--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I were retired I wouldn't know what to…" description: "\"If I were retired I wouldn't know what to do because I'd have to think, well, now what is it I want to do? And what I want to do is what I'm doing. I e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/stan-lee-1586_be-good_if-i-were-retired-i-wouldn-t-know-what-t_1222915.jpg" --- # If I were retired I wouldn't know what to do because I'd… ![“If I were retired I wouldn't know what to do because I'd have to think, well, now what is it I want to do? And what I want to do is what I'm doing. I enjoy coming up with new ideas, which if I'm lucky they might be good ideas. I enjoy seeing them take shape. And I'm having fun doing it. So I…” quote by Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/stan-lee-1586_be-good_if-i-were-retired-i-wouldn-t-know-what-t_1222915.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/stan-lee-1586_be-good_if-i-were-retired-i-wouldn-t-know-what-t_1222915.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/stan-lee-1586_be-good_if-i-were-retired-i-wouldn-t-know-what-t_1222915.jpg) > “If I were retired I wouldn't know what to do because I'd have to think, well, now what is it I want to do? And what I want to do is what I'm doing. I enjoy coming up with new ideas, which if I'm lucky they might be good ideas. I enjoy seeing them take shape. And I'm having fun doing it. So I wouldn't know why I'd want to retire.” [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Retirement feels unnecessary when one's passion and work are indistinguishable; the joy of creating ideas makes work feel like play. **In simple terms:** He loves his work so much he wouldn't retire. Key Takeaway Pursue work that feels like a hobby. Themes creativity purpose career joy retirement Mood inspirational energetic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - creative industries - personal fulfillment - career planning Key Concepts self‑actualization flow state Questions to Reflect On - What activities make you lose track of time? - How can you balance passion with rest? A Different Perspective Passion can blur work‑life boundaries, leading to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Having fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-fun/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [New ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-ideas/) [Retirement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retirement/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I have no interest in being a reliever. It's not to say I wouldn't do it at some point, but I would have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-bauer/i-have-no-interest-in-being-a-reliever-it-s-not-to-say-i-wouldn-t-do/) [Trevor Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-bauer/) > [When I retired, at that time I had a lot of proposals to play in Europe, England, Italy, Spain, Mexico. But I said no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/when-i-retired-at-that-time-i-had-a-lot-of-proposals-to-play-in/) [Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [I want to retire how I want to retire - and I have a great opportunity to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-want-to-retire-how-i-want-to-retire-and-i-have-a-great-opportunity/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [MVP is something I don't want to retire without winning one. It would be like a dream come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-correa/mvp-is-something-i-don-t-want-to-retire-without-winning-one-it-would/) [Carlos Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-correa/) > [I don't know how many years I can play, but I want to retire as a Shark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-don-t-know-how-many-years-i-can-play-but-i-want-to-retire-as-a-shark/) [Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/) > [I definitely want to retire and do some FOX analysis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stephens/i-definitely-want-to-retire-and-do-some-fox-analysis/) [Jeremy Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stephens/) > [If you want to retire young and retire rich, it is very important that your money be like a bird dog, going out every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/if-you-want-to-retire-young-and-retire-rich-it-is-very-important-that/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [I want retire at 45 and have a 24-year-career. I feel I can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-want-retire-at-45-and-have-a-24-year-career-i-feel-i-can-do-it/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [I want to retire very early, by the time I am 40, and go to live in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-mensch/i-want-to-retire-very-early-by-the-time-i-am-40-and-go-to-live-in/) [Louise Mensch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-mensch/) > [Retirement is not a dirty word, I am just enjoying what I am doing. If they want me to retire, then stop asking me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/retirement-is-not-a-dirty-word-i-am-just-enjoying-what-i-am-doing-if/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I didn't want to retire in the first place. My wife said she didn't want me to fight anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-didn-t-want-to-retire-in-the-first-place-my-wife-said-she-didn-t/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [I didn't want to retire in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-didn-t-want-to-retire-in-the-first-place/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [I don't want to retire, because you stay retired for an awfully long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/i-don-t-want-to-retire-because-you-stay-retired-for-an-awfully-long/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [I don't want to retire before the tournament starts for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garbine-muguruza/i-don-t-want-to-retire-before-the-tournament-starts-for-me/) [Garbine Muguruza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garbine-muguruza/) > [The question isn't at what age I want to retire, it's at what income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/the-question-isn-t-at-what-age-i-want-to-retire-it-s-at-what-income/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) ## More by Stan Lee > [I think the way you become a good storyteller is to read a lot of stories and evaluate them in your