Age Quote by Maurice Sendak
![“I thought that if I were going into old age I would want to do what [Giuseppe] Verdi did, which is to write extraordinary things, and to really find myself.” quote by Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d43/maurice-sendak-1273_age_i-thought-that-if-i-were-going-into-old_866054.jpg)
“I thought that if I were going into old age I would want to do what [Giuseppe] Verdi did, which is to write extraordinary things, and to really find myself.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1990s literary discussion
Expresses desire to create lasting, extraordinary work in later life, seeking personal authenticity.
In simple terms: Create meaningful work that reflects self.
Key Takeaway
Pursue timeless, authentic creation.
Themes
creativity
legacy
self‑discovery
age
art
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing projects
- late‑career pivots
- personal memoirs
- artistic mentorship
Key Concepts
authentic expression
artistic ambition
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “extraordinary” mean to you?
- How can you balance ambition with realistic expectations?
A Different Perspective
Age can limit physical stamina, affecting output.
![“I had been reading a fabulous book [The Man Verdi, by Frank Walker] about [Giuseppe] Verdi, whom I adore.” quote by Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d6e/maurice-sendak-1273_adore_i-had-been-reading-a-fabulous-book-the-m_370441.jpg)
![“A whole new world of Italian music was springing up, and [Giuseppe] Verdi was seen as old. Boito got Verdi all excited about the possibility of doing another opera, another kind of opera. In fact, Verdi composed his two best operas, Otello and Falstaff, in his eighties.” quote by Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/290/maurice-sendak-1273_eighty_a-whole-new-world-of-italian-music-was-s_1593395.jpg)
![“Tom [Courtenay] and Albert Finney met Ron Harwood on the dresser, so that's how it started. It's a wonderful documentary. It's called Tosca's Kiss and Mr Hardwood told me about it when I asked him what the genesis was. It was made in 1983 and Verdi, who was rich and successful, toward the end of…” quote by Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9d1/dustin-hoffman-4662_decided_tom-courtenay-and-albert-finney-met-ron_1394864.jpg)
![“When I was young, my mother [folk singer Kate McGarrigle] brought home this recording of Verdi's Requiem and we listened to it from top to bottom. By the end of it, I was a completely different person. It was literally a requiem mass for my former self. I was about 12 or 13. The Requiem just…” quote by Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/beb/rufus-wainwright-2260_aids_when-i-was-young-my-mother-folk-singer-k_1158867.jpg)
