--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most valuable thing I have learned…" description: "\"The most valuable thing I have learned from life is to regret nothing.\" — W. Somerset Maugham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e70/w-somerset-maugham-237_i-have-learned_the-most-valuable-thing-i-have-learned-f_2522263.jpg" --- # The most valuable thing I have learned from life is to… ![“The most valuable thing I have learned from life is to regret nothing.” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e70/w-somerset-maugham-237_i-have-learned_the-most-valuable-thing-i-have-learned-f_2522263.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e70/w-somerset-maugham-237_i-have-learned_the-most-valuable-thing-i-have-learned-f_2522263.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e70/w-somerset-maugham-237_i-have-learned_the-most-valuable-thing-i-have-learned-f_2522263.jpg) > “The most valuable thing I have learned from life is to regret nothing.” [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life's lesson: accept all outcomes without lingering remorse. **In simple terms:** Live without regrets. Key Takeaway Embrace each moment fully. Themes acceptance life lessons mindfulness Mood reflective calm Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - relationship decisions - career changes - daily choices Key Concepts Stoicism existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What would you do differently if regret vanished? - How does acceptance affect future decisions? A Different Perspective Regret can hinder learning from mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-regret/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regret nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret-nothing/) [Valuable things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable-things/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Love is a rare and valuable thing, and you don't get to choose its object. You just go around getting hung up on all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/love-is-a-rare-and-valuable-thing-and-you-don-t-get-to-choose-its/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [Striving for social justice is the most valuable thing to do in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/striving-for-social-justice-is-the-most-valuable-thing-to-do-in-life/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Once you've lost your privacy, you realize you've lost an extremely valuable thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/once-you-ve-lost-your-privacy-you-realize-you-ve-lost-an-extremely/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The ability to share whole scenes form our lives will be a valuable thing over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/the-ability-to-share-whole-scenes-form-our-lives-will-be-a-valuable/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [Perhaps the most valuable thing he taught me (his father) was that there is no contradiction between devotion to work and enjoyment of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-h-zewail/perhaps-the-most-valuable-thing-he-taught-me-his-father-was-that/) [Ahmed H. Zewail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-h-zewail/) > [I always have said that the most valuable thing I have isn't money; it's my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-paul/i-always-have-said-that-the-most-valuable-thing-i-have-isn-t-money-it/) [Chris Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-paul/) > [Time is the most valuable thing you have - and I'm not just talking about the minutes for which you're paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/time-is-the-most-valuable-thing-you-have-and-i-m-not-just-talking/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [I have found the most valuable thing in my wallet is my library card.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bush/i-have-found-the-most-valuable-thing-in-my-wallet-is-my-library-card/) [Laura Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bush/) > [The Word of God is a treasure map. That treasure map is the most valuable thing you have until you get to that treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ludy/the-word-of-god-is-a-treasure-map-that-treasure-map-is-the-most/) [Eric Ludy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ludy/) > [When you are on assignment, film is the least expensive thing in a very practical sense. Your time, the person's time, turns out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/when-you-are-on-assignment-film-is-the-least-expensive-thing-in-a/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [Experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/experience-is-often-the-most-valuable-thing-you-have-to-offer/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [The free exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-free-exploring-mind-of-the-individual-human-is-the-most-valuable/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I can't say when you'll get love or how you'll find it or even promise you that you will. I can only say you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/i-can-t-say-when-you-ll-get-love-or-how-you-ll-find-it-or-even/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [Next to love friendship, in my opinion, is the most valuable thing life has to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/next-to-love-friendship-in-my-opinion-is-the-most-valuable-thing-life/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Your individuality is the most valuable thing you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/your-individuality-is-the-most-valuable-thing-you-have/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) ## More by W. Somerset Maugham > [“A man thinks it quite natural that he should fall out of love with a woman, but it never strikes him for a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-thinks-it-quite-natural-that-he-should-fall-out-of-love-with-a/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A man's work reveals him. In social intercourse he gives you the surface that he wishes the world to accept, but in his book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-s-work-reveals-him-in-social-intercourse-he-gives-you-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/love-is-only-a-dirty-trick-played-on-us-to-achieve-continuation-of/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The world is hard and cruel. We are here none knows why, and we go none knows whither. We must be very humble. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-world-is-hard-and-cruel-we-are-here-none-knows-why-and-we-go-none/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“There is no more merit in having read a thousand books than in having ploughed a thousand fields.