--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know how you can look back with…" description: "\"I don't know how you can look back with regret if you're at a moment when everything seems fine.\" — Norman Lear" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/norman-lear-7597_fine_i-don-t-know-how-you-can-look-back-with_959385.png" --- # I don't know how you can look back with regret if you're… ![“I don't know how you can look back with regret if you're at a moment when everything seems fine.” quote by Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/norman-lear-7597_fine_i-don-t-know-how-you-can-look-back-with_959385.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/norman-lear-7597_fine_i-don-t-know-how-you-can-look-back-with_959385.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/norman-lear-7597_fine_i-don-t-know-how-you-can-look-back-with_959385.png) > “I don't know how you can look back with regret if you're at a moment when everything seems fine.” [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflecting on gratitude, the quote suggests that regret is misplaced when the present feels good. **In simple terms:** Regret is odd when things feel fine. Key Takeaway Appreciate the present. Themes gratitude mindfulness contentment Mood reflective calm Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal reflection - daily journaling - mindful meditation Key Concepts psychology temporal perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can you safeguard current contentment? - What triggers regret in good times? A Different Perspective Regret may arise later despite current feeling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Look Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-regret-350259/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Moment Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-fine-1513057/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regret Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret-moment-1763948/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [During a panic attack, I remember that today is just today and that is all that it is. I take a deep breath in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-greenfield/during-a-panic-attack-i-remember-that-today-is-just-today-and-that-is/) [Max Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-greenfield/) > [“There’s a difference between a mistake and a regret. Everything up to this moment has made this moment. If you can change a mistake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mckinsey/there-s-a-difference-between-a-mistake-and-a-regret-everything-up-to/) [Rebecca McKinsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mckinsey/) > [I was going to kiss him, and I was going to regret it. But at that moment, I couldn't bring myself to care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/i-was-going-to-kiss-him-and-i-was-going-to-regret-it-but-at-that/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [I do not regret even for a moment that we spent all these years together. I believe we learned a lot about relationships and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-not-regret-even-for-a-moment-that-we-spent-all-these-years/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never thought I can sy that my wish to stay with u,and ur sweet memories u gave is hurting me...'i regret the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-thought-i-can-sy-that-my-wish-to-stay-with-u-and-ur-sweet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Regret nothing, because for that one moment you were getting exactly what you wanted!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/regret-nothing-because-for-that-one-moment-you-were-getting-exactly/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [...I can't possibly take time off for a second baby, unless I do, in which case that is nobody's business and I'll never regret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-can-t-possibly-take-time-off-for-a-second-baby-unless-i-do-in-which/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I do not regret one moment of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillie-langtry/i-do-not-regret-one-moment-of-my-life/) [Lillie Langtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillie-langtry/) > [“I cannot and do not regret a moment of our time together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-summers/i-cannot-and-do-not-regret-a-moment-of-our-time-together/) [Sasha Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-summers/) > [One day, I hope you look back at what we had, and regret every single thing you did to let it end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-day-i-hope-you-look-back-at-what-we-had-and-regret-every-single/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Someday your life will be over, no matter how much attention you give to your health. Will you look back with regret, because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/someday-your-life-will-be-over-no-matter-how-much-attention-you-give/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [When you close that door to nowhere throw away the key, we have a tendency to look back and regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-you-close-that-door-to-nowhere-throw-away-the-key-we-have-a/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“I have made it a rule of my life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/i-have-made-it-a-rule-of-my-life-never-to-regret-and-never-to-look/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“But I’d rather look back and regret something I did when I was young and crazy, than look back and regret something I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherrie-lynn/but-i-d-rather-look-back-and-regret-something-i-did-when-i-was-young/) [Cherrie Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherrie-lynn/) > [I've had a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but I don't look back on anything with regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-ups-and-a-lot-of-downs-but-i-don-t-look-back-on/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) ## More by Norman Lear > [When we went on the air, I didn't want to be interrupted for an act-one curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/when-we-went-on-the-air-i-didn-t-want-to-be-interrupted-for-an-act/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [In this nation, leadership is dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-this-nation-leadership-is-dollars/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best-educated-but-they-re-very/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Maybe they continued to agree with Archie Bunker - as I said earlier, you can't change people's minds, but you can get them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/maybe-they-continued-to-agree-with-archie-bunker-as-i-said-earlier/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [I