---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was young, times were hard. When I…"
description: "\"When I was young, times were hard. When I got older it was worse.\" — Warren Zevon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/warren-zevon-7349_funny_when-i-was-young-times-were-hard-when-i_1301048.png"
---

#  When I was young, times were hard. When I got older it was…

![“When I was young, times were hard. When I got older it was worse.” quote by Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/warren-zevon-7349_funny_when-i-was-young-times-were-hard-when-i_1301048.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/warren-zevon-7349_funny_when-i-was-young-times-were-hard-when-i_1301048.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/warren-zevon-7349_funny_when-i-was-young-times-were-hard-when-i_1301048.png)

> “When I was young, times were hard. When I got older it was worse.”

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life often feels harder as we age, reflecting growing challenges and perhaps deeper dissatisfaction over time.

**In simple terms:** Things seem to get tougher as you get older.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address the roots of growing hardship.

Themes

aging hardship discontent

Mood

reflective somber

Type

personal observational

When to use this quote

- mid‑life crisis
- career stagnation
- health decline
- relationship strain

Key Concepts

existential angst life cycle resilience

Questions to Reflect On

- What specific aspects of life feel worse now?
- How can you mitigate worsening challenges?

A Different Perspective

Not all hardships increase; some improve with age.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [I used to swallow people's energies, and then I learned, as I got older, that I'm too sensitive, and I had to stop doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/i-used-to-swallow-people-s-energies-and-then-i-learned-as-i-got-older/)

[Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/)

> [I've become much fitter as I've got older, funnily enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-james/i-ve-become-much-fitter-as-i-ve-got-older-funnily-enough/)

[Geraldine James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-james/)

> [As I've got older, I've got slightly more fussy. You've got less time; you need to use it wisely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-peake/as-i-ve-got-older-i-ve-got-slightly-more-fussy-you-ve-got-less-time/)

[Maxine Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-peake/)

> [As I got older, I guess I became more mellow and more forgiving and more loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/as-i-got-older-i-guess-i-became-more-mellow-and-more-forgiving-and/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [These times are hard. Yeah, they're making us crazy. Don't give up on me baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/these-times-are-hard-yeah-they-re-making-us-crazy-don-t-give-up-on-me/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Real strength is being able to carry on when times are hard,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miep-gies/real-strength-is-being-able-to-carry-on-when-times-are-hard/)

[Miep Gies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miep-gies/)

> [Times were very hard if you were a poor, politically correct Jewish girl living in the east end of London during the Blitz and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-grant/times-were-very-hard-if-you-were-a-poor-politically-correct-jewish/)

[Linda Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-grant/)

> [“These times are hard, and so is my penis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/these-times-are-hard-and-so-is-my-penis/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [These times are so hard, and they're getting even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/these-times-are-so-hard-and-they-re-getting-even-harder/)

[Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/)

> [Can anybody remember when the times were not hard and money not scarce?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/can-anybody-remember-when-the-times-were-not-hard-and-money-not-scarce/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [“These times are so hard, are they're getting even harder. ~ Eminem”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/these-times-are-so-hard-are-they-re-getting-even-harder-eminem/)

[Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/)

> [“When you look back on your life there are always times that you remember as the hard times, even if they're the hard times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/when-you-look-back-on-your-life-there-are-always-times-that-you/)

[Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/)

> [Relationships don't last because of the good times, they last because the hard times were handled with love and care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anmol-andore/relationships-don-t-last-because-of-the-good-times-they-last-because/)

[Anmol Andore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anmol-andore/)

> [This business can be so fickle, and a lot of times, hard work isn't enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-rothe/this-business-can-be-so-fickle-and-a-lot-of-times-hard-work-isn-t/)

[Jessica Rothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-rothe/)

> [These times are hard, but they will pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/these-times-are-hard-but-they-will-pass/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Warren Zevon

> [At least I've had one foot in a very normal kind of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/at-least-i-ve-had-one-foot-in-a-very-normal-kind-of-life/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [I wish I sang better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-wish-i-sang-better/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [I don't like piano solos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-don-t-like-piano-solos/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [“Cachet — isn’t that like panache, but sitting down?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/cachet-isn-t-that-like-panache-but-sitting-down/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [I saw a Werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-saw-a-werewolf-with-a-chinese-menu-in-his-hand/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [I'm not a big jazz fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-m-not-a-big-jazz-fan/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [I'd like to go back to Paris someday and visit the Lourve museum, get a good running start, and hurl myself at the wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-d-like-to-go-back-to-paris-someday-and-visit-the-lourve-museum-get/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [But I can't say that I didn't like John Hammond's performances often better than the originals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/but-i-can-t-say-that-i-didn-t-like-john-hammond-s-performances-often/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [I don't learn so good, no matter how good the teacher is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-don-t-learn-so-good-no-matter-how-good-the-teacher-is/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [Well, first of all, let me say that I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/well-first-of-all-let-me-say-that-i-might-have-made-a-tactical-error/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [I don't get depressed and I don't get bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-don-t-get-depressed-and-i-don-t-get-bored/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [ “We love to buy books because we believe we're buying the time to read them. \[ Inside Out (VH1)\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/we-love-to-buy-books-because-we-believe-we-re-buying-the-time-to-read/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [My first album is like a terrible John Hammond album, with drums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/my-first-album-is-like-a-terrible-john-hammond-album-with-drums/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [Speaking as one who has abused privilege a long time, I tell you, it's great to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege-a-long-time-i-tell-you-it-s/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [Little old lady got mutilated late last night, werewolves of London, again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/little-old-lady-got-mutilated-late-last-night-werewolves-of-london/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

[Explore all 92 Warren Zevon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

## More Funny quotes

> [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/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. 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/)

> [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/)

> [Sometimes I look at my awesome twitter followers &amp; think to myself, What the hell would I do without them :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-i-look-at-my-awesome-twitter-followers-think-to-myself-what/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/)

[Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/)

> [Congratulations to Facebook on going public with all my private information...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-facebook-on-going-public-with-all-my-private/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Why are things as they are and not otherwise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/why-are-things-as-they-are-and-not-otherwise/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/)

[Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/)

> [Penis goes in , sperms cums out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/penis-goes-in-sperms-cums-out/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/)

[Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

Pancho Barnes

> [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/)

[Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/)

> [Don't think OF the market. Think AS the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fishman/don-t-think-of-the-market-think-as-the-market/)

Michael Fishman

[Browse all 39,858 Funny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I was young, times were hard. When I got older it was worse.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Warren Zevon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/when-i-was-young-times-were-hard-when-i-got-older-it-was-worse/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Funny"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/when-i-was-young-times-were-hard-when-i-got-older-it-was-worse/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/warren-zevon-7349_funny_when-i-was-young-times-were-hard-when-i_1301048.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/warren-zevon-7349_funny_when-i-was-young-times-were-hard-when-i_1301048.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/warren-zevon-7349_funny_when-i-was-young-times-were-hard-when-i_1301048.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I was young, times were hard. When I got older it was worse.” — Warren Zevon",
                "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": "Warren Zevon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I was young, times were...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/when-i-was-young-times-were-hard-when-i-got-older-it-was-worse/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/when-i-was-young-times-were-hard-when-i-got-older-it-was-worse/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