own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-think-the-way-you-become-a-good-storyteller-is-to-read-a-lot-of/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I enjoy the fact that we have these mobile comics now, which are sort of a cross between a comic book and an animated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-enjoy-the-fact-that-we-have-these-mobile-comics-now-which-are-sort/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [To tell you the truth, I never thought of myself as much of a success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/to-tell-you-the-truth-i-never-thought-of-myself-as-much-of-a-success/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I am so impressed with people who can really make a big movie, a good movie. The amount of work that goes into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-am-so-impressed-with-people-who-can-really-make-a-big-movie-a-good/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [MARVEL IS A CORNUCOPIA OF FANTASY, A WILD IDEA , A SWASHBUCKLING ATTITUDE , AN ESCAPE FROM THE HUMDRUM AND PROSAIC. IT'S A SERENDIPITOUS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/marvel-is-a-cornucopia-of-fantasy-a-wild-idea-a-swashbuckling/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [Your humans slaughter each other because of the color of your skin, or your faith or your plitics -- or for no reason at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/your-humans-slaughter-each-other-because-of-the-color-of-your-skin-or/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [That's what everybody tells me. "I would've had a great comic-book collection, but my mother made me throw them away." But when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/that-s-what-everybody-tells-me-i-would-ve-had-a-great-comic-book/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I have always tried to have a message, not to be a preacher, but a message that shows it's better to be a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-have-always-tried-to-have-a-message-not-to-be-a-preacher-but-a/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [ I was in the beginning when \[comic book superheroes\] started, but not anymore. Now I expect it. I've gotten very used to it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-was-in-the-beginning-when-comic-book-superheroes-started-but-not/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I always felt the 'X-Men,' in a subtle way, often touched upon the subject of racism and inequality, and I believe that subject has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-always-felt-the-x-men-in-a-subtle-way-often-touched-upon-the/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [Every kid loves fairy tales, stories of witches and giants and magicians. Then, when you get a little older you can't read fairy tales…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/every-kid-loves-fairy-tales-stories-of-witches-and-giants-and/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [Wherever we find news, excitement, mystery and adventure, there, too, we find the newspaper reporter. Always on the alert for something new, ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/wherever-we-find-news-excitement-mystery-and-adventure-there-too-we/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I hated teenagers in comics because they were always sidekicks. And I always felt if I were a superhero, there's no way I'd pal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-hated-teenagers-in-comics-because-they-were-always-sidekicks-and-i/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [The experience of reading a printed comic book will never change, but now, thanks to the digital age, there are many different ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/the-experience-of-reading-a-printed-comic-book-will-never-change-but/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I'm just somebody who tries to write things that entertain people. And if I can do it in a way that makes them prefer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-m-just-somebody-who-tries-to-write-things-that-entertain-people-and/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) [Explore all 224 Stan Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) ## More Be good quotes > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Peace is the result of love, and if love were easy we'd all be good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/peace-is-the-result-of-love-and-if-love-were-easy-we-d-all-be-good-at/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/most-of-us-want-to-live-in-harmony-and-peace-and-be-good-to-others/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-ve-never-had-any-desire-to-be-good-i-don-t-like-goodness/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [To become a classical ballerina, you have to move to New York when you're 12 or 11 and that becomes your life. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/to-become-a-classical-ballerina-you-have-to-move-to-new-york-when-you/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [The producers felt that 24 would be good for the audience, to really get to know who these 12 and 12 are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-abdul/the-producers-felt-that-24-would-be-good-for-the-audience-to-really/) [Paula Abdul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-abdul/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-arden/everybody-wants-to-be-good-but-not-many-are-prepared-to-make-the/) [Paul Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-arden/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The difference in being good at some thing and being great at something is usually found in the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-anderson/the-difference-in-being-good-at-some-thing-and-being-great-at/) Randy Anderson > [It doesn't matter if your lead character is good or bad. 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Why do you suppose His world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/living-in-the-middle-of-beauty-like-this-we-ve-no-call-to-have-puny/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) Browse all 1,747 Be good quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I were retired I wouldn't know what to do because I'd have to think, well, now what is it I want to do? And what I want to do is what I'm doing. I enjoy coming up with new ideas, which if I'm lucky they might be good ideas. I enjoy seeing them take shape. And I'm having fun doing it. 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