--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Exert your talents, and distinguish…" description: "\"Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/samuel-johnson-50_inspirational_exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yours_874705.png" --- # Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't… ![“Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/samuel-johnson-50_inspirational_exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yours_874705.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/samuel-johnson-50_inspirational_exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yours_874705.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/samuel-johnson-50_inspirational_exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yours_874705.png) > “Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.” [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. Urges continual contribution and impact, warning that premature retirement will be regretted by the world. **In simple terms:** Keep contributing, avoid early retirement. Key Takeaway Stay active and valuable. Themes career longevity legacy purpose contribution Mood motivational serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career counseling - retirement planning - motivational speaking - personal memoirs Key Concepts existential purpose work ethic Questions to Reflect On - When is it right to retire? - How do you measure your impact? A Different Perspective May ignore personal health or burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exert Talents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exert-talents-988332/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retire/) [Retiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retiring/) [Retiring World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retiring-world-988333/) [Self development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-development/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Think Retiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-retiring-724234/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/don-t-think-of-retiring-from-the-world-until-the-world-will-be-sorry/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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. 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You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/when-i-retire-i-want-to-step-away-on-a-positive-note-what-you-put-out/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [I always joke and say I want to invent a comfortable stiletto and then retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-blakely/i-always-joke-and-say-i-want-to-invent-a-comfortable-stiletto-and/) [Sara Blakely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-blakely/) ## 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 Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. 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It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yourself-and-don-t-think-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yourself-and-don-t-think-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/samuel-johnson-50_inspirational_exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yours_874705.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/samuel-johnson-50_inspirational_exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yours_874705.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/samuel-johnson-50_inspirational_exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yours_874705.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world…” — Samuel Johnson", "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": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yourself-and-don-t-think-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/exert-your-talents-and-distinguish-yourself-and-don-t-think-of/#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 } } ] } ```