Regret Quote by Lorrie Moore
““I tried to live cautiously - or eventually learned to try to live - in a spirit of regret prevention, and I could not see how Bonnie could accomplish such a thing in this situation. Regret - operatic, oceanic, fathomless - seemed to stretch before her in every direction. No matter which path she took, regret would stain her feet and scratch her arms and rain down on her, lightlessly and lifelong. It had already begun.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “A Gate at the Stairs” by Lorrie Moore, 2009
Regret can dominate a life, making every choice feel burdened and endless, preventing forward movement.
In simple terms: Regret can trap you in endless suffering.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and release regret to move forward.
Themes
regret
choice
psychology
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- relationship decisions
- career changes
- personal growth
- grieving loss
Key Concepts
existentialism
emotional burden
Questions to Reflect On
- How does regret shape your current choices?
- Can you identify moments when regret helped you?
A Different Perspective
Regret may also motivate careful decision‑making, not only paralyze.
![“The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before going in with [Larry] Holmes. That would have made all the difference.” quote by Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d63/gerry-cooney-20863_bigs_the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-m_1534.jpg)
