--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be pleased to look forward, And pleased…" description: "\"Be pleased to look forward, And pleased to look behind, Count today, your 40th, and each birthday With a grateful mind.\" — John Walter Bratton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/john-walter-bratton-7324_40th-birthday_be-pleased-to-look-forward-and-pleased-t_2962783.jpg" --- # Be pleased to look forward, And pleased to look behind… ![“Be pleased to look forward, And pleased to look behind, Count today, your 40th, and each birthday With a grateful mind.” quote by John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/john-walter-bratton-7324_40th-birthday_be-pleased-to-look-forward-and-pleased-t_2962783.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/john-walter-bratton-7324_40th-birthday_be-pleased-to-look-forward-and-pleased-t_2962783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/john-walter-bratton-7324_40th-birthday_be-pleased-to-look-forward-and-pleased-t_2962783.jpg) > “Be pleased to look forward, And pleased to look behind, Count today, your 40th, and each birthday With a grateful mind.” [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages gratitude for past and future on each birthday, fostering a thankful mindset. **In simple terms:** Be thankful for past and future on birthdays. Key Takeaway Cultivate daily gratitude. Themes gratitude reflection mindfulness Mood warm reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - birthday celebrations - personal milestones - daily journaling Key Concepts appreciation temporal perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can gratitude improve daily well‑being? - What small practice helps you stay present? A Different Perspective May overlook present challenges if overly focused on past or future. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [Pleas'd look forward, pleas'd to look behind,And count each birthday with a grateful mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/pleas-d-look-forward-pleas-d-to-look-behind-and-count-each-birthday/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Throw all caution to the wind, today, on your 40th No need to have wisdom and sage But tomorrow, as you start your 5th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/throw-all-caution-to-the-wind-today-on-your-40th-no-need-to-have/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [As it's your 40th birthday This, we'd like to say May you be bathed in goodness, happiness and sunshineness On this, your special day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/as-it-s-your-40th-birthday-this-we-d-like-to-say-may-you-be-bathed-in/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [So OK, it's your special big Four-O birthday But don't expect me to be obsequious and fawning You, being you, can't possibly be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/so-ok-it-s-your-special-big-four-o-birthday-but-don-t-expect-me-to-be/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [The grateful mind continually expects good things, and expectation becomes faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/the-grateful-mind-continually-expects-good-things-and-expectation/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [By talking to yourself about the things you have to be grateful for you can fill your mind with thoughts that soar and sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/by-talking-to-yourself-about-the-things-you-have-to-be-grateful-for/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [When I get my feelings hurt, or when things scare me, or freak out my sensibilities, or when my feathers get ruffled, it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mcgowan/when-i-get-my-feelings-hurt-or-when-things-scare-me-or-freak-out-my/) [Rose McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mcgowan/) > [“A grateful mind is a great mind,’’ and the Bible agrees. There are 138 passages of Scripture on the subject of thanksgiving, and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/a-grateful-mind-is-a-great-mind-and-the-bible-agrees-there-are-138/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [The grateful mind is constantly fixed upon the best. Therefore it tends to become the best. It takes the form or character of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/the-grateful-mind-is-constantly-fixed-upon-the-best-therefore-it/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [A grateful mind is a great mind which eventually attracts to itself great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-grateful-mind-is-a-great-mind-which-eventually-attracts-to-itself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man of sixty has spent twenty years in bed and over three years in eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/a-man-of-sixty-has-spent-twenty-years-in-bed-and-over-three-years-in/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [I spent my 40th birthday on the stage of the Palladium in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-spent-my-40th-birthday-on-the-stage-of-the-palladium-in-chitty/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-me-old-age-is-always-15-years-older-than-i-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In Hollywood, there is another name for a woman's 40th birthday party, it's a retirement party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artie-lange/in-hollywood-there-is-another-name-for-a-woman-s-40th-birthday-party/) [Artie Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artie-lange/) > [Be wise with speed; a fool at forty is a fool indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/be-wise-with-speed-a-fool-at-forty-is-a-fool-indeed/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## More by John Walter Bratton > [You've reached your 60th birthday, Bill To the year, the day, the hour You've been a lifelong country boy Along with Lily, your flower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/you-ve-reached-your-60th-birthday-bill-to-the-year-the-day-the-hour/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [True Friends are the bacon bits In the salad bowl of life. How true I read that and straight away, My thoughts turned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/true-friends-are-the-bacon-bits-in-the-salad-bowl-of-life-how-true-i/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [Thanks, Mom for always being there For showing me such love and care. Thanks for all you've done and do How I turned out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/thanks-mom-for-always-being-there-for-showing-me-such-love-and-care/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [Don't think of 60 as ten years older than 50. Think of it as only 1 year older than 59 Go ahead, as it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/don-t-think-of-60-as-ten-years-older-than-50-think-of-it-as-only-1/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [We can reveal that John's 85 That's a well known fact Telling Kathy's age would be a breach Of the Official Secrets Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/we-can-reveal-that-john-s-85-that-s-a-well-known-fact-telling-kathy-s/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [What I said Wasn't wise It wasn't even true I apologise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/what-i-said-wasn-t-wise-it-wasn-t-even-true-i-apologise/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [I'm glad God chose you to be my Dad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/i-m-glad-god-chose-you-to-be-my-dad/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [At last some time for pleasure trips And do what you want to do The time to just take your time It's toodle-oo to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/at-last-some-time-for-pleasure-trips-and-do-what-you-want-to-do-the/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [To have you in my life is wondrous Yet all good things, allegedly, come to an end, Piffle, says I, for you, undoubtedly, Will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/to-have-you-in-my-life-is-wondrous-yet-all-good-things-allegedly-come/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [Thousands of stars in the night sky, And shells on the shore together, Hundreds of birds that go singing by, Especially in sunny weather.