--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you get old the worst thing is you…" description: "\"When you get old the worst thing is you lose so many friends. Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne. People who I loved to work with.\" — Kirk Douglas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/kirk-douglas-4420_frank_when-you-get-old-the-worst-thing-is-you_47563.jpg" --- # When you get old the worst thing is you lose so many… ![“When you get old the worst thing is you lose so many friends. Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne. People who I loved to work with.” quote by Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/kirk-douglas-4420_frank_when-you-get-old-the-worst-thing-is-you_47563.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/kirk-douglas-4420_frank_when-you-get-old-the-worst-thing-is-you_47563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/kirk-douglas-4420_frank_when-you-get-old-the-worst-thing-is-you_47563.jpg) > “When you get old the worst thing is you lose so many friends. Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne. People who I loved to work with.” [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aging can erode personal connections, especially with celebrated peers whose loss feels profound. **In simple terms:** Loss of friends with age Key Takeaway Cherish relationships early Themes loneliness mortality celebrity nostalgia career Mood melancholic reflective Type personal nostalgic When to use this quote - reflecting on a long career - losing a mentor - retirement - changing social circles Key Concepts human connection aging grief Practical Applications - legacy building - network preservation Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain bonds as you age? - What steps can you take to honor past collaborations? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lancaster/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Worst things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-things/) ## Related quotes > [Burt Lancaster was largely responsible for me becoming a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/burt-lancaster-was-largely-responsible-for-me-becoming-a-director/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I first felt successful when I was 13 and in a show called "Seesaw." I came offstage and heard the applause of the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giancarlo-esposito/i-first-felt-successful-when-i-was-13-and-in-a-show-called-seesaw-i/) [Giancarlo Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giancarlo-esposito/) > [the impatience of the old is the worst impatience of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-meade/the-impatience-of-the-old-is-the-worst-impatience-of-all/) L. T. Meade > [The loss of a sexual life is one of the worst things about getting really old. The worst thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/the-loss-of-a-sexual-life-is-one-of-the-worst-things-about-getting/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [I'm so lucky to have worked with Burt Lancaster, who I remember was one of the first people I'd heard swearing in a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-m-so-lucky-to-have-worked-with-burt-lancaster-who-i-remember-was/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Burt Lancaster was a very powerful and intriguing person. That essence of what he was, is the very thing that you and I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-curtis/burt-lancaster-was-a-very-powerful-and-intriguing-person-that-essence/) [Tony Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-curtis/) > [Yeah, I'm a big John Wayne fan, I love all his films. Clint Eastwood, Burt Lancaster, all those guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-part/yeah-i-m-a-big-john-wayne-fan-i-love-all-his-films-clint-eastwood/) [John Part](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-part/) > [From the accession of Henry the Seventh to the breaking out of the civil wars, England enjoyed much greater exemption from war, foreign and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/from-the-accession-of-henry-the-seventh-to-the-breaking-out-of-the/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Life takes us on different paths... It's not up to us to evaluate or judge them, merely respect and embrace them. (Lara Lington -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/life-takes-us-on-different-paths-it-s-not-up-to-us-to-evaluate-or/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I love anything by Sisley for face and Lancaster for body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-delevingne/i-love-anything-by-sisley-for-face-and-lancaster-for-body/) [Poppy Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-delevingne/) > [My brother was the first in Lancaster to have a Fender Stratocaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/my-brother-was-the-first-in-lancaster-to-have-a-fender-stratocaster/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [There is no other Parliament like the English. For the ordinary man, elected to any senate, from Perisa to Peru, they may be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-wedgwood/there-is-no-other-parliament-like-the-english-for-the-ordinary-man/) Josiah Wedgwood > [I went to a local high school in Lancaster. Not much I can say about it; it was pretty much your typical public high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-went-to-a-local-high-school-in-lancaster-not-much-i-can-say-about/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [Actually, what will be shown from here to eternity will be Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr cavorting on the beach. From Here to Eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/actually-what-will-be-shown-from-here-to-eternity-will-be-burt/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) ## More by Kirk Douglas > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [When I produced Spartacus, the writer was Dalton Trumbo, who spent a year in jail because he would not answer McCarthy's questions about