--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As an old man...looking back on one's…" description: "\"As an old man...looking back on one's life, it's one of the things that strikes you most forcibly-that the only thing that's taught one anything is suf..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/malcolm-muggeridge-2370_affliction_as-an-old-man-looking-back-on-one-s-life_1949207.png" --- # As an old man...looking back on one's life, it's one of… ![“As an old man...looking back on one's life, it's one of the things that strikes you most forcibly-that the only thing that's taught one anything is suffering. Not success, not happiness, not anything like that. The only thing that really teaches one what life's about...is suffering, affliction.” quote by Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/malcolm-muggeridge-2370_affliction_as-an-old-man-looking-back-on-one-s-life_1949207.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/malcolm-muggeridge-2370_affliction_as-an-old-man-looking-back-on-one-s-life_1949207.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/malcolm-muggeridge-2370_affliction_as-an-old-man-looking-back-on-one-s-life_1949207.png) > “As an old man...looking back on one's life, it's one of the things that strikes you most forcibly-that the only thing that's taught one anything is suffering. Not success, not happiness, not anything like that. The only thing that really teaches one what life's about...is suffering, affliction.” [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering is the primary teacher about life's meaning, more than success or happiness. **In simple terms:** Suffering teaches life's true meaning. Key Takeaway Embrace hardship as a learning tool. Themes suffering philosophy human experience Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grief counseling - personal growth - spiritual practice - education - therapy Key Concepts existentialism resilience meaning of life Questions to Reflect On - How can you transform pain into purpose? - What lessons have you learned from hardship? A Different Perspective Not all suffering leads to insight; some can be destructive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-back/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing that really teaches one what life's about the joy of understanding, the joy of coming in contact with what life really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/the-only-thing-that-really-teaches-one-what-life-s-about-the-joy-of/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [In God, there is no sorrow or suffering or affliction. If you want to be free of all affliction and suffering, hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ghazali/in-god-there-is-no-sorrow-or-suffering-or-affliction-if-you-want-to-2/) [Al-Ghazali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ghazali/) > [The Buddha taught that suffering is the extra pain in the mind that happens when we feel an anguished imperative to have things be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-buddha-taught-that-suffering-is-the-extra-pain-in-the-mind-that/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“In the East they taught us that all suffering comes from desire, and that rough beast would stalk me through my life, but on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/in-the-east-they-taught-us-that-all-suffering-comes-from-desire-and/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [I ask myself: is every story that has ever been written in this world, a story of suffering and affliction?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/i-ask-myself-is-every-story-that-has-ever-been-written-in-this-world/) [Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/) > [“Because Memphis and I were suffering from the same affliction. Guilt. Crippling guilt. Soul-sucking, change-your-life-forever kind of guilt. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/because-memphis-and-i-were-suffering-from-the-same-affliction-guilt/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [“In God, there is no sorrow or suffering or affliction. If you want to be free of all affliction and suffering, hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-god-there-is-no-sorrow-or-suffering-or-affliction-if-you-want-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobody teaches life anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/nobody-teaches-life-anything/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [Sport teaches you so much about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-casey/sport-teaches-you-so-much-about-life/) [Paul Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-casey/) > [Sport...teaches life's lessons. But there's no substitute, in my book, for education, because that gives you choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-wood/sport-teaches-life-s-lessons-but-there-s-no-substitute-in-my-book-for/) [Fiona Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-wood/) > [Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/sports-teaches-you-character-it-teaches-you-to-play-by-the-rules-it/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [I think that nothing teaches you more about life than death and dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-davis/i-think-that-nothing-teaches-you-more-about-life-than-death-and-dying/) [Patti Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-davis/) > [My dharma teaches me to give my life for the sake of others without even attempting to kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-dharma-teaches-me-to-give-my-life-for-the-sake-of-others-without/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Christianity teaches that this life is not the only life, and there is a final judgment in which all earthly accounts are settled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/christianity-teaches-that-this-life-is-not-the-only-life-and-there-is/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [We share the USTA's vision to promote and expand the game of tennis. I have been playing the game since I was 6 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-engelbert/we-share-the-usta-s-vision-to-promote-and-expand-the-game-of-tennis-i/) [Cathy Engelbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-engelbert/) ## More by Malcolm Muggeridge > [It is only possible to succeed at second-rate pursuitslikebecoming a millionaire or a prime minister, winning a war, seducing beautiful women, flying thought the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/it-is-only-possible-to-succeed-at-second-rate-pursuitslikebecoming-a/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [He was not only a bore; he bored for England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/he-was-not-only-a-bore-he-bored-for-england/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [The