---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The older I get, the more I think…"
description: "\"The older I get, the more I think lightness of touch is an incredibly difficult thing to do.\" — Peter Capaldi"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fa/peter-capaldi-2535_difficult_the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-lightne_871809.png"
---

#  The older I get, the more I think lightness of touch is an…

![“The older I get, the more I think lightness of touch is an incredibly difficult thing to do.” quote by Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fa/peter-capaldi-2535_difficult_the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-lightne_871809.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fa/peter-capaldi-2535_difficult_the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-lightne_871809.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fa/peter-capaldi-2535_difficult_the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-lightne_871809.png)

> “The older I get, the more I think lightness of touch is an incredibly difficult thing to do.”

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Lightheartedness is hard to maintain as responsibilities and age increase.

**In simple terms:** Staying light feels gets harder with age.

Key Takeaway

Practice humor and humility daily.

Themes

aging humor emotional intelligence responsibility

Mood

wry reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- workplace
- family gatherings
- stressful events

Key Concepts

psychology philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- What small acts keep you light‑hearted?
- How does humor aid coping?

A Different Perspective

May underestimate personal resilience.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Difficult things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-things/) [Lightness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightness/) [Things to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-to-do/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [I think lightness has to come from a very deep place if it's true lightness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-think-lightness-has-to-come-from-a-very-deep-place-if-it-s-true/)

[Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/)

> [I think that the film Clueless was very deep. I think it was deep in the way that it was very light. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-think-that-the-film-clueless-was-very-deep-i-think-it-was-deep-in/)

[Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/)

> [Touch is incredibly important as part of the human experience. Our ancestors relied on human touch to form and strengthen bonds with each other.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/touch-is-incredibly-important-as-part-of-the-human-experience-our/)

[Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/)

> [“To grasp the truth is a delicate gesture, like taking a hand in greeting, a lightness of touch is needed if one is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/to-grasp-the-truth-is-a-delicate-gesture-like-taking-a-hand-in/)

[Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/)

> [I think that Clueless was very deep. I think it was deep in the way that it was very light. I think lightness has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-think-that-clueless-was-very-deep-i-think-it-was-deep-in-the-way/)

[Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/)

> [The actors make the film. They're the ones that take this theoretical movie that's in your head and make it real. The success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/the-actors-make-the-film-they-re-the-ones-that-take-this-theoretical/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [To sustain hatred is a very difficult thing to do, year after year. It's exhausting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/to-sustain-hatred-is-a-very-difficult-thing-to-do-year-after-year-it/)

[Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/)

> [If you read a part that you want to play, and you already know you have actors you want to work with but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bruckheimer/if-you-read-a-part-that-you-want-to-play-and-you-already-know-you/)

[Jerry Bruckheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bruckheimer/)

> [The portrait of a person is one of the most difficult things to do. It means you must almost bring the presence of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-strand/the-portrait-of-a-person-is-one-of-the-most-difficult-things-to-do-it/)

[Paul Strand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-strand/)

> [Writin songs is like a mystery. The most difficult thing to do is have a good idea. If you have a decent idea, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/writin-songs-is-like-a-mystery-the-most-difficult-thing-to-do-is-have/)

[Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/)

> [What I learned is, we have to listen to each other, even when we don't agree, even when we think we hate each other.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/what-i-learned-is-we-have-to-listen-to-each-other-even-when-we-don-t/)

[Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/)

> [. . . it is true that language and forward movement in the cinema are jolly hard to reconcile. It's a very, very, difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/it-is-true-that-language-and-forward-movement-in-the-cinema-are-jolly/)

[David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/)

> [The enterprise of describing something in language that has never been described before is a very difficult thing to do. When you decide to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gao-xingjian/the-enterprise-of-describing-something-in-language-that-has-never/)

[Gao Xingjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gao-xingjian/)

> [Anyone whose goal is 'something higher' must expect someday to suffer vertigo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/anyone-whose-goal-is-something-higher-must-expect-someday-to-suffer/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [In lightness the root is lost. In haste the ruler is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-lightness-the-root-is-lost-in-haste-the-ruler-is-lost/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