other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-i-produced-spartacus-the-writer-was-dalton-trumbo-who-spent-a/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Know what a loner is? He's a born cripple. He's a cripple because the only person he can live with is himself. It's his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/know-what-a-loner-is-he-s-a-born-cripple-he-s-a-cripple-because-the/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [When you have a stroke, you must talk slowly to be understood, and I've discovered that when I talk slowly, people listen. They think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-have-a-stroke-you-must-talk-slowly-to-be-understood-and-i-ve/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Love has more depth as you get older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/love-has-more-depth-as-you-get-older/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [On a crowded bus in Israel, a mother was speaking to her son in Yiddish. An Israeli woman reprimanded her. "You should be speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/on-a-crowded-bus-in-israel-a-mother-was-speaking-to-her-son-in/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [You know, you have to have some inner philosophy to deal with adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/you-know-you-have-to-have-some-inner-philosophy-to-deal-with-adversity/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I've played some good guys as well, in Spartacus, Paths of Glory and my favorite picture, Lonely Are the Brave, so I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-ve-played-some-good-guys-as-well-in-spartacus-paths-of-glory-and-my/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I never had any desire to be a film actor. I never thought I was the good-looking movie type, which I assumed they wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-never-had-any-desire-to-be-a-film-actor-i-never-thought-i-was-the/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [When you get to my age, you find that most of your dear friends are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-get-to-my-age-you-find-that-most-of-your-dear-friends-are/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I came from abject poverty. There was nowhere to go but up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-came-from-abject-poverty-there-was-nowhere-to-go-but-up/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [You'll never see Spartacus in a (expletive) chair!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/you-ll-never-see-spartacus-in-a-expletive-chair/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I'm a loner clear down deep to my guts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-m-a-loner-clear-down-deep-to-my-guts/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I went to Hollywood to test for Martha Ivers and I thought I was going to play the part that Van Heflin played.But they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-went-to-hollywood-to-test-for-martha-ivers-and-i-thought-i-was/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [It seems as if only now I really know who I am. My strengths, my weaknesses, my jealousiesits as if all of it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/it-seems-as-if-only-now-i-really-know-who-i-am-my-strengths-my/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) [Explore all 111 Kirk Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) ## More Frank quotes > [“Despite everything, I believe people are really good at heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/despite-everything-i-believe-people-are-really-good-at-heart/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [Being frank or straightforward doesn't only tells the truth, it also states the fact that you just lost your temper of holding back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince/being-frank-or-straightforward-doesn-t-only-tells-the-truth-it-also/) [Vince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince/) > [ I'm a big fan of \[Frank\] Sinatra, he was the best at what he did. 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All these people have taught me how to read - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/i-m-a-fan-of-hugh-kenner-richard-ellman-lionel-trilling-and-frank/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [When one is frank, one's very presence is a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/when-one-is-frank-one-s-very-presence-is-a-compliment/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [There has been a rather unpleasant sensibility apparent in Frank Miller's work for quite a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/there-has-been-a-rather-unpleasant-sensibility-apparent-in-frank/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I think Frank Capra was a much craftier filmmaker, a wonderful filmmaker. He had enormous technique, and he knew how to manipulate the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-frank-capra-was-a-much-craftier-filmmaker-a-wonderful/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I think it is not only important that people go to the Anne Frank House to see the secret annex, but also that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-frank/i-think-it-is-not-only-important-that-people-go-to-the-anne-frank/) [Otto Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-frank/) > [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Frank and explicit - that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/frank-and-explicit-that-is-the-right-line-to-take-when-you-wish-to/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [There was a lot of camaraderie among the bands. I remember a lot of times when I'd be driving up Laurel Canyon and pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-millington/there-was-a-lot-of-camaraderie-among-the-bands-i-remember-a-lot-of/) [June Millington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-millington/) > [The SEC got more than 100 rules to write under Dodd-Frank, the lion's share of all the agencies. 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