orgasm has replaced the Cross as the focus of longing and the image of fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/the-orgasm-has-replaced-the-cross-as-the-focus-of-longing-and-the/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [Posterity will surely be amazed, and I hope vastly amused, that such slipshod and unconvincing theorizing should have so easily captivated twentieth-century minds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/posterity-will-surely-be-amazed-and-i-hope-vastly-amused-that-such/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [In politics, as in womanizing, failure is decisive. It sheds its retrospective gloom on earlier endeavor which at the time seemed full of promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/in-politics-as-in-womanizing-failure-is-decisive-it-sheds-its/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [Marx and Freud are the two great destroyers of Christian civilization, the first replacing the gospel of love by the gospel of hate, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/marx-and-freud-are-the-two-great-destroyers-of-christian-civilization/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [I wouldn't have said that Anthony Eden was equipped by nature to deal with the situation in the world today. I would have said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/i-wouldn-t-have-said-that-anthony-eden-was-equipped-by-nature-to-deal/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [God, stay with me, let no word cross my lips that is not your word, no thoughts enter my mind that are not your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/god-stay-with-me-let-no-word-cross-my-lips-that-is-not-your-word-no/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [The monarchical institution in England is immensely valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/the-monarchical-institution-in-england-is-immensely-valuable/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [Education, the great mumbo jumbo and fraud of the age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/education-the-great-mumbo-jumbo-and-fraud-of-the-age/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [This life in us; however low it flickers or fiercely burns, is still a divine flame which no man dare presume to put out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/this-life-in-us-however-low-it-flickers-or-fiercely-burns-is-still-a/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [As Man alone, Jesus could not have saved us; As God alone, He would not; Made flesh, He could and did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/as-man-alone-jesus-could-not-have-saved-us-as-god-alone-he-would-not/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [ I think it \[presidency of Dwight Eisenhower\] came too late and I think that he is not on the wavelength of this dreadful time… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/i-think-it-presidency-of-dwight-eisenhower-came-too-late-and-i-think/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [Future historians will surely see us as having created in the media a Frankenstein monster whom no one knows how to control ordirect, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/future-historians-will-surely-see-us-as-having-created-in-the-media-a/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [ I think that President \[Dwight\] Eisenhower was... did the most marvelous job in the war, not really a military job: a public relations job,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/i-think-that-president-dwight-eisenhower-was-did-the-most-marvelous/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) [Explore all 168 Malcolm Muggeridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) ## More Affliction quotes > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Henceforth, I'll bear Affliction till it do cry out itself, 'Enough, enough, and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/henceforth-i-ll-bear-affliction-till-it-do-cry-out-itself-enough/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [New materials are one of the great afflictions of contemporary art. Some artists confuse new materials with new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-lewitt/new-materials-are-one-of-the-great-afflictions-of-contemporary-art/) [Sol LeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-lewitt/) > [Aimee Parkison offers a distinct new voice to contemporary fiction. Her seductive stories explore childhood as a realm of sorrows, and reveal the afflictions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-anshaw/aimee-parkison-offers-a-distinct-new-voice-to-contemporary-fiction/) [Carol Anshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-anshaw/) > [May I strike my heart's keys clearly, and may none fail because of slack, uncertain, or fraying strings. May the tears that stream down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/may-i-strike-my-heart-s-keys-clearly-and-may-none-fail-because-of/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [We are infinitely more than our limitations and afflictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-are-infinitely-more-than-our-limitations-and-afflictions/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [God measures out affliction to our need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/god-measures-out-affliction-to-our-need/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/afflictions-make-the-heart-more-deep-more-experimental-more-knowing/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Religion prescribes to every miserable man the means of bettering his condition; nay, it shows him that the bearing of his afflictions as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/religion-prescribes-to-every-miserable-man-the-means-of-bettering-his/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Short-term amnesia is not the worst affliction if you have an Irish flair for the sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/short-term-amnesia-is-not-the-worst-affliction-if-you-have-an-irish/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Revolution will free society of its afflictions, while science will free the individual of his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/revolution-will-free-society-of-its-afflictions-while-science-will/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) [Browse all 598 Affliction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As an old man...looking back on one's life, it's one of the things that strikes you most forcibly-that the only thing that's taught one anything is suffering. 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