--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The return of my birthday, if I remember…" description: "\"The return of my birthday, if I remember it, fills me with thoughts which it seems to be the general care of humanity to escape.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/samuel-johnson-50_birthday_the-return-of-my-birthday-if-i-remember_1433603.png" --- # The return of my birthday, if I remember it, fills me with… ![“The return of my birthday, if I remember it, fills me with thoughts which it seems to be the general care of humanity to escape.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/samuel-johnson-50_birthday_the-return-of-my-birthday-if-i-remember_1433603.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/samuel-johnson-50_birthday_the-return-of-my-birthday-if-i-remember_1433603.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/samuel-johnson-50_birthday_the-return-of-my-birthday-if-i-remember_1433603.png) > “The return of my birthday, if I remember it, fills me with thoughts which it seems to be the general care of humanity to escape.” [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. He reflects that birthdays remind him of humanity’s tendency to avoid confronting deeper existential thoughts. **In simple terms:** Birthdays trigger thoughts about humanity’s escapism. Key Takeaway Use birthdays to confront deeper issues. Themes mortality reflection human nature Mood thoughtful contemplative Type philosophical introspective When to use this quote - personal anniversaries - public celebrations - philosophical discussions Key Concepts existentialism psychology social behavior Questions to Reflect On - What does your birthday reveal about your fears? - How can we balance celebration with reflection? A Different Perspective May overlook personal joy in favor of abstraction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) ## Related quotes > [It is remarkable how a man cannot summarize his thoughts in even the most general sort of way without betraying himself completely, without putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/it-is-remarkable-how-a-man-cannot-summarize-his-thoughts-in-even-the/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [“He fills my thoughts, my dreams, and my nightmares. The memory of him, and his touch, pound on the door to my soul with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-randall/he-fills-my-thoughts-my-dreams-and-my-nightmares-the-memory-of-him/) [Andrea Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-randall/) > [“The devil frequently fills our thoughts with great schemes, so that instead of putting our hands to what work we can do to serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santa-teresa-de-jes-s/the-devil-frequently-fills-our-thoughts-with-great-schemes-so-that/) [Santa Teresa de Jesús](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santa-teresa-de-jes-s/) > [Happy birthday to one of the few people whose birthday I can remember without a Facebook reminder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happy-birthday-to-one-of-the-few-people-whose-birthday-i-can-remember/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best way to remember your wife's birthday is to remember it once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-joseph-cossman-2/the-best-way-to-remember-your-wife-s-birthday-is-to-remember-it-once/) E Joseph Cossman > [Thank you for my birthday messages. It's definitely been a birthday to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thank-you-for-my-birthday-messages-it-s-definitely-been-a-birthday-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was never the kind to throw parties for my birthday. I remember how embarrassed I used to be when they'd make me cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hema-malini/i-was-never-the-kind-to-throw-parties-for-my-birthday-i-remember-how/) [Hema Malini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hema-malini/) > [“Believe in yourself and remember everything I told you,' she said. 'Remember your birthday. Remember some things I didn't even tell you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-arthur-brown/believe-in-yourself-and-remember-everything-i-told-you-she-said/) [G. Arthur Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-arthur-brown/) > [I may have forgotten your birthday, but at least I remember that I forgot your birthday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-may-have-forgotten-your-birthday-but-at-least-i-remember-that-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The task of an author is, either to teach what is not known, or to recommend known truths by his manner of adorning them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-task-of-an-author-is-either-to-teach-what-is-not-known-or-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Natales grate numeras? (Do you count your birthdays with gratitude?)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/natales-grate-numeras-do-you-count-your-birthdays-with-gratitude/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [Here is your third gift from Me once again..I had a fourth gift it was about me making a video telling you how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilbear/here-is-your-third-gift-from-me-once-again-i-had-a-fourth-gift-it-was/) [LilBear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilbear/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) ## 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 Birthday quotes > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [Here is your third gift from Me once again..I had a fourth gift it was about me making a video telling you how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilbear/here-is-your-third-gift-from-me-once-again-i-had-a-fourth-gift-it-was/) [LilBear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilbear/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [“Natales grate numeras? (Do you count your birthdays with gratitude?)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/natales-grate-numeras-do-you-count-your-birthdays-with-gratitude/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“Jarod Kintz Day—it’s not just my birthday, but it should be a holiday that’s mandatory to celebrate, punishable by death if you don’t. It’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/jarod-kintz-day-it-s-not-just-my-birthday-but-it-should-be-a-holiday/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [May Lord bless you abundantly because a sweetheart like you deserves the best! Have a glorious and memorable Birthday!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-lord-bless-you-abundantly-because-a-sweetheart-like-you-deserves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Happy Birthday To Me,I just turned twenty three(23),I want a new Puppy, And I'll name it Julie:) Chocolate cake anyone all I have leftover,,,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/happy-birthday-to-me-i-just-turned-twenty-three-23-i-want-a-new-puppy/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [If you're going to do a job, do it right. If you're going to throw a birthday party, make it amazing. If you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-john-liautaud/if-you-re-going-to-do-a-job-do-it-right-if-you-re-going-to-throw-a/) [Jimmy John Liautaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-john-liautaud/) > [On Father's Day, we again wish you all happy birthday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-kiner/on-father-s-day-we-again-wish-you-all-happy-birthday/) [Ralph Kiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-kiner/) > [I got Mary pregnant and man that's all she wrote. And for my 19th birthday, I got a union card and a factory coat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-got-mary-pregnant-and-man-that-s-all-she-wrote-and-for-my-19th/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [There's a vintage which comes with age and experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/there-s-a-vintage-which-comes-with-age-and-experience/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Every day we have a special reason to make a good celebration! And that reason is our very existence!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/every-day-we-have-a-special-reason-to-make-a-good-celebration-and/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 2,984 Birthday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The return of my birthday, if I remember it, fills me with thoughts which it seems to be the general care of humanity to escape.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-return-of-my-birthday-if-i-remember-it-fills-me-with-thoughts/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Birthday" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-return-of-my-birthday-if-i-remember-it-fills-me-with-thoughts/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/samuel-johnson-50_birthday_the-return-of-my-birthday-if-i-remember_1433603.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/samuel-johnson-50_birthday_the-return-of-my-birthday-if-i-remember_1433603.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/samuel-johnson-50_birthday_the-return-of-my-birthday-if-i-remember_1433603.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The return of my birthday, if I remember it, fills me with thoughts which it seems to be the general care of…” — 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": "The return of my birthday, if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-return-of-my-birthday-if-i-remember-it-fills-me-with-thoughts/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-return-of-my-birthday-if-i-remember-it-fills-me-with-thoughts/#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 } } ] } ```