--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the odd things about middle age…" description: "\"One of the odd things about middle age, he concluded, was the strange decisions a man discovers he's made by not really making them, like allowing frie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/richard-russo-1691_age_one-of-the-odd-things-about-middle-age-h_2200431.png" --- # One of the odd things about middle age, he concluded, was… ![“One of the odd things about middle age, he concluded, was the strange decisions a man discovers he's made by not really making them, like allowing friends to drift away through simple neglect.” quote by Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/richard-russo-1691_age_one-of-the-odd-things-about-middle-age-h_2200431.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/richard-russo-1691_age_one-of-the-odd-things-about-middle-age-h_2200431.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/richard-russo-1691_age_one-of-the-odd-things-about-middle-age-h_2200431.png) > “One of the odd things about middle age, he concluded, was the strange decisions a man discovers he's made by not really making them, like allowing friends to drift away through simple neglect.” [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Middle age can reveal choices we made passively, like letting friendships fade without effort. **In simple terms:** We often lose friends by neglect. Key Takeaway Actively nurture relationships. Themes midlife relationships neglect self-awareness Mood reflective melancholic Type advice observational When to use this quote - marriage - career - friendships - community involvement Key Concepts passivity choice social bonds Questions to Reflect On - What relationships have you let drift? - How can you become more intentional? A Different Perspective Passive neglect can be hard to notice until loss occurs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Middle age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-age/) [Middle ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-ages/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Odd things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd-things/) ## Related quotes > [“One of the odd things about middle age...was the strange decisions a man discovers he’s made by not really making them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/one-of-the-odd-things-about-middle-age-was-the-strange-decisions-a/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“Finding The Man. Keeping The Man. 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