--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is a series of commas, not periods." description: "\"Life is a series of commas, not periods.\" — Matthew McConaughey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/matthew-mcconaughey-1902_commas_life-is-a-series-of-commas-not-periods-2_2579702.jpg" --- # Life is a series of commas, not periods. ![“Life is a series of commas, not periods.” quote by Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/matthew-mcconaughey-1902_commas_life-is-a-series-of-commas-not-periods-2_2579702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/matthew-mcconaughey-1902_commas_life-is-a-series-of-commas-not-periods-2_2579702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/matthew-mcconaughey-1902_commas_life-is-a-series-of-commas-not-periods-2_2579702.jpg) > “Life is a series of commas, not periods.” [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life consists of ongoing pauses (commas) rather than final endings (periods), emphasizing continuity **In simple terms:** Life is a series of ongoing moments, not final endings Key Takeaway Embrace ongoing experiences without seeking finality Themes philosophy life continuity mindset Mood thoughtful philosophical Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - creative processes - long‑term planning - mindfulness practice Key Concepts existentialism temporal perception growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - How does viewing life as continuous affect decision‑making? - When is a period (final decision) appropriate? A Different Perspective May overlook need for closure in some situations ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“And Homo sapiens only then becomes man in the complete sense of the word, when his punctuation includes no question marks, only exclamation points,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zamyatin-yevgeny/and-homo-sapiens-only-then-becomes-man-in-the-complete-sense-of-the/) Zamyatin Yevgeny > [I work through life with commas. I don't even know, do you have parentheticals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/i-work-through-life-with-commas-i-don-t-even-know-do-you-have/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [Now, you lose something in your life, or you come into a conflict, and there's gonna come a time that you're gonna know: There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/now-you-lose-something-in-your-life-or-you-come-into-a-conflict-and/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [The commas are the most useful and usable of all the stops. It is highly important to put them in place as you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/the-commas-are-the-most-useful-and-usable-of-all-the-stops-it-is/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [I leave my editor to put the periods and commas in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-foley/i-leave-my-editor-to-put-the-periods-and-commas-in/) [Mick Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-foley/) > [“Commas: commas for everyone!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-hughes/commas-commas-for-everyone/) Aaron Hughes > [Neither death nor wisdom has a full stop. There are only commas-no destinations, only waiting rooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/neither-death-nor-wisdom-has-a-full-stop-there-are-only-commas-no/) [Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/) > [“1) I’m, a, comma, whore. Apparently, I throw them around like confetti. Or glitter. The title of my next book: WHY COMMAS RULE THE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/1-i-m-a-comma-whore-apparently-i-throw-them-around-like-confetti-or/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [Commas, like nuns, often travel in pairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-norris/commas-like-nuns-often-travel-in-pairs/) [Mary Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-norris/) > [“You mean that's your idea of desire, with all those commas?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-palmer/you-mean-that-s-your-idea-of-desire-with-all-those-commas/) [Michael Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-palmer/) > [The rule is: don’t use commas like a stupid person. I mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/the-rule-is-don-t-use-commas-like-a-stupid-person-i-mean-it/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [“I tried to put the displacement between parenthesis, to put a last period in a long sentence of the sadness of history, personal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mourid-barghouti/i-tried-to-put-the-displacement-between-parenthesis-to-put-a-last/) [Mourid Barghouti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mourid-barghouti/) > [“...my war on commas. They are a pestilence. They must be stopped.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/my-war-on-commas-they-are-a-pestilence-they-must-be-stopped/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [Chicken pot pie sounds like such a good idea. If you add commas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/chicken-pot-pie-sounds-like-such-a-good-idea-if-you-add-commas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anyone who finds himself putting down several commas close to one another should reflect that he is making himself disagreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-watson-fowler/anyone-who-finds-himself-putting-down-several-commas-close-to-one/) [Henry Watson Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-watson-fowler/) ## More by Matthew McConaughey > [I don't see myself being married more than once, but who does?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/i-don-t-see-myself-being-married-more-than-once-but-who-does/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [The law says you cannot touch, but I see a lot of lawbreakers up in this house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/the-law-says-you-cannot-touch-but-i-see-a-lot-of-lawbreakers-up-in/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [If you can be mentally stimulated by the workout and find out how to get through it, it's more fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/if-you-can-be-mentally-stimulated-by-the-workout-and-find-out-how-to/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [Africa is probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/africa-is-probably-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-i-have-ever-been/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [I talk to myself all the time. Just make sure you answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/i-talk-to-myself-all-the-time-just-make-sure-you-answer/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [The male is always the pawn in a romantic comedy. Come together, break up, go chase her, get her, roll credits. That's what happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/the-male-is-always-the-pawn-in-a-romantic-comedy-come-together-break/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [If you eat at the end of the day, you sleep on it and don't burn it