--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Four things do not come back: the spoken…" description: "\"Four things do not come back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.\" — Ted Chiang" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/ted-chiang-11432_arrows_four-things-do-not-come-back-the-spoken_1490403.jpg" --- # Four things do not come back: the spoken word, the sped… ![“Four things do not come back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.” quote by Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/ted-chiang-11432_arrows_four-things-do-not-come-back-the-spoken_1490403.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/ted-chiang-11432_arrows_four-things-do-not-come-back-the-spoken_1490403.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/ted-chiang-11432_arrows_four-things-do-not-come-back-the-spoken_1490403.jpg) > “Four things do not come back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.” [Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words spoken, arrows launched, past lives, and missed chances cannot be reclaimed, highlighting the permanence of actions and regrets. **In simple terms:** Some things, once done, cannot be undone. Key Takeaway Act with care and seize opportunities. Themes responsibility time regret Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - career decisions - legal matters - health choices Key Concepts impermanence consequence choice Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize actions knowing they’re irreversible? - What opportunities are you neglecting now? A Different Perspective Even small actions can have lasting impact, making foresight difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-life/) [Sped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sped/) [Spoken word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoken-word/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Four things come not back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiki-flinthart/four-things-come-not-back-the-spoken-word-the-sped-arrow-the-past/) [Aiki Flinthart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiki-flinthart/) > [In my early 40s I started to feel that I had neglected the spiritual side of my life. It had always been there, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/in-my-early-40s-i-started-to-feel-that-i-had-neglected-the-spiritual/) [Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/) > [Sometimes we dont realize just how we neglected the opportunity when it knocked the door.. Were caught up in our own world and neglect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/sometimes-we-dont-realize-just-how-we-neglected-the-opportunity-when/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Regret of neglected opportunity is the worst hell that a living soul can inhabit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/regret-of-neglected-opportunity-is-the-worst-hell-that-a-living-soul/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [Our priorities are most visible in how we use our time. 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This rampant dragon, on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-bronson-alcott/science-has-grown-frightfully-audacious-in-these-days-swift-footed/) [Amos Bronson Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-bronson-alcott/) > [the fire seven times tried this; seven times tried that judgement is that did never choose amiss some there be that shadows kiss; such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-fire-seven-times-tried-this-seven-times-tried-that-judgement-is/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The moving light, rejoicing in its strength, Sped from the pyre of pine, and urged its way, In golden glory, like some strange new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-moving-light-rejoicing-in-its-strength-sped-from-the-pyre-of-pine/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [ Digital \[photography\] has sped up the process to a point that it's a bit self-destructive. 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Every physical event was an utterance that could be parsed in two entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/the-physical-universe-was-a-language-with-a-perfectly-ambiguous/) [Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/) > [Women who work with animals hear this all the time: that their love for animals must arise out of a sublimated child-rearing urge. Ana's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/women-who-work-with-animals-hear-this-all-the-time-that-their-love/) [Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/) > [Contemplate the marvel that is existence, and rejoice that you are able to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/contemplate-the-marvel-that-is-existence-and-rejoice-that-you-are/) [Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/) > [“Perhaps men were not meant to live in such a place. 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Like the time you’ll be playing with the neighbor’s puppy, poking your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/and-then-there-will-be-the-times-when-i-see-you-laughing-like-the/) [Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/) > [“When Arecibo is not listening to anything else, it hears the voice of creation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/when-arecibo-is-not-listening-to-anything-else-it-hears-the-voice-of/) [Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/) > [Similarly, knowledge of the future was incompatible with free will. 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By this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/yet-through-their-endeavor-men-would-glimpse-the-unimaginable/) [Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/) > [Brain damage is never a good idea, no matter what your friends say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/brain-damage-is-never-a-good-idea-no-matter-what-your-friends-say/) [Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/) > [“I would have liked to experience more of the heptapods' worldview, to feel the way they feel. Then, perhaps I could immerse myself fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/i-would-have-liked-to-experience-more-of-the-heptapods-worldview-to/) [Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/) > [“Branches are generated by any quantum event, right? 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To the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/with-the-arrival-of-electric-technology-man-has-extended-or-set/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Pure essence, and pure matter, and the two joined into one were shot forth without flaw, like three bright arrows from a three-string bow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/pure-essence-and-pure-matter-and-the-two-joined-into-one-were-shot/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [I did archery when I was in high school. In our gym class we had two weeks of archery, and I remember taking the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/i-did-archery-when-i-was-in-high-school-in-our-gym-class-we-had-two/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [Game of Thrones. I'm all about it. I watch Arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-r-mcqueen/game-of-thrones-i-m-all-about-it-i-watch-arrow/) [Steven R. McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-r-mcqueen/) > [I have shot mine arrow o'er the house And hurt my brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-have-shot-mine-arrow-o-er-the-house-and-hurt-my-brother/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I had a map on my wall that had a circle around Lubbock and then giant arrows pointing toward New York City and Los…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-corbin/i-had-a-map-on-my-wall-that-had-a-circle-around-lubbock-and-then/) [Barry Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-corbin/) > [An arrow may fly through the air and leave no trace; but an ill thought leaves a trail like a serpent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/an-arrow-may-fly-through-the-air-and-leave-no-trace-but-an-ill/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high... Hooray for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-corey/if-you-shoot-an-arrow-and-it-goes-real-high-hooray-for-you/) [Dorian Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-corey/) > [Our present time is indeed a criticizing and critical time, hovering between the wish, and the inability to believe. Our complaints are like arrows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-temple/our-present-time-is-indeed-a-criticizing-and-critical-time-hovering/) [William Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-temple/) > [You took a poison arrow and you aimed it at my heart. It's heavy and it's bitter, and it's tearing me apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/you-took-a-poison-arrow-and-you-aimed-it-at-my-heart-it-s-heavy-and/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [How long the thick dark clouds can prevent the truth from shining? The truth is an arrow that can pass through any shield!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/how-long-the-thick-dark-clouds-can-prevent-the-truth-from-shining-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Vasic said the words on Aden’s tongue. “The Arrows expect mercy from no one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/vasic-said-the-words-on-aden-s-tongue-the-arrows-expect-mercy-from-no/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [Follow your arrow / Wherever it points,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/follow-your-arrow-wherever-it-points/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [If the errors of my life have profited me one great truth it is this: believe. Believe in your destiny and the star from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/if-the-errors-of-my-life-have-profited-me-one-great-truth-it-is-this/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Philosophy alone makes the mind invincible, and places us out of the reach of fortune, so that all her arrows fall short of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/philosophy-alone-makes-the-mind-invincible-and-places-us-out-of-the/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) Browse all 481 Arrows quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Four things do not come back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ted Chiang" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/four-things-do-not-come-back-the-spoken-word-the-sped-arrow-the-past/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arrows" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/four-things-do-not-come-back-the-spoken-word-the-sped-arrow-the-past/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/ted-chiang-11432_arrows_four-things-do-not-come-back-the-spoken_1490403.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/ted-chiang-11432_arrows_four-things-do-not-come-back-the-spoken_1490403.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/ted-chiang-11432_arrows_four-things-do-not-come-back-the-spoken_1490403.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Four things do not come back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.” — Ted Chiang", "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": "Ted Chiang", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Four things do not come back:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/four-things-do-not-come-back-the-spoken-word-the-sped-arrow-the-past/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/four-things-do-not-come-back-the-spoken-word-the-sped-arrow-the-past/#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 } } ] } ```