--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you approach the second half of your…" description: "\"When you approach the second half of your life, you start to unconsciously consider what you're passing on. As a writer, that's obviously part of what ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/mary-gaitskill-7551_history_when-you-approach-the-second-half-of-you_2242517.jpg" --- # When you approach the second half of your life, you start… ![“When you approach the second half of your life, you start to unconsciously consider what you're passing on. As a writer, that's obviously part of what you're doing. And as a teacher, that's another way of passing on information, history, or whatever you have.” quote by Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/mary-gaitskill-7551_history_when-you-approach-the-second-half-of-you_2242517.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/mary-gaitskill-7551_history_when-you-approach-the-second-half-of-you_2242517.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/mary-gaitskill-7551_history_when-you-approach-the-second-half-of-you_2242517.jpg) > “When you approach the second half of your life, you start to unconsciously consider what you're passing on. As a writer, that's obviously part of what you're doing. And as a teacher, that's another way of passing on information, history, or whatever you have.” [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Approaching later life prompts subconscious reflection on legacy, especially for writers and teachers who pass on ideas and history. **In simple terms:** Later life makes us think about what we leave behind. Key Takeaway Consider how your work influences future generations. Themes legacy reflection teaching writing age Mood contemplative hopeful Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career mentoring - creative projects - historical preservation Key Concepts intergenerational impact self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - What do you hope others remember about you? - How can you actively shape the legacy you desire? A Different Perspective Focusing on legacy may cause anxiety about past achievements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consider Passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider-passing-5089824/) [Doing Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-teacher-5089825/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing/) [Passing Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing-writer-5089823/) [Second Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-half/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [We don't have much wisdom about the second half when things really open up and end up looking a lot more progressive. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-don-t-have-much-wisdom-about-the-second-half-when-things-really/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [I believe the second half of one's life is meant to be better than the first half. The first half is finding out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-lear/i-believe-the-second-half-of-one-s-life-is-meant-to-be-better-than/) [Frances Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-lear/) > [There was definitely a lot more energy, for sure, overall, and in the second half I really thought we displayed some toughness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-green/there-was-definitely-a-lot-more-energy-for-sure-overall-and-in-the/) [Tom Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-green/) > [“If the first half was a quest for success, the second half is a journey to significance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-p-buford/if-the-first-half-was-a-quest-for-success-the-second-half-is-a/) [Bob P. Buford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-p-buford/) > [“The first half of my life was dedicated to corporate America. The second half is dedicated to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spring-etta-edwards/the-first-half-of-my-life-was-dedicated-to-corporate-america-the/) [Spring Etta Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spring-etta-edwards/) > [Whether we're up 2-0 early in the second half, or we're up 1-0 with 10 minutes left in the game, my mind-set is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-horan/whether-we-re-up-2-0-early-in-the-second-half-or-we-re-up-1-0-with-10/) [Lindsey Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-horan/) > [In the second half they looked to stop everybody else, and I got going. I picked up the momentum and was able to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/in-the-second-half-they-looked-to-stop-everybody-else-and-i-got-going/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [Five turnovers in the second half; you can't beat anybody doing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cassel/five-turnovers-in-the-second-half-you-can-t-beat-anybody-doing-that/) [Matt Cassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cassel/) > [The second half of the '60s really was a kind of learning period, in terms of writing, for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cockburn/the-second-half-of-the-60s-really-was-a-kind-of-learning-period-in/) [Bruce Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cockburn/) > [If one of our players gets his second foul in the first half, then he must come out of the game and not re-enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-daly/if-one-of-our-players-gets-his-second-foul-in-the-first-half-then-he/) [Chuck Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-daly/) > [Although I play a modern-day girl in Brahma,' there are portions in the second half that require me to shed that image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranitha-subhash/although-i-play-a-modern-day-girl-in-brahma-there-are-portions-in-the/) [Pranitha Subhash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranitha-subhash/) > [“the second half of joy is shorter than the first”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-second-half-of-joy-is-shorter-than-the-first/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [For most singers the first half of the career