--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be able to look back upon one's past…" description: "\"To be able to look back upon one's past life with satisfaction is to live twice.\" — Lord Acton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/lord-acton-3040_life_to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-one-s-past_1837982.png" --- # To be able to look back upon one's past life with… ![“To be able to look back upon one's past life with satisfaction is to live twice.” quote by Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/lord-acton-3040_life_to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-one-s-past_1837982.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/lord-acton-3040_life_to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-one-s-past_1837982.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/lord-acton-3040_life_to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-one-s-past_1837982.png) > “To be able to look back upon one's past life with satisfaction is to live twice.” [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflecting on past experiences with content feels like living a second life, emphasizing the value of a fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Satisfaction with one's past feels like a second life. Key Takeaway Seek fulfillment in each stage. Themes reflection fulfillment life review Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career retrospection - personal milestones - legacy planning Key Concepts Philosophy psychology legacy Questions to Reflect On - What does living twice mean to you? - How can you create satisfaction now? A Different Perspective May lead to dwelling on past rather than future growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-satisfaction-296201/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Live Twice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-twice/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-life/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) [Twice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twice/) ## Related quotes > [To be able to look back on ones past life with satisfaction is to live twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-able-to-look-back-on-ones-past-life-with-satisfaction-is-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be able to enjoy one's past life is to live twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-able-to-enjoy-one-s-past-life-is-to-live-twice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-ones-life-in-satisfaction-is-to-live/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A good man doubles the length of his existence, to have lived so as to look back with pleasure on our past life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-good-man-doubles-the-length-of-his-existence-to-have-lived-so-as-to-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those who are more willing to take risks and capitalize on opportunities, experience the highest index of life satisfaction and fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/those-who-are-more-willing-to-take-risks-and-capitalize-on/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [You only live once, so do everything twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-only-live-once-so-do-everything-twice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A good man doubles the length of his existence; to have lived so as to look back with pleasure on our past existence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/a-good-man-doubles-the-length-of-his-existence-to-have-lived-so-as-to/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [“When you are a pessimist and the bad thing happens, you live it twice. Once when you worry about it, and the second time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-tversky/when-you-are-a-pessimist-and-the-bad-thing-happens-you-live-it-twice/) [Amos Tversky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-tversky/) > [You only live twice. Once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/you-only-live-twice-once-when-you-are-born-and-once-when-you-look/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Eat ten of your five a day and live twice as long”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-bellamacina/eat-ten-of-your-five-a-day-and-live-twice-as-long/) [Benny Bellamacina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-bellamacina/) > [“To learn how to live twice in one life, you must get to know the people who lived twice in one life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-learn-how-to-live-twice-in-one-life-you-must-get-to-know-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [It is as good as second life to be able to look back upon our past life with pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/it-is-as-good-as-second-life-to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-our-past/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [“It’s not surprising that those of us who have “time affluence” rather than material affluence report greater overall life satisfaction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-surprising-that-those-of-us-who-have-time-affluence-rather/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Older people who underestimate their future life satisfaction wind up happier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/older-people-who-underestimate-their-future-life-satisfaction-wind-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Live your life to your own satisfaction and not to praise others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobby-francis/live-your-life-to-your-own-satisfaction-and-not-to-praise-others/) [Cobby Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobby-francis/) ## More by Lord Acton > [The history of institutions is often a history of deception and illusions; for their virtue depends on the ideas that produce and on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-history-of-institutions-is-often-a-history-of-deception-and/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [A liberal is only a bundle of prejudices until he has mastered, has understood, experienced the philosophy of Conservatism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/a-liberal-is-only-a-bundle-of-prejudices-until-he-has-mastered-has/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Every class is unfit to govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/every-class-is-unfit-to-govern/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Fanaticism displays itself in the masses; but the masses were rarely fanaticised; and the crimes ascribed to it were commonly due to the calculations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/fanaticism-displays-itself-in-the-masses-but-the-masses-were-rarely/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [In England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/in-england-parliament-is-above-the-law-in-america-the-law-is-above/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [There is not a more perilous or immoral habit of mind than the sanctifying of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/there-is-not-a-more-perilous-or-immoral-habit-of-mind-than-the/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Towns were the nursery of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/towns-were-the-nursery-of-freedom/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [It was from America that the plain ideas that men ought to mind their business, and that the nation is responsible to Heaven for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/it-was-from-america-that-the-plain-ideas-that-men-ought-to-mind-their/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Character is tested by true sentiments more than by conduct. A man is seldom better than his word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/character-is-tested-by-true-sentiments-more-than-by-conduct-a-man-is/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Liberty and good government do not exclude each other; and there are excellent reasons why they should go together. Liberty is not a means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/liberty-and-good-government-do-not-exclude-each-other-and-there-are/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [The test of liberty is the position and security of minorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-test-of-liberty-is-the-position-and-security-of-minorities/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [The common vice of democracy is disregard for morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-common-vice-of-democracy-is-disregard-for-morality/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Feudalism made land the measure and the master of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/feudalism-made-land-the-measure-and-the-master-of-all-things/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [“power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutley”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/power-corrupts-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutley/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [There are many things the government cant do, many good purposes it must renounce. It must leave them to the enterprise of others. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/there-are-many-things-the-government-cant-do-many-good-purposes-it/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) [Explore all 141 Lord Acton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) [Deanna L. Lawlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-l-lawlis/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be able to look back upon one's past life with satisfaction is to live twice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lord Acton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-one-s-past-life-with-satisfaction-is-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-one-s-past-life-with-satisfaction-is-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/lord-acton-3040_life_to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-one-s-past_1837982.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/lord-acton-3040_life_to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-one-s-past_1837982.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/lord-acton-3040_life_to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-one-s-past_1837982.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be able to look back upon one's past life with satisfaction is to live twice.” — Lord Acton", "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": "Lord Acton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To be able to look back...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-one-s-past-life-with-satisfaction-is-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/to-be-able-to-look-back-upon-one-s-past-life-with-satisfaction-is-to/#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 } } ] } ```