--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's nothing sadder than getting to…" description: "\"There's nothing sadder than getting to the end of your life and saying, 'I didn't do it right'.\" — Lily Tomlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/lily-tomlin-3278_ends_there-s-nothing-sadder-than-getting-to-t_476153.png" --- # There's nothing sadder than getting to the end of your… ![“There's nothing sadder than getting to the end of your life and saying, 'I didn't do it right'.” quote by Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/lily-tomlin-3278_ends_there-s-nothing-sadder-than-getting-to-t_476153.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/lily-tomlin-3278_ends_there-s-nothing-sadder-than-getting-to-t_476153.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/lily-tomlin-3278_ends_there-s-nothing-sadder-than-getting-to-t_476153.png) > “There's nothing sadder than getting to the end of your life and saying, 'I didn't do it right'.” [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Regret arises when one feels they failed to live authentically or achieve personal goals. **In simple terms:** Missing purpose leads to sorrow. Key Takeaway Pursue meaningful actions now. Themes purpose regret authenticity Mood reflective melancholic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal projects - relationship building - creative pursuits Key Concepts self-actualization life assessment Questions to Reflect On - What does “doing it right” mean to you? - Which area of life feels unfinished? A Different Perspective Even a small step can prevent later regret. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) ## Related quotes > [Chasing after someone and not getting them in the end...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/chasing-after-someone-and-not-getting-them-in-the-end/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best thing to do is try and make sure you're getting something at your end. We had stretches where we didn't get that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-ryan/the-best-thing-to-do-is-try-and-make-sure-you-re-getting-something-at/) [Bo Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-ryan/) > [When a writer's whole being is poured into a piece of work, there is never enough. The feeling of finally getting to the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/when-a-writer-s-whole-being-is-poured-into-a-piece-of-work-there-is/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I love how when I am getting over someone they end up texting me and I fall back in their trap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-how-when-i-am-getting-over-someone-they-end-up-texting-me-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An end to our getting is the only end to our losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/an-end-to-our-getting-is-the-only-end-to-our-losses/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [As long as I try, there’s always a chance of getting up. It’s not the end until you give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/as-long-as-i-try-there-s-always-a-chance-of-getting-up-it-s-not-the/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [If Victor Ortiz feels like it didn't get right the first time, we'll do it again. 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You didn't do anything, right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinoko-nasu/because-there-s-nothing-for-me-to-tell-you-didn-t-do-anything-right/) [Kinoko Nasu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinoko-nasu/) > [“Because late night, when I made you mine—” “Shush. You didn’t!” “All right. Last night when you made me yours—” She definitely heard Pom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/because-late-night-when-i-made-you-mine-shush-you-didn-t-all-right/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [I don't know how a man can live with himself to get to the top knowing he didn't do it the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deontay-wilder/i-don-t-know-how-a-man-can-live-with-himself-to-get-to-the-top/) [Deontay Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deontay-wilder/) > [I've wanted to be with you when I didn't have the right to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-ve-wanted-to-be-with-you-when-i-didn-t-have-the-right-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“There's nothing sadder than a sobbing waffle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/there-s-nothing-sadder-than-a-sobbing-waffle/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [“Nothing is sadder than an old whore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bowes/nothing-is-sadder-than-an-old-whore/) [Richard Bowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bowes/) ## More by Lily Tomlin > [If truth is beauty, how come no one has their hair done in a library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/if-truth-is-beauty-how-come-no-one-has-their-hair-done-in-a-library/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [“So if you've had a good time tonight, or if you've had a good time any night, for gosh sake's why not drop a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/so-if-you-ve-had-a-good-time-tonight-or-if-you-ve-had-a-good-time-any/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [“Forgiveness means giving up all hope for a better past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/forgiveness-means-giving-up-all-hope-for-a-better-past/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [I bought a box of animal crackers, but there was nothing inside. They'd eaten each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/i-bought-a-box-of-animal-crackers-but-there-was-nothing-inside-they-d/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [Wouldn't it be great if we all grew up to be what we wanted to be? The world would be full of nurses, firemen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/wouldn-t-it-be-great-if-we-all-grew-up-to-be-what-we-wanted-to-be-the/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [You know being relevant or coming up with something interesting, funny to say about what's current is just as hard as it might ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/you-know-being-relevant-or-coming-up-with-something-interesting-funny/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [I wanted to be a stage actress. I wanted to be a New York actress and have a community with other actors. 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But most of all, I feel very, very alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/in-the-depths-of-the-night-fear-grips-my-heart-it-paralyzes-my-mind/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [“I always wondered why somebody didn't do something about that. And then I realized I was somebody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/i-always-wondered-why-somebody-didn-t-do-something-about-that-and/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [Sometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/sometimes-i-worry-about-being-a-success-in-a-mediocre-world/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [And yet humanity is so not evolved that how can you expect anything absolutely major to happen? Look how long, we move ahead in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/and-yet-humanity-is-so-not-evolved-that-how-can-you-expect-anything/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [The whole idea of being in captivity in such limited space, especially in a zoo, causes elephants to suffer. They develop all kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/the-whole-idea-of-being-in-captivity-in-such-limited-space-especially/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) [Explore all 135 Lily Tomlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) ## More Ends quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. 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When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) Browse all 20,790 Ends quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's nothing sadder than getting to the end of your life and saying, 'I didn't do it right'.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lily Tomlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/there-s-nothing-sadder-than-getting-to-the-end-of-your-life-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ends" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/there-s-nothing-sadder-than-getting-to-the-end-of-your-life-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/lily-tomlin-3278_ends_there-s-nothing-sadder-than-getting-to-t_476153.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/lily-tomlin-3278_ends_there-s-nothing-sadder-than-getting-to-t_476153.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/lily-tomlin-3278_ends_there-s-nothing-sadder-than-getting-to-t_476153.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's nothing sadder than getting to the end of your life and saying, 'I didn't do it right'.” — Lily Tomlin", "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": "Lily Tomlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's nothing sadder than getting to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/there-s-nothing-sadder-than-getting-to-the-end-of-your-life-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/there-s-nothing-sadder-than-getting-to-the-end-of-your-life-and/#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 } } ] } ```