--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't think of retiring from the world…" description: "\"Don't think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire. I hate a fellow whom pride or cowardice or laziness drive into a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/samuel-johnson-50_retirement_don-t-think-of-retiring-from-the-world-u_408667.jpg" --- # Don't think of retiring from the world until the world… ![“Don't think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire. I hate a fellow whom pride or cowardice or laziness drive into a corner, and who does nothing when he is there but sit and growl. Let him come out as I do, and bark.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/samuel-johnson-50_retirement_don-t-think-of-retiring-from-the-world-u_408667.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/samuel-johnson-50_retirement_don-t-think-of-retiring-from-the-world-u_408667.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/samuel-johnson-50_retirement_don-t-think-of-retiring-from-the-world-u_408667.jpg) > “Don't think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire. I hate a fellow whom pride or cowardice or laziness drive into a corner, and who does nothing when he is there but sit and growl. Let him come out as I do, and bark.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One should not abandon life until society feels the loss; pride, cowardice, or laziness trap people into passive bitterness. **In simple terms:** Don't quit until you're missed; avoid passive bitterness. Key Takeaway Stay active, contribute, and resist complacency. Themes pride cowardice laziness passivity Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career - community service - personal development Key Concepts social responsibility personal agency legacy Questions to Reflect On - What drives your current actions? - How can you inspire others to act? A Different Perspective Passive attitudes can be hard to change once entrenched. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Retirement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retirement/) ## Related quotes > [Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yourself-and-don-t-think-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I don't really think about retiring. I will retire just before people start saying, 'I knew Leonard Slatkin when he conducted well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/i-don-t-really-think-about-retiring-i-will-retire-just-before-people/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [Those who hope, by retiring from the world, to earn a holiday from human frailty, in themselves and others, are usually disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/those-who-hope-by-retiring-from-the-world-to-earn-a-holiday-from/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [Why retire from something if you're loving it so much and enjoying it so much, and you're blessed with another group of people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/why-retire-from-something-if-you-re-loving-it-so-much-and-enjoying-it/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [When people don't know me any more or want my autograph, then I'll think about retiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weissmuller/when-people-don-t-know-me-any-more-or-want-my-autograph-then-i-ll/) [Johnny Weissmuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weissmuller/) > [I never felt I would get to the stage where I would to have to actively think about retiring from international football as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-cunningham/i-never-felt-i-would-get-to-the-stage-where-i-would-to-have-to/) [Kenny Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-cunningham/) > [When you think about retiring, you're done. You already checked out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/when-you-think-about-retiring-you-re-done-you-already-checked-out/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [Every time I try to retire, or even think of retiring from acting, my agent comes up with a script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/every-time-i-try-to-retire-or-even-think-of-retiring-from-acting-my/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [You need some insecurity if you're an actor. It keeps the pot boiling. I haven't yet started to think about retiring. I was shocked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/you-need-some-insecurity-if-you-re-an-actor-it-keeps-the-pot-boiling/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [“I await the revises, and promise you not to 'make my quietus with a bare bodkin' till I have returned them. After that, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-await-the-revises-and-promise-you-not-to-make-my-quietus-with-a/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I think that retiring the baby boomers is going to be one of the great challenges in America, that you cannot make fiscal sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-think-that-retiring-the-baby-boomers-is-going-to-be-one-of-the/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) > [I'm mad, you know? I don't think of retiring at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-m-mad-you-know-i-don-t-think-of-retiring-at-all/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [People think retiring is fun. Well, maybe, but if you have a certain kind of fire inside, there is no end in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/people-think-retiring-is-fun-well-maybe-but-if-you-have-a-certain/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I'm just happy as a lark having a good health. People say are you thinking about retiring, I don't have time to think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-m-just-happy-as-a-lark-having-a-good-health-people-say-are-you/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [When you do something that you like, and you think you can keep doing it, you don't think about retiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-herrera/when-you-do-something-that-you-like-and-you-think-you-can-keep-doing/) [Carolina Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-herrera/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Retirement quotes > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [I'm not gonna squeal out that this is my 23rd retirement, my real, real retirement. But you know there comes a time where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-funk/i-m-not-gonna-squeal-out-that-this-is-my-23rd-retirement-my-real-real/) [Terry Funk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-funk/) > [I have no intention of retiring. Even my blood sugar is better when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-have-no-intention-of-retiring-even-my-blood-sugar-is-better-when-i/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [The chief wonder of education is that it does not ruin everybody concerned in it, teachers and taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-chief-wonder-of-education-is-that-it-does-not-ruin-everybody/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Retirement is having nothing to do and someone always keeping you from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/retirement-is-having-nothing-to-do-and-someone-always-keeping-you/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [The basic idea of retirement income is, to me, to get a check, two checks every month, one from your fixed income and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/the-basic-idea-of-retirement-income-is-to-me-to-get-a-check-two/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [In retirement, I look for days off from my days off. Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/in-retirement-i-look-for-days-off-from-my-days-off-mason-cooley/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Time is never more misspent than while we declaim against the want of it; all our actions are then tinctured with peevishness. The yoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/time-is-never-more-misspent-than-while-we-declaim-against-the-want-of/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [I'll be that guy who's 80 years old and still has a job. There is no 'retire' for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-show/i-ll-be-that-guy-who-s-80-years-old-and-still-has-a-job-there-is-no/) [Big Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-show/) > [I think the day of retirement will come when I go out there and do everything I was supposed to do and I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mir/i-think-the-day-of-retirement-will-come-when-i-go-out-there-and-do/) [Frank Mir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mir/) > [I don't really have a retirement plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-don-t-really-have-a-retirement-plan/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I've got no idea when I am going to retire. Whenever they pick me up and take me to the funeral home, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colonel-sanders/i-ve-got-no-idea-when-i-am-going-to-retire-whenever-they-pick-me-up/) [Colonel Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colonel-sanders/) > [Really, I don't know what I'd do with myself if I retire. Wash dishes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/really-i-don-t-know-what-i-d-do-with-myself-if-i-retire-wash-dishes/) [Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/) > [If you don't like the idea that most of the money spent on lottery tickets supports government programs, you should know that most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/if-you-don-t-like-the-idea-that-most-of-the-money-spent-on-lottery/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) [Browse all 1,390 Retirement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retirement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire. 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