involves extending one's repertoire, the second half trimming it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-mordden/for-most-singers-the-first-half-of-the-career-involves-extending-one/) [Ethan Mordden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-mordden/) > [I really do see it as the start of the second half of my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-really-do-see-it-as-the-start-of-the-second-half-of-my-career/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [In the second half our defense was the difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/in-the-second-half-our-defense-was-the-difference/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) ## More by Mary Gaitskill > [“I carry love wrapped in pain. That is my treasure and soon it will be yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/i-carry-love-wrapped-in-pain-that-is-my-treasure-and-soon-it-will-be/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [“God famously doesn't afflict Job because of anything Job has done, but because he wants to prove a point to Satan. Twenty years later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/god-famously-doesn-t-afflict-job-because-of-anything-job-has-done-but/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [When you're writing a story, you're creating something of an artificial ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/when-you-re-writing-a-story-you-re-creating-something-of-an/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [Partly, I'm worried that no one is saying anything because they are afraid of being seen as politically correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/partly-i-m-worried-that-no-one-is-saying-anything-because-they-are/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [ “...loading your brain with subliminal messages… How loathsome to turn a sadistic murder into entertainment \[in the newspaper\] -- and yet how hard not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/loading-your-brain-with-subliminal-messages-how-loathsome-to-turn-a/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [ “The place Joanne is building inside \[herself\] has rooms for all of this. Not just rooms. Beautiful ones. For Karl and Jerry and Karen… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/the-place-joanne-is-building-inside-herself-has-rooms-for-all-of-this/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [“Valiantly, he tried to bring his soul to life in the small thing through which it had to live, and it was crushed, again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/valiantly-he-tried-to-bring-his-soul-to-life-in-the-small-thing/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [The best definition I've heard is that guilt is about what you've done, shame is about who you are. If something's out of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/the-best-definition-i-ve-heard-is-that-guilt-is-about-what-you-ve/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [When my first book came out, it was very disorienting. My health went south. I didn't know how to relate to people. I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/when-my-first-book-came-out-it-was-very-disorienting-my-health-went/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [When he held her that way, she felt so happy that it disturbed her. After he left, it would take her hours to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/when-he-held-her-that-way-she-felt-so-happy-that-it-disturbed-her/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [“But life can give a lot. If you can’t see inside the heart no matter how you look, then why not look? Why not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/but-life-can-give-a-lot-if-you-can-t-see-inside-the-heart-no-matter/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [Sexuality is a place where people are very vulnerable and can be experiencing and embodying very raw forces that they don't really understand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/sexuality-is-a-place-where-people-are-very-vulnerable-and-can-be/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [I focus more on the spiritual or psychic gains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/i-focus-more-on-the-spiritual-or-psychic-gains/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [“When boys get angry with each other, they just fight it out and it's all over. But girls are dirty. They pretend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/when-boys-get-angry-with-each-other-they-just-fight-it-out-and-it-s/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [I think, life is miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/i-think-life-is-miserable/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) [Explore all 87 Mary Gaitskill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) ## More History quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The NBA is my history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/) [David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/) > [History is a certain way, but you just change the point of view a little bit, and you discover a whole new side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/history-is-a-certain-way-but-you-just-change-the-point-of-view-a/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Today is a reality, tomorrow's a promise, and yesterday's history!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-blanks/today-is-a-reality-tomorrow-s-a-promise-and-yesterday-s-history/) [Billy Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-blanks/) > [Truth be told from compulsive liars with a history/Everything must change 2nd chances are a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/truth-be-told-from-compulsive-liars-with-a-history-everything-must/) [C-DASH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-dash/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) [Browse all 27,263 History quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you approach the second half of your life, you start to unconsciously consider what you're passing on. 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