## More by Peter Capaldi

> [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [I never really think of acting and directing as being separate; they are just different expressions of the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-never-really-think-of-acting-and-directing-as-being-separate-they/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [I've only lost my temper three times in my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-ve-only-lost-my-temper-three-times-in-my-whole-life/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [Comic-Con is so legendary, so a great thrill to be invited along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/comic-con-is-so-legendary-so-a-great-thrill-to-be-invited-along/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [It'll be sad not to be Doctor Who anymore because that's an incredible thing to wake up in the morning and go, 'Oh, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-ll-be-sad-not-to-be-doctor-who-anymore-because-that-s-an/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [The Americans just have a great sort of wit about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-americans-just-have-a-great-sort-of-wit-about-them/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [ I knew Richard E. Grant, and I went to him and said "Would you like to \[play Kafka in the film\]?" and he said… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-knew-richard-e-grant-and-i-went-to-him-and-said-would-you-like-to/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [It was great being brought up in a Glasgow working-class tenement. It wasn't miserable, and it wasn't poverty stricken. It felt very safe, full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-was-great-being-brought-up-in-a-glasgow-working-class-tenement-it/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> ['Atlantic City' is very good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/atlantic-city-is-very-good/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [It's one thing getting the job of Doctor Who, which is wonderful. And then the next thing they say to you is, 'We're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-s-one-thing-getting-the-job-of-doctor-who-which-is-wonderful-and/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [One of the very, very exciting things I have found here in L.A. is that no one talks to you about being Scottish. Whereas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/one-of-the-very-very-exciting-things-i-have-found-here-in-l-a-is-that/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [Everybody loves monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/everybody-loves-monsters/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [I think the nice thing about 'Doctor Who' is whether people like it or don't like it, somewhere, someone loves you and will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-think-the-nice-thing-about-doctor-who-is-whether-people-like-it-or/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [Even though I am a lifelong 'Doctor Who' fan, I've not played him since I was nine. I downloaded old scripts and practised those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/even-though-i-am-a-lifelong-doctor-who-fan-i-ve-not-played-him-since/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

> [I'm not an extravagant man. The fact that I can have a coffee out whenever I want still makes me feel grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-m-not-an-extravagant-man-the-fact-that-i-can-have-a-coffee-out/)

[Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

[Explore all 162 Peter Capaldi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/)

## More Difficult quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/)

[Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/)

> [Consumers can choose organic cotton grown without pesticides, but it uses more water and requires more land than conventional crops. Organic cotton can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/consumers-can-choose-organic-cotton-grown-without-pesticides-but-it/)

[Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/)

> [It is extremely difficult to do anything constructive, let alone deep, on daily commercial television, especially on a talk show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/it-is-extremely-difficult-to-do-anything-constructive-let-alone-deep/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/)

[Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/)

> [It's only a little difficult to say no. You've got to believe that the work you're doing is ultimately more useful to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/it-s-only-a-little-difficult-to-say-no-you-ve-got-to-believe-that-the/)

[Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/)

> [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/)

[Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/)

> [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/)

[Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/)

> [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/)

[Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/)

> [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/)

[Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/)

> [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/)

[Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/)

> [Politics only makes the difficult challenge of marriage even harder, with the demands of the job and the public spotlight it casts on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/politics-only-makes-the-difficult-challenge-of-marriage-even-harder/)

[Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/)

> [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/)

[Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/)

> [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/)

[Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/)

Browse all 13,132 Difficult quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The older I get, the more I think lightness of touch is an incredibly difficult thing to do.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Peter Capaldi"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-lightness-of-touch-is-an-incredibly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Difficult"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-lightness-of-touch-is-an-incredibly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fa/peter-capaldi-2535_difficult_the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-lightne_871809.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fa/peter-capaldi-2535_difficult_the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-lightne_871809.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fa/peter-capaldi-2535_difficult_the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-lightne_871809.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The older I get, the more I think lightness of touch is an incredibly difficult thing to do.” — Peter Capaldi",
                "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": "Peter Capaldi",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The older I get, the more...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-lightness-of-touch-is-an-incredibly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-think-lightness-of-touch-is-an-incredibly/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