off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/if-you-eat-at-the-end-of-the-day-you-sleep-on-it-and-don-t-burn-it-off/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [I keep a diary - one for each film and foreign land I travel to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/i-keep-a-diary-one-for-each-film-and-foreign-land-i-travel-to/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [Ye cannot serve God and mammon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/ye-cannot-serve-god-and-mammon/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [Yes, it is the Big Easy, home of the shortest hangover on the planet, where libation can greet you on Monday morning with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/yes-it-is-the-big-easy-home-of-the-shortest-hangover-on-the-planet/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [I hated repeating myself. The last films I've done - not once did I ever have the feeling that I was dialing it in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/i-hated-repeating-myself-the-last-films-i-ve-done-not-once-did-i-ever/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/is-it-not-lawful-for-me-to-do-what-i-will-with-mine-own/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [I've come to find that I do think it is actually healthy for our relationship that I don't speak that much Portuguese because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/i-ve-come-to-find-that-i-do-think-it-is-actually-healthy-for-our/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [The older you get, the more rules they’re gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin’ man, l-i-v-i-n’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/the-older-you-get-the-more-rules-they-re-gonna-try-to-get-you-to/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [Every hero doesn't do this great big hero thing. They do the simple thing over and over... and they stick to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/every-hero-doesn-t-do-this-great-big-hero-thing-they-do-the-simple/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) [Explore all 200 Matthew McConaughey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) ## More Commas quotes > [Anyone who finds himself putting down several commas close to one another should reflect that he is making himself disagreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-watson-fowler/anyone-who-finds-himself-putting-down-several-commas-close-to-one/) [Henry Watson Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-watson-fowler/) > [Chicken pot pie sounds like such a good idea. If you add commas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/chicken-pot-pie-sounds-like-such-a-good-idea-if-you-add-commas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“...my war on commas. They are a pestilence. They must be stopped.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/my-war-on-commas-they-are-a-pestilence-they-must-be-stopped/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [“I tried to put the displacement between parenthesis, to put a last period in a long sentence of the sadness of history, personal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mourid-barghouti/i-tried-to-put-the-displacement-between-parenthesis-to-put-a-last/) [Mourid Barghouti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mourid-barghouti/) > [The rule is: don’t use commas like a stupid person. I mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/the-rule-is-don-t-use-commas-like-a-stupid-person-i-mean-it/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [“You mean that's your idea of desire, with all those commas?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-palmer/you-mean-that-s-your-idea-of-desire-with-all-those-commas/) [Michael Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-palmer/) > [Commas, like nuns, often travel in pairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-norris/commas-like-nuns-often-travel-in-pairs/) [Mary Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-norris/) > [“1) I’m, a, comma, whore. Apparently, I throw them around like confetti. Or glitter. The title of my next book: WHY COMMAS RULE THE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/1-i-m-a-comma-whore-apparently-i-throw-them-around-like-confetti-or/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [Neither death nor wisdom has a full stop. There are only commas-no destinations, only waiting rooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/neither-death-nor-wisdom-has-a-full-stop-there-are-only-commas-no/) [Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/) > [“Commas: commas for everyone!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-hughes/commas-commas-for-everyone/) Aaron Hughes > [I leave my editor to put the periods and commas in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-foley/i-leave-my-editor-to-put-the-periods-and-commas-in/) [Mick Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-foley/) > [The commas are the most useful and usable of all the stops. It is highly important to put them in place as you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/the-commas-are-the-most-useful-and-usable-of-all-the-stops-it-is/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Now, you lose something in your life, or you come into a conflict, and there's gonna come a time that you're gonna know: There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/now-you-lose-something-in-your-life-or-you-come-into-a-conflict-and/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [“Smiles are commas and full stops... and few are those who still know how to put commas and full stops into their words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malek-haddad/smiles-are-commas-and-full-stops-and-few-are-those-who-still-know-how/) Malek Haddad > [I hate commas in the wrong places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-hate-commas-in-the-wrong-places/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) Browse all 43 Commas quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life is a series of commas, not periods.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew McConaughey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/life-is-a-series-of-commas-not-periods/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/life-is-a-series-of-commas-not-periods/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/matthew-mcconaughey-1902_commas_life-is-a-series-of-commas-not-periods-2_2579702.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/matthew-mcconaughey-1902_commas_life-is-a-series-of-commas-not-periods-2_2579702.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/matthew-mcconaughey-1902_commas_life-is-a-series-of-commas-not-periods-2_2579702.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Life is a series of commas, not periods.” — Matthew McConaughey", "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": "Matthew McConaughey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Life is a series of commas,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/life-is-a-series-of-commas-not-periods/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/life-is-a-series-of-commas-not-periods/#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 } } ] } ```