think if you're feeling great about where you are, everything that led up to it had to be terrific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-if-you-re-feeling-great-about-where-you-are-everything-that/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Life goes on pretty much the same way. I've been working on a couple of films on the side. You may see some more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/life-goes-on-pretty-much-the-same-way-i-ve-been-working-on-a-couple/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [If there is a reason to believe in God, it would be the Havana Leaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/if-there-is-a-reason-to-believe-in-god-it-would-be-the-havana-leaf/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [In my 90-plus years, I have lived a multitude of lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-my-90-plus-years-i-have-lived-a-multitude-of-lives/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [America is a country of excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/america-is-a-country-of-excess/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [We just may be the most well-informed, yet least self-aware, people in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/we-just-may-be-the-most-well-informed-yet-least-self-aware-people-in/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The people responsible for the dollars that will buy the sex and violence so many deplore, don't even know what's going - well, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-people-responsible-for-the-dollars-that-will-buy-the-sex-and/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [... For all our alarm, it is clear that the religious right is responding to a real hunger in our society... a deep-seated yearning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/for-all-our-alarm-it-is-clear-that-the-religious-right-is-responding/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The movies had a slogan at the time, to distinguish themselves from TV, that said 'movies are better than ever.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-movies-had-a-slogan-at-the-time-to-distinguish-themselves-from-tv/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [I think Americans have become a - much more a nation of consumers than citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-americans-have-become-a-much-more-a-nation-of-consumers-than/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [My dad called me meat head dead from the neck up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/my-dad-called-me-meat-head-dead-from-the-neck-up/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) [Explore all 89 Norman Lear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) ## More Fine quotes > [ I\] k\[n\]ow youre b\[e\]tt\[e\]r off without me. \[D\]ont worr\[y\] ab\[o\]\[u\]t me. Im fine. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/i-k-n-ow-youre-b-e-tt-e-r-off-without-me-d-ont-worr-y-ab-o-u-t-me-im/) [Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/) > [To hurry through the rise and fall of a fine, full sentence is like defying the role of time in human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/to-hurry-through-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-fine-full-sentence-is-like/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The Germans will make a few scattered attacks, then go away. The Romans will enjoy a fine September.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-badoglio/the-germans-will-make-a-few-scattered-attacks-then-go-away-the-romans/) [Pietro Badoglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-badoglio/) > [Just be what it is that you are, and that is just fine. You don't have to be what you're not in any way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/just-be-what-it-is-that-you-are-and-that-is-just-fine-you-don-t-have/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [But I saw the pain and sadness in everything, and swirled it round my mouth like a fine wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-forrest/but-i-saw-the-pain-and-sadness-in-everything-and-swirled-it-round-my/) [Emma Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-forrest/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [“I'm fine," said Pilar, "for the moment. And the moment is the only time we can be fine in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-m-fine-said-pilar-for-the-moment-and-the-moment-is-the-only-time-we/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [It's still possible to savor the remarkable foods that millennia of human ingenuity have teased from milk. A sip of milk itself or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-mcgee/it-s-still-possible-to-savor-the-remarkable-foods-that-millennia-of/) [Harold McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-mcgee/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Comedy, although it is not one of the fine arts - it's a vulgar art, it's one of the people's arts, it's the spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/comedy-although-it-is-not-one-of-the-fine-arts-it-s-a-vulgar-art-it-s/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [School plays are fine. Theater in school is fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/school-plays-are-fine-theater-in-school-is-fine/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) [Browse all 5,340 Fine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know how you can look back with regret if you're at a moment when everything seems fine.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Lear" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-don-t-know-how-you-can-look-back-with-regret-if-you-re-at-a-moment/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fine" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-don-t-know-how-you-can-look-back-with-regret-if-you-re-at-a-moment/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/norman-lear-7597_fine_i-don-t-know-how-you-can-look-back-with_959385.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/norman-lear-7597_fine_i-don-t-know-how-you-can-look-back-with_959385.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/norman-lear-7597_fine_i-don-t-know-how-you-can-look-back-with_959385.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't know how you can look back with regret if you're at a moment when everything seems fine.” — Norman Lear", "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": "Norman Lear", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't know how you can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-don-t-know-how-you-can-look-back-with-regret-if-you-re-at-a-moment/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-don-t-know-how-you-can-look-back-with-regret-if-you-re-at-a-moment/#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 } } ] } ```