--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What happens to us in life is less…" description: "\"What happens to us in life is less important; the real question can be whether or not we use the experience to grow.\" — John Templeton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/john-templeton-3668_experience_what-happens-to-us-in-life-is-less-impor_1500373.png" --- # What happens to us in life is less important; the real… ![“What happens to us in life is less important; the real question can be whether or not we use the experience to grow.” quote by John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/john-templeton-3668_experience_what-happens-to-us-in-life-is-less-impor_1500373.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/john-templeton-3668_experience_what-happens-to-us-in-life-is-less-impor_1500373.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/john-templeton-3668_experience_what-happens-to-us-in-life-is-less-impor_1500373.png) > “What happens to us in life is less important; the real question can be whether or not we use the experience to grow.” [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life events matter less than how we use them to develop. **In simple terms:** Growth comes from using experiences. Key Takeaway Turn experiences into personal growth. Themes growth experience purpose Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal loss - learning opportunities Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What experiences have you transformed? - How can you apply lessons to future goals? A Different Perspective Not all experiences are equally teachable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Real questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-questions/) ## Related quotes > [After each experience, you grow up, you get enriched with something, and you don't know how you're going to be in six months, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/after-each-experience-you-grow-up-you-get-enriched-with-something-and/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) > [“‎"With each experience we grow and become more aware of the inner beauty that lies within us. Ultimately we are truly our own leader.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabbi-yossi/with-each-experience-we-grow-and-become-more-aware-of-the-inner/) Rabbi Yossi > [Everything that is past is either a learning experience to grow on, a beautiful memory to reflect on, or a motivating factor to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/everything-that-is-past-is-either-a-learning-experience-to-grow-on-a/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [That's the greatest thing: an experience you can grow from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-milian/that-s-the-greatest-thing-an-experience-you-can-grow-from/) [Christina Milian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-milian/) > [Your experience is nutrition. You digest your experience and you grow from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kraftsow/your-experience-is-nutrition-you-digest-your-experience-and-you-grow/) [Gary Kraftsow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kraftsow/) > [“What happens in life is more important than the Time and Date…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranu-das/what-happens-in-life-is-more-important-than-the-time-and-date/) [Ranu Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranu-das/) > [“Rather than staying stuck in stress, unhappiness, or grief, use your experience to find gifts in the pain and grow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/rather-than-staying-stuck-in-stress-unhappiness-or-grief-use-your/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Age is only a number, a cipher for the records. A man can't retire his experience. He must use it. Experience achieves more with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/age-is-only-a-number-a-cipher-for-the-records-a-man-can-t-retire-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [PAST is EXPERIENCE PRESENT is EXPERIMENT FUTURE is EXPECTATION so use your EXPERIENCE to your EXPERIMENTS to meet you EXPECTATIONS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/past-is-experience-present-is-experiment-future-is-expectation-so-use/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My music is like a diary. I use every experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/my-music-is-like-a-diary-i-use-every-experience/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/) > [I just try to use my experience. That's what you do when you come to the end of your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/i-just-try-to-use-my-experience-that-s-what-you-do-when-you-come-to/) [Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/) > [Sometimes you don't realize you actually have experience until you need to use that experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-don-t-realize-you-actually-have-experience-until-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“...what words could you use which would give another the experience of sunshine?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/what-words-could-you-use-which-would-give-another-the-experience-of/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [I just use every experience I go through as a learning experience so I can better myself and get in position on what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redman/i-just-use-every-experience-i-go-through-as-a-learning-experience-so/) [Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/redman/) > [I can't say what people use the experience of listening to songs for, but I would never tell somebody what it is supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lanegan/i-can-t-say-what-people-use-the-experience-of-listening-to-songs-for/) [Mark Lanegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lanegan/) ## More by John Templeton > [An attitude of gratitude creates blessings. Help yourself by helping others. You have the most powerful weapons on earth - love and prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/an-attitude-of-gratitude-creates-blessings-help-yourself-by-helping/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I served for 42 years on the board of trustees of the largest Presbyterian seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and we had brilliant people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-served-for-42-years-on-the-board-of-trustees-of-the-largest/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [...Making people get over the concept that they've got the total proof. To get them to feel, 'Gee, I want to learn more. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/making-people-get-over-the-concept-that-they-ve-got-the-total-proof/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I have no quarrel with what I learned in the Presbyterian church - I am still an enthusiastic Christian. But why shouldn't I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-have-no-quarrel-with-what-i-learned-in-the-presbyterian-church-i-am/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Anybody who had come up with a new concept would have been under suspicion for being out of step with the tradition or out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/anybody-who-had-come-up-with-a-new-concept-would-have-been-under/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Suppose you went to your priest and asked for help; he would refer you to the Bible. But if you went the next day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/suppose-you-went-to-your-priest-and-asked-for-help-he-would-refer-you/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Help yourself by helping others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/help-yourself-by-helping-others/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Many media commercials encourage us to believe that if we buy a certain product, we can be physically appealing, or popular, or successful. According…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/many-media-commercials-encourage-us-to-believe-that-if-we-buy-a/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The idea that an individual can find God is terribly self-centered. It is like a wave thinking it can find the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-idea-that-an-individual-can-find-god-is-terribly-self-centered-it/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I never ask if the market is going to go up or down because I don't know, and besides it doesn't matter. I search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-never-ask-if-the-market-is-going-to-go-up-or-down-because-i-don-t/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Many of us understand giving, but some of us may still be confused about the meaning of forgiveness. Some people may go through life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/many-of-us-understand-giving-but-some-of-us-may-still-be-confused/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Not yet have I found any better method to prosper during the future financial chaos, which is likely to last many years, than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/not-yet-have-i-found-any-better-method-to-prosper-during-the-future/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The best investment with the least risk and the greatest dividend is giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-best-investment-with-the-least-risk-and-the-greatest-dividend-is/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [True peace is a quality you carry within yourself, regardless of external circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/true-peace-is-a-quality-you-carry-within-yourself-regardless-of/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The other boys at Yale came from wealthy families, and none of them were investing outside the United States, and I thought, 'That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-other-boys-at-yale-came-from-wealthy-families-and-none-of-them/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) [Explore all 125 John Templeton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) Michael Bugeja > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [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/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What happens to us in life is less important; the real question can be whether or not we use the experience to grow.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Templeton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/what-happens-to-us-in-life-is-less-important-the-real-question-can-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Experience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/what-happens-to-us-in-life-is-less-important-the-real-question-can-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/john-templeton-3668_experience_what-happens-to-us-in-life-is-less-impor_1500373.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/john-templeton-3668_experience_what-happens-to-us-in-life-is-less-impor_1500373.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/john-templeton-3668_experience_what-happens-to-us-in-life-is-less-impor_1500373.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What happens to us in life is less important; the real question can be whether or not we use the experience…” — John Templeton", "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 Templeton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What happens to us in life...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/what-happens-to-us-in-life-is-less-important-the-real-question-can-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/what-happens-to-us-in-life-is-less-important-the-real-question-can-be/#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 } } ] } ```