Regret Quote by Richard Yates
““Some things you did were worth regretting; others not.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Good Life, 1975
The speaker differentiates between actions that merit regret and those that do not, urging selective reflection on past deeds.
In simple terms: Some deeds deserve regret, others don’t.
Key Takeaway
Learn from regrets, let go of the rest.
Themes
reflection
personal growth
decision‑making
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- relationship choices
- career moves
- personal habits
- life lessons
Key Concepts
moral evaluation
emotional processing
Questions to Reflect On
- Which regrets truly teach?
- How to balance regret with acceptance?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex emotions.
![“[When I die], I will decidedly not be regretting missed opportunities for a good time. My regrets will be more along the lines of a sad list of people hurt, people let down, assets wasted and advantages squandered.” quote by Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ba3/anthony-bourdain-649_advantage_when-i-die-i-will-decidedly-not-be-regre_24502.jpg)
![“The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before going in with [Larry] Holmes. That would have made all the difference.” quote by Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d63/gerry-cooney-20863_bigs_the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-m_1534.jpg)
