--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No matter how old you get, if you can…" description: "\"No matter how old you get, if you can keep the desire to be creative, you're keeping the man-child alive.\" — John Cassavetes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/john-cassavetes-12820_alive_no-matter-how-old-you-get-if-you-can-kee_1979181.jpg" --- # No matter how old you get, if you can keep the desire to… ![“No matter how old you get, if you can keep the desire to be creative, you're keeping the man-child alive.” quote by John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/john-cassavetes-12820_alive_no-matter-how-old-you-get-if-you-can-kee_1979181.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/john-cassavetes-12820_alive_no-matter-how-old-you-get-if-you-can-kee_1979181.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/john-cassavetes-12820_alive_no-matter-how-old-you-get-if-you-can-kee_1979181.jpg) > “No matter how old you get, if you can keep the desire to be creative, you're keeping the man-child alive.” [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maintaining creative desire preserves youthful spirit and vitality. **In simple terms:** Creativity keeps you young. Key Takeaway Nurture curiosity throughout life. Themes creativity age youthfulness Mood inspirational hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career changes - hobbies - old age Key Concepts lifelong learning artistic expression personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What new skill will you explore? - How does playfulness affect aging? A Different Perspective Creative drive can fade without effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ## Related quotes > [I am young! Being creative and keeping your brain occupied is very sensible because if you don't you die, slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-am-young-being-creative-and-keeping-your-brain-occupied-is-very/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [No woman should give her happiness into the keeping of a man without fixed principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/no-woman-should-give-her-happiness-into-the-keeping-of-a-man-without/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“Finding The Man. Keeping The Man. Not scaring The Man, building up The Man, following The Man, soothing The Man, flattering The Man, deferring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-russ/finding-the-man-keeping-the-man-not-scaring-the-man-building-up-the/) [Joanna Russ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-russ/) > [“Keeping that man out of trouble was like trying to return a whore to chastity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-dare/keeping-that-man-out-of-trouble-was-like-trying-to-return-a-whore-to/) [Lydia Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-dare/) > [Keep the child within alive. A child never tires of hearing the birds sing, never gets bored looking at flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/keep-the-child-within-alive-a-child-never-tires-of-hearing-the-birds/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It sometimes happens that the town child is more alive to the fresh beauty of the country than a child who is country born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrix-potter/it-sometimes-happens-that-the-town-child-is-more-alive-to-the-fresh-2/) [Beatrix Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrix-potter/) > [If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/if-a-child-is-to-keep-alive-his-inborn-sense-of-wonder-he-needs-the/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [You've got to keep the child alive; you can't create without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/you-ve-got-to-keep-the-child-alive-you-can-t-create-without-it/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies, he needs the companionship of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/if-a-child-is-to-keep-alive-his-inborn-sense-of-wonder-without-any/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [“Few living do." "Then, have I...I mean, am I-" "Oh, no, child! You are still very much alive! Though I may say, not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-w-schmidt/few-living-do-then-have-i-i-mean-am-i-oh-no-child-you-are-still-very/) R.W. Schmidt > [“even the slightest stir in the broad grammar of existence—a moment asking only to be noticed—was enough to rekindle that astonished brightness, the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neena-h-brar-2/even-the-slightest-stir-in-the-broad-grammar-of-existence-a-moment/) [Neena H. Brar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neena-h-brar-2/) > [Throughout my life, I've been gratified that I've been able to keep the child in me alive and inspire others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/throughout-my-life-i-ve-been-gratified-that-i-ve-been-able-to-keep/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [The poet is one who is able to keep the fresh vision of the child alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-poet-is-one-who-is-able-to-keep-the-fresh-vision-of-the-child/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [I looked down at the little pink face in the bundle. A newborn. The child had been alive only minutes but was already considered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/i-looked-down-at-the-little-pink-face-in-the-bundle-a-newborn-the/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [I think it keeps the child alive in me. There's a thrill when you steal something in plain view of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-think-it-keeps-the-child-alive-in-me-there-s-a-thrill-when-you/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More by John Cassavetes > [I think I probably have the philosophy of a poor man. You know, like maybe I'd steal the pennies off a dead man's eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-think-i-probably-have-the-philosophy-of-a-poor-man-you-know-like/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I have a one-track mind. That's all that I'm interested in - love. And the lack of it. When it stops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-have-a-one-track-mind-that-s-all-that-i-m-interested-in-love-and/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [(Acting) is an extension of life. How you're capable of performing in your life, that's how you're capable of performing on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/acting-is-an-extension-of-life-how-you-re-capable-of-performing-in/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I hate entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-hate-entertainment/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [My mother and father were never frightened of anything. They always felt that they should go through life happily and without fear, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/my-mother-and-father-were-never-frightened-of-anything-they-always/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [People don't know what they are doing most of the time. They don't know what they want. It's only in 'the movies' that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/people-don-t-know-what-they-are-doing-most-of-the-time-they-don-t/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [The most difficult thing in the world is to reveal yourself, to express what you have to. As an artist, I feel that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/the-most-difficult-thing-in-the-world-is-to-reveal-yourself-to/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I have the confidence that I can take anybody and have them give a good performance, because I don't think there's anything to acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-have-the-confidence-that-i-can-take-anybody-and-have-them-give-a/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I like to act in films, I like to shoot 'em, I like to direct 'em, I like to be around 'em. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-like-to-act-in-films-i-like-to-shoot-em-i-like-to-direct-em-i-like/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [People have said that my films are very difficult to watch, that they're experiences you are put through rather than ones you enjoy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/people-have-said-that-my-films-are-very-difficult-to-watch-that-they/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I would put my pictures up against anybody's in this world. Certainly in my own day I bow to no one. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-would-put-my-pictures-up-against-anybody-s-in-this-world-certainly/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [People who are making films today are too concerned with mechanics - technical things instead of feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/people-who-are-making-films-today-are-too-concerned-with-mechanics/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I’m very worried about the depiction of women on the screen. It’s gotten worse than ever and it’s related to their being either high-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-m-very-worried-about-the-depiction-of-women-on-the-screen-it-s/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [I'm not good at comparing and contrasting. I take what's in front of me for what it is, although I guess there's something about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/i-m-not-good-at-comparing-and-contrasting-i-take-what-s-in-front-of/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) > [Films today show only a dream world and have lost touch with the way people really are... In this country, people die at 21.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/films-today-show-only-a-dream-world-and-have-lost-touch-with-the-way/) [John Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) [Explore all 53 John Cassavetes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No matter how old you get, if you can keep the desire to be creative, you're keeping the man-child alive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cassavetes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/no-matter-how-old-you-get-if-you-can-keep-the-desire-to-be-creative/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/no-matter-how-old-you-get-if-you-can-keep-the-desire-to-be-creative/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/john-cassavetes-12820_alive_no-matter-how-old-you-get-if-you-can-kee_1979181.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/john-cassavetes-12820_alive_no-matter-how-old-you-get-if-you-can-kee_1979181.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/john-cassavetes-12820_alive_no-matter-how-old-you-get-if-you-can-kee_1979181.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No matter how old you get, if you can keep the desire to be creative, you're keeping the man-child alive.” — John Cassavetes", "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": "John Cassavetes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassavetes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No matter how old you get,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/no-matter-how-old-you-get-if-you-can-keep-the-desire-to-be-creative/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassavetes/no-matter-how-old-you-get-if-you-can-keep-the-desire-to-be-creative/#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 } } ] } ```