--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Experiences aren't given to us to be 'got…" description: "\"Experiences aren't given to us to be 'got over,' otherwise they would hardly be experiences.\" — Penelope Fitzgerald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/penelope-fitzgerald-13844_funny_experiences-aren-t-given-to-us-to-be-got_899027.jpg" --- # Experiences aren't given to us to be 'got over,' otherwise… ![“Experiences aren't given to us to be 'got over,' otherwise they would hardly be experiences.” quote by Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/penelope-fitzgerald-13844_funny_experiences-aren-t-given-to-us-to-be-got_899027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/penelope-fitzgerald-13844_funny_experiences-aren-t-given-to-us-to-be-got_899027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/penelope-fitzgerald-13844_funny_experiences-aren-t-given-to-us-to-be-got_899027.jpg) > “Experiences aren't given to us to be 'got over,' otherwise they would hardly be experiences.” [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experiences must be lived through, not merely overcome, to retain their transformative value. **In simple terms:** Live experiences fully, not just get over them. Key Takeaway Embrace and learn from life's events. Themes growth experience acceptance Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal crises - learning moments - grief processing - career challenges Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What experiences have you truly lived? - How does acceptance differ from resignation? A Different Perspective Avoiding reflection can limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“Children don't understand, when things aren't given. The single parent struggling to provide; how they sacrifice themselves, by sweeping their dreams and goals under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/children-don-t-understand-when-things-aren-t-given-the-single-parent/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“Our painful experiences aren’t a liability—they’re a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and our strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-eger/our-painful-experiences-aren-t-a-liability-they-re-a-gift-they-give/) [Edith Eger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-eger/) > [When it comes to experiences that aren't mine, I try to shut up and listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/when-it-comes-to-experiences-that-aren-t-mine-i-try-to-shut-up-and/) [Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/) > [“I know that many people won’t believe that a child not yet eleven is capable of such feelings. It is not to those people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/i-know-that-many-people-won-t-believe-that-a-child-not-yet-eleven-is/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Experiences aren't pornographic; only images and representations - structures of the imagination - are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/experiences-aren-t-pornographic-only-images-and-representations/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [When I was a teenager, in the '80s, it was 'Dynasty.' It was 'Beverly Hills, 90210.' And those were fantasies. Those weren't reflective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/when-i-was-a-teenager-in-the-80s-it-was-dynasty-it-was-beverly-hills/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [“Having bad experiences sometimes helps; it makes it clearer what it is you should be doing. I know that sounds very Pollyannaish but it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cameron/having-bad-experiences-sometimes-helps-it-makes-it-clearer-what-it-is/) [Peter Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cameron/) > [People who have only good experiences aren't very interesting. They may be content, and happy after a fashion, but they aren't very deep. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cameron/people-who-have-only-good-experiences-aren-t-very-interesting-they/) [Peter Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cameron/) > [“And if college is all wrong for you, if you really don't like it in the way you fear, well - it won't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-if-college-is-all-wrong-for-you-if-you-really-don-t-like-it-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do think there's something about the digital age that is increasingly dehumanising us. We're in this very weird place where we're being pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-do-think-there-s-something-about-the-digital-age-that-is/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [Some jobs you do, they're just jobs. Others are life experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/some-jobs-you-do-they-re-just-jobs-others-are-life-experiences/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [I've had difficult experiences and obviously there's been the birth of my son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/i-ve-had-difficult-experiences-and-obviously-there-s-been-the-birth/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) > [It isn't necessary to seek out adventure. Opening to what is around you will produce the most extraordinary experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-b-lewis/it-isn-t-necessary-to-seek-out-adventure-opening-to-what-is-around/) Edward B. Lewis > [“The experiences of camp life show that man does have a choice of action… There were enough examples, often of a heroic nature, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/the-experiences-of-camp-life-show-that-man-does-have-a-choice-of/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) ## More by Penelope Fitzgerald > [On the whole, I think you should write biographies of those you admire and respect, and novels about human beings who you think are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/on-the-whole-i-think-you-should-write-biographies-of-those-you-admire/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [Surely you have to succeed, if you give everything you have.' 'I don't see why. Everyone has to give everything they have eventually. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/surely-you-have-to-succeed-if-you-give-everything-you-have-i-don-t/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [If they don't depend on true evidence, scientists are no better than gossips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/if-they-don-t-depend-on-true-evidence-scientists-are-no-better-than/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [Morality is seldom a safe guide for human conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/morality-is-seldom-a-safe-guide-for-human-conduct/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [“The barge anchors were unrecognisable as such, more like crustaceans, specimens of some giant type long since discarded by Nature, but still clinging to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/the-barge-anchors-were-unrecognisable-as-such-more-like-crustaceans/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [It is interesting to note that everyone has a different take on the world, a different opinion, and given the same inputs have completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/it-is-interesting-to-note-that-everyone-has-a-different-take-on-the/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [Behind their dark glass, the mad own nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/behind-their-dark-glass-the-mad-own-nothing/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [“La fuerza de voluntad es inútil si no se va a algún lado”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/la-fuerza-de-voluntad-es-in-til-si-no-se-va-a-alg-n-lado/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [“You can borrow my Blackbird, if you like,' said Ben. This was his new fountain pen, which troubled him. It was guaranteed not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/you-can-borrow-my-blackbird-if-you-like-said-ben-this-was-his-new/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [“She ought to go down to the beach. It was Thursday, early closing, and it seemed ungrateful to live so close to the sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/she-ought-to-go-down-to-the-beach-it-was-thursday-early-closing-and/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [An unjust punishment is never forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/an-unjust-punishment-is-never-forgotten/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [Duty is what no-one else will do at the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/duty-is-what-no-one-else-will-do-at-the-moment/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [“But we weren't meant to live alone,' said Frank. 'Life makes its own corrections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/but-we-weren-t-meant-to-live-alone-said-frank-life-makes-its-own/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [The body, then, has a mind of its own. It must follow, then, that the Mind has a body of its own, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/the-body-then-has-a-mind-of-its-own-it-must-follow-then-that-the-mind/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) > [“All distances are the same to those who don't meet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/all-distances-are-the-same-to-those-who-don-t-meet/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) [Explore all 36 Penelope Fitzgerald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/) ## More Experiences quotes > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [“The experiences of camp life show that man does have a choice of action… There were enough examples, often of a heroic nature, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/the-experiences-of-camp-life-show-that-man-does-have-a-choice-of/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [It isn't necessary to seek out adventure. Opening to what is around you will produce the most extraordinary experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-b-lewis/it-isn-t-necessary-to-seek-out-adventure-opening-to-what-is-around/) Edward B. Lewis > [I've had difficult experiences and obviously there's been the birth of my son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/i-ve-had-difficult-experiences-and-obviously-there-s-been-the-birth/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) > [Some jobs you do, they're just jobs. Others are life experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/some-jobs-you-do-they-re-just-jobs-others-are-life-experiences/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [From my experience, I don't have the luxury to trust anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sirivi/from-my-experience-i-don-t-have-the-luxury-to-trust-anyone/) Sirivi > [I've gotten to go to far-off places in the world, have very unique, isolated, intense experiences for four or five months at a time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-ve-gotten-to-go-to-far-off-places-in-the-world-have-very-unique/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [London's where I grew up and had most of my experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/london-s-where-i-grew-up-and-had-most-of-my-experiences/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [New experiences give you new perspectives on life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/new-experiences-give-you-new-perspectives-on-life/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [“I’m just happy to have experienced life; to have had a beautiful son and to have loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-b-powell/i-m-just-happy-to-have-experienced-life-to-have-had-a-beautiful-son/) [Aaron B. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-b-powell/) > [In my own case, I'm an artist, and I'm really interested in expanding the vocabulary of human action, and basically empowering people through interactivity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golan-levin/in-my-own-case-i-m-an-artist-and-i-m-really-interested-in-expanding/) [Golan Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golan-levin/) > [I feel really lucky that I somehow have blagged my way into loads of different experiences. I find making a film fascinating, I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-feel-really-lucky-that-i-somehow-have-blagged-my-way-into-loads-of/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [“The art of being wise is the art of knowing that solutions don’t come from individuals, but rather experiences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-art-of-being-wise-is-the-art-of-knowing-that-solutions-don-t-come/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [We have the philosophy that you can learn from past experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodri/we-have-the-philosophy-that-you-can-learn-from-past-experiences/) [Rodri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodri/) > [“When we observe how some people know how to manage their experiences--their insignificant, everyday experiences--so that they become an arable soil that bears fruit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/when-we-observe-how-some-people-know-how-to-manage-their-experiences/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Browse all 1,156 Experiences quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Experiences aren't given to us to be 'got over,' otherwise they would hardly be experiences.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Penelope Fitzgerald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/experiences-aren-t-given-to-us-to-be-got-over-otherwise-they-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Experiences" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/experiences-aren-t-given-to-us-to-be-got-over-otherwise-they-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/penelope-fitzgerald-13844_funny_experiences-aren-t-given-to-us-to-be-got_899027.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/penelope-fitzgerald-13844_funny_experiences-aren-t-given-to-us-to-be-got_899027.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/penelope-fitzgerald-13844_funny_experiences-aren-t-given-to-us-to-be-got_899027.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Experiences aren't given to us to be 'got over,' otherwise they would hardly be experiences.” — Penelope Fitzgerald", "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": "Penelope Fitzgerald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-fitzgerald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Experiences aren't given to us to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/experiences-aren-t-given-to-us-to-be-got-over-otherwise-they-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-fitzgerald/experiences-aren-t-given-to-us-to-be-got-over-otherwise-they-would/#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 } } ] } ```