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/there-is-no-more-merit-in-having-read-a-thousand-books-than-in-having/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“I wanted to live again and again. I was willing to accept every sort of life, no matter what its pain and sorrow; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-wanted-to-live-again-and-again-i-was-willing-to-accept-every-sort/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [In Hollywood, the women are all peaches. It makes one long for an apple occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-hollywood-the-women-are-all-peaches-it-makes-one-long-for-an-apple/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/follow-your-inclinations-with-due-regard-to-the-policeman-round-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“His love became a prison from which he longed to escape, but he had not the strength merely to open the door-that was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/his-love-became-a-prison-from-which-he-longed-to-escape-but-he-had/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I did not believe him capable of love. That is an emotion in which tenderness is an essential part, but Strickland had no tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-did-not-believe-him-capable-of-love-that-is-an-emotion-in-which/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [If only the good were a little less heavy-footed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/if-only-the-good-were-a-little-less-heavy-footed/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/perfection-has-one-grave-defect-it-is-apt-to-be-dull/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A God that can be understood is no God. Who can explain the Infinite in words?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-god-that-can-be-understood-is-no-god-who-can-explain-the-infinite/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“My dear, you used to be quite a dish; now you're quite a tureen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/my-dear-you-used-to-be-quite-a-dish-now-you-re-quite-a-tureen/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“When people say they do not care what others thing of them, for the most part they deceive themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/when-people-say-they-do-not-care-what-others-thing-of-them-for-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) [Explore all 840 W. Somerset Maugham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## More I have learned quotes > [I have learned so much from my dad. Perhaps the biggest thing I've learned from my dad is how to be prepared at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/i-have-learned-so-much-from-my-dad-perhaps-the-biggest-thing-i-ve/) [Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/) > [Belief isn't always easy. But this much I have learned--- if not enough else--- to live with my eyes open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/belief-isn-t-always-easy-but-this-much-i-have-learned-if-not-enough/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [I have learned that only two things are necessary to keep one's wife happy. First, let her think she's having her own way. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-have-learned-that-only-two-things-are-necessary-to-keep-one-s-wife/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I have learned from all of my coaches, and I am sure I will learn a lot with Guardiola.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xabi-alonso/i-have-learned-from-all-of-my-coaches-and-i-am-sure-i-will-learn-a/) [Xabi Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xabi-alonso/) > [I have learned that one should say "Peace!" to those who shout their hatred for one's being and presence or at one's passage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/i-have-learned-that-one-should-say-peace-to-those-who-shout-their/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I have learned over the years that you should never save for two meetings what you can accomplish in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-have-learned-over-the-years-that-you-should-never-save-for-two/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-washington/i-am-still-determined-to-be-cheerful-and-happy-in-whatever-situation/) [Martha Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-washington/) > [I have learned that trying to guess what the boss or the client wants is the most debilitating of all influences in the creation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-burnett/i-have-learned-that-trying-to-guess-what-the-boss-or-the-client-wants/) [Leo Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-burnett/) > [I have learned from my mistakes and become older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/i-have-learned-from-my-mistakes-and-become-older/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [I have learned a lot over the years. I have learned how best to use my attributes. That comes with a bit of knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-murray/i-have-learned-a-lot-over-the-years-i-have-learned-how-best-to-use-my/) [Glenn Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-murray/) > [Through my work with PETA, I have learned a great deal about chimpanzee behavior and the plight of chimpanzees imprisoned in laboratories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/through-my-work-with-peta-i-have-learned-a-great-deal-about/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The steadily inward look leads us all to death, nations as well as persons, and is equally infantile in them all. Perhaps the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-wilson/the-steadily-inward-look-leads-us-all-to-death-nations-as-well-as/) [Margery Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-wilson/) > [I have no memory for things I have learned, nor things I have read, nor things experienced or heard, neither for people nor events;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/i-have-no-memory-for-things-i-have-learned-nor-things-i-have-read-nor/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-tell-a-lot-about-a-person-by-the-way-he-she/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [ I have learned more \[from Balzac\] than from all the professional historians, economists, and statisticians put together. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-engels/i-have-learned-more-from-balzac-than-from-all-the-professional/) [Friedrich Engels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-engels/) Browse all 761 I have learned quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most valuable thing I have learned from life is to regret nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. 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