-you-have-the-ability-to/) [Koffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koffee/) > [If I could give you one thing in life, I would give you the ability to see yourself through my eyes. Only then would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-could-give-you-one-thing-in-life-i-would-give-you-the-ability-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One skill you want to master in this day and age we live in, if you want to have an extraordinary life, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/one-skill-you-want-to-master-in-this-day-and-age-we-live-in-if-you/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Nothing will have a greater impact on a child's life than his or her ability to read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-a-bookout-marky-allen/nothing-will-have-a-greater-impact-on-a-child-s-life-than-his-or-her/) M. A. Bookout -- Marky Allen > [Real democracy is food on the table, the ability to plan your life, the ability to walk on the street without getting mugged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jair-bolsonaro/real-democracy-is-food-on-the-table-the-ability-to-plan-your-life-the/) [Jair Bolsonaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jair-bolsonaro/) ## More by Joan D. Chittister > [A hard heart makes for hard judgments; a compassionate heart understands the humanity of the one we presume to judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/a-hard-heart-makes-for-hard-judgments-a-compassionate-heart/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [To be enlightened is to know that heaven is not "coming." Heaven is here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/to-be-enlightened-is-to-know-that-heaven-is-not-coming-heaven-is-here/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [We don't change as we get older - we just get to be more of what we've always been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/we-don-t-change-as-we-get-older-we-just-get-to-be-more-of-what-we-ve/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [We may well be the ones Proverbs warns when it reminds us: "Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/we-may-well-be-the-ones-proverbs-warns-when-it-reminds-us-kings-take/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [Today we live in a world that judges its achievements by speed and busyness. Â… We are so busy making things happen that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/today-we-live-in-a-world-that-judges-its-achievements-by-speed-and/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [My limitations make space for the gifts of other people. Without the grace of our limitations we would be isolated, dry, and insufferable creatures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/my-limitations-make-space-for-the-gifts-of-other-people-without-the/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [Humility is authenticity. It comes from the Latin word humus, meaning "earth." As the church has taught, we're made of dust, and unto dust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/humility-is-authenticity-it-comes-from-the-latin-word-humus-meaning/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [Compassion makes no distinction between friends and enemies, neighbors and outsiders, compatriots and foreigners. Compassion is the gate to human community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/compassion-makes-no-distinction-between-friends-and-enemies-neighbors/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [Prophets are so dangerous because they cry in season and out of season, politely and impolitely, loud and long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/prophets-are-so-dangerous-because-they-cry-in-season-and-out-of/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [“We don't change as we get older - we just get to be ore of what we've always been.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/we-don-t-change-as-we-get-older-we-just-get-to-be-ore-of-what-we-ve/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [“What happens to the spiritual life of a young girl who is made to understand, consciously or subconsciously, that she has no place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/what-happens-to-the-spiritual-life-of-a-young-girl-who-is-made-to/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [Old age tells us that we ourselves have failed often, have never really done anything completely right, have never truly been perfect - anad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/old-age-tells-us-that-we-ourselves-have-failed-often-have-never/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [But we are here to depart from this world as finished as we can possibly become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/but-we-are-here-to-depart-from-this-world-as-finished-as-we-can/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [“Whatever happens to the body, what toll age takes on the physical, the spirit does not grow old. In our dreams, in the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/whatever-happens-to-the-body-what-toll-age-takes-on-the-physical-the/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [Two ideas militate against our consciously contributing to a better world. The idea that we can do everything or the conclusion that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/two-ideas-militate-against-our-consciously-contributing-to-a-better/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) [Explore all 156 Joan D. Chittister quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life is the ability to start over again.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joan D. 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