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/thousands-of-stars-in-the-night-sky-and-shells-on-the-shore-together/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [Congratulations on turning 60 Now you can wear what you like No one cares, and more particularly You're fine telling 'em 'Take a hike'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/congratulations-on-turning-60-now-you-can-wear-what-you-like-no-one/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [You've travelled through life together Enjoying years of wedded bliss We congratulate you on reaching And we toast your happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/you-ve-travelled-through-life-together-enjoying-years-of-wedded-bliss/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [Free... Yes...FREE time Is what retirement brings Leisure, lounging and loafing And other lazy things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/free-yes-free-time-is-what-retirement-brings-leisure-lounging-and/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [It's Good...But No more rush hour driving To start and end your day No more early alarm calls But..much less pay No more back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/it-s-good-but-no-more-rush-hour-driving-to-start-and-end-your-day-no/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [This sorry poem Isn't long It's simply to say I was wrong!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/this-sorry-poem-isn-t-long-it-s-simply-to-say-i-was-wrong/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) [Explore all 92 John Walter Bratton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) ## More 40th birthday quotes > [Be wise with speed; a fool at forty is a fool indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/be-wise-with-speed-a-fool-at-forty-is-a-fool-indeed/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [A man of sixty has spent twenty years in bed and over three years in eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/a-man-of-sixty-has-spent-twenty-years-in-bed-and-over-three-years-in/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Pleas'd look forward, pleas'd to look behind,And count each birthday with a grateful mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/pleas-d-look-forward-pleas-d-to-look-behind-and-count-each-birthday/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I spent my 40th birthday on the stage of the Palladium in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-spent-my-40th-birthday-on-the-stage-of-the-palladium-in-chitty/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [In Hollywood, there is another name for a woman's 40th birthday party, it's a retirement party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artie-lange/in-hollywood-there-is-another-name-for-a-woman-s-40th-birthday-party/) [Artie Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artie-lange/) > [To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-me-old-age-is-always-15-years-older-than-i-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just because you're 40, you don't have to decide whether God exists...when you're already worrying that the National Security Agency is reading your emails,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/just-because-you-re-40-you-don-t-have-to-decide-whether-god-exists/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) > [Just short of my 40th birthday, I told my wife, Beth, I was going to build us a little weekend place in...well, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-symmes/just-short-of-my-40th-birthday-i-told-my-wife-beth-i-was-going-to/) Patrick Symmes > [So OK, it's your special big Four-O birthday But don't expect me to be obsequious and fawning You, being you, can't possibly be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/so-ok-it-s-your-special-big-four-o-birthday-but-don-t-expect-me-to-be/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [This wine is forty years old. It certainly doesnt show its age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-wine-is-forty-years-old-it-certainly-doesnt-show-its-age/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Youre not 40, youre eighteen with 22 years experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/youre-not-40-youre-eighteen-with-22-years-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you are an actress in L.A., on your 40th birthday they should just hand you the keys to the lunatic asylum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romola-garai/if-you-are-an-actress-in-l-a-on-your-40th-birthday-they-should-just/) [Romola Garai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romola-garai/) > [John Candy knew he was going to die. He told me on his 40th birthday. He said, well, Maureen, I'm on borrowed time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-o-hara/john-candy-knew-he-was-going-to-die-he-told-me-on-his-40th-birthday/) [Maureen O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-o-hara/) > [The I just woke up face of your 30s is the all day long face of your 40s](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-i-just-woke-up-face-of-your-30s-is-the-all-day-long-face-of-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [By your 40s, you don't want to be with the cool people; you want to be with your people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/by-your-40s-you-don-t-want-to-be-with-the-cool-people-you-want-to-be/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) Browse all 44 40th birthday quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be pleased to look forward, And pleased to look behind, Count today, your 40th, and each birthday With a grateful mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Walter Bratton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/be-pleased-to-look-forward-and-pleased-to-look-behind-count-today/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "40th birthday" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/be-pleased-to-look-forward-and-pleased-to-look-behind-count-today/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/john-walter-bratton-7324_40th-birthday_be-pleased-to-look-forward-and-pleased-t_2962783.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/john-walter-bratton-7324_40th-birthday_be-pleased-to-look-forward-and-pleased-t_2962783.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/john-walter-bratton-7324_40th-birthday_be-pleased-to-look-forward-and-pleased-t_2962783.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be pleased to look forward, And pleased to look behind, Count today, your 40th, and each birthday With a…” — John Walter Bratton", "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 Walter Bratton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Be pleased to look forward, And...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/be-pleased-to-look-forward-and-pleased-to-look-behind-count-today/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/be-pleased-to-look-forward-and-pleased-to-look-behind-count-today/#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 } } ] } ```