--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was 39 when I did, essentially, a…" description: "\"I was 39 when I did, essentially, a three-quarter sleeve on my left arm. It was very late in life, which is good: I can't think of any decision I made ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/nick-wooster-7632_decision_i-was-39-when-i-did-essentially-a-three_1780143.jpg" --- # I was 39 when I did, essentially, a three-quarter sleeve… ![“I was 39 when I did, essentially, a three-quarter sleeve on my left arm. It was very late in life, which is good: I can't think of any decision I made at 19 that I'd be happy with at 39 or even now, at 51.” quote by Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/nick-wooster-7632_decision_i-was-39-when-i-did-essentially-a-three_1780143.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/nick-wooster-7632_decision_i-was-39-when-i-did-essentially-a-three_1780143.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/nick-wooster-7632_decision_i-was-39-when-i-did-essentially-a-three_1780143.jpg) > “I was 39 when I did, essentially, a three-quarter sleeve on my left arm. It was very late in life, which is good: I can't think of any decision I made at 19 that I'd be happy with at 39 or even now, at 51.” [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on how decisions made in youth often feel unsatisfying later, emphasizing the value of later-life choices. **In simple terms:** Late decisions can feel more rewarding than youthful ones. Key Takeaway Embrace change later in life. Themes self‑reflection career personal growth Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice personal narrative When to use this quote - career pivot - personal reinvention - creative projects - health choices Key Concepts decision‑making life stages regret Questions to Reflect On - What decision would you make differently now? - How can you honor past choices while moving forward? A Different Perspective Youthful choices may lack perspective, but they also shape later wisdom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arm Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arm-late-1854819/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Left Arm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-arm-1635497/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Quarter Sleeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quarter-sleeve-1854818/) [Sleeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleeve/) [Sleeve Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleeve-left-1854817/) ## Related quotes > [I broke my left arm when I was 8, at a friend's house, when we were jumping off a balcony and throwing down dunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-rosen/i-broke-my-left-arm-when-i-was-8-at-a-friend-s-house-when-we-were/) [Josh Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-rosen/) > [One of the first things I did on arriving at school was to break my left arm falling into a bomb crater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-higgs/one-of-the-first-things-i-did-on-arriving-at-school-was-to-break-my/) [Peter Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-higgs/) > [I have my name Cory on my left arm, and I have my mom's name on my right with a cross. She passed away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-have-my-name-cory-on-my-left-arm-and-i-have-my-mom-s-name-on-my/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) > [If an optimist had his left arm chewed off by an alligator, he might say in a pleasant and hopeful voice, "Well this isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-an-optimist-had-his-left-arm-chewed-off-by-an-alligator-he-might/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His hand was… I held up my left arm, then my right. Yeah, that was him cupping my morning wood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/his-hand-was-i-held-up-my-left-arm-then-my-right-yeah-that-was-him/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) > [I'd been touring for so long, seven years. For a year and a half I'd just been curious about what it was like not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feist/i-d-been-touring-for-so-long-seven-years-for-a-year-and-a-half-i-d/) [Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feist/) > [“There is his right leg over my right leg, my left leg over his right leg, his left arm under my back, my right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/there-is-his-right-leg-over-my-right-leg-my-left-leg-over-his-right/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [I have severe burns on my upper left arm and that has never, ever been an issue for me or my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-redman/i-have-severe-burns-on-my-upper-left-arm-and-that-has-never-ever-been/) [Amanda Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-redman/) > [Sometimes, when I break my hands, I kind of go too far behind my body, and what that will do, wherever my right arm's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-arrieta/sometimes-when-i-break-my-hands-i-kind-of-go-too-far-behind-my-body/) [Jake Arrieta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-arrieta/) > [“Pulling back, like a savage carnivore at its prey, it tore a large chunk of meat rendering his left arm useless...regardless he did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-buck/pulling-back-like-a-savage-carnivore-at-its-prey-it-tore-a-large/) [Stacy Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-buck/) > [At 14, I'd have given my left arm to be a boy: I thought I was horrible and that no-one would ever find me attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/at-14-i-d-have-given-my-left-arm-to-be-a-boy-i-thought-i-was-horrible/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) > [He has lost his left arm, but I my right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/he-has-lost-his-left-arm-but-i-my-right/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I might have been able to make it as a pitcher except for one thing: I had a rather awkward motion and every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stengel/i-might-have-been-able-to-make-it-as-a-pitcher-except-for-one-thing-i/) [Casey Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stengel/) > [If God wants to take my left arm, that's OK, as long as I can walk and play with my kids. I'm a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manute-bol/if-god-wants-to-take-my-left-arm-that-s-ok-as-long-as-i-can-walk-and/) [Manute Bol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manute-bol/) > [If God wanted you to putt cross-handed, he would have made your left arm longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/if-god-wanted-you-to-putt-cross-handed-he-would-have-made-your-left/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) ## More by Nick Wooster > [When I was a kid, my parents were happy to buy me clothes; they provided for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/when-i-was-a-kid-my-parents-were-happy-to-buy-me-clothes-they/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [I always treat camo as a solid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/i-always-treat-camo-as-a-solid/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [Camo is almost like a solid. It is the perfect uniform: you can wear camo in any application and it is always right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/camo-is-almost-like-a-solid-it-is-the-perfect-uniform-you-can-wear/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [I'm so obsessed with Apple, and the chance to work with the people who really created Apple retail is the retail opportunity of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/i-m-so-obsessed-with-apple-and-the-chance-to-work-with-the-people-who/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [The Japanese are the ultimate students: they analyse things in so much detail... until they have pretty much mastered whatever they are studying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/the-japanese-are-the-ultimate-students-they-analyse-things-in-so-much/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [I grew up in the '60s and '70s when men were required to wear a suit, shirt, and tie every day to be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/i-grew-up-in-the-60s-and-70s-when-men-were-required-to-wear-a-suit/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [I've always dressed differently. I've always had my own deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/i-ve-always-dressed-differently-i-ve-always-had-my-own-deal/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [I always say that MTV cribs is what brought straight men into the fashion world. Once they sort of saw sports guys and music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/i-always-say-that-mtv-cribs-is-what-brought-straight-men-into-the/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [I never wear a black belt with a black shoe. It's always the opposite: a brown shoe with a black belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/i-never-wear-a-black-belt-with-a-black-shoe-it-s-always-the-opposite/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [What I love about travel and shopping is seeing how different retailers in London, Paris, and New York interpret the same collection. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/what-i-love-about-travel-and-shopping-is-seeing-how-different/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [I truly find inspiration everywhere. I always tell students, and young people starting out, that the single most important skill, next to listening, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/i-truly-find-inspiration-everywhere-i-always-tell-students-and-young/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [Clothes and fashion should work in people's lives. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/clothes-and-fashion-should-work-in-people-s-lives-period/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [Men shop for problem solving. They want something familiar. So if it's a new version of something they understand, they are right there with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/men-shop-for-problem-solving-they-want-something-familiar-so-if-it-s/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [A gray flannel suit by Thom Browne or Tom Ford can be worn a billion ways. I'll wear a gray flannel jacket with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/a-gray-flannel-suit-by-thom-browne-or-tom-ford-can-be-worn-a-billion/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [I'm not just a designer; I'm not just a retailer. I'm not just a street style person, whatever that is. I can instead do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/i-m-not-just-a-designer-i-m-not-just-a-retailer-i-m-not-just-a-street/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) [Explore all 89 Nick Wooster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [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/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was 39 when I did, essentially, a three-quarter sleeve on my left arm. 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