--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Philip realised that they had done with…" description: "\"“Philip realised that they had done with life, these two quiet little people: they belonged to a past generation, and they were waiting there patiently..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/william-somerset-maugham-8684_adventure_philip-realised-that-they-had-done-with_700679.jpg" --- # Philip realised that they had done with life, these two… ![“Philip realised that they had done with life, these two quiet little people: they belonged to a past generation, and they were waiting there patiently, rather stupidly, for death; and he, in his vigour and his youth, thirsting for excitement and adventure, was appalled at the waste. They had done…” quote by William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/william-somerset-maugham-8684_adventure_philip-realised-that-they-had-done-with_700679.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/william-somerset-maugham-8684_adventure_philip-realised-that-they-had-done-with_700679.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/william-somerset-maugham-8684_adventure_philip-realised-that-they-had-done-with_700679.jpg) > ““Philip realised that they had done with life, these two quiet little people: they belonged to a past generation, and they were waiting there patiently, rather stupidly, for death; and he, in his vigour and his youth, thirsting for excitement and adventure, was appalled at the waste. They had done nothing, and when they went it would be just as if they had never been. He felt a great pity for Aunt Louisa, and he loved her suddenly because she loved him.”” [William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-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. The narrator contrasts youthful vigor and desire for adventure with older, passive lives, feeling pity for those who never fulfill potential. **In simple terms:** Youth seeks excitement; older people seem wasted. Key Takeaway Value purpose over mere existence. Themes life purpose generational contrast regret Mood contemplative melancholic thoughtful Type novel philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - family responsibilities - personal fulfillment Key Concepts existentialism meaning mortality Questions to Reflect On - What defines a life well lived? - How can we honor different life paths? A Different Perspective Older generations may find meaning in quiet ways. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Aunt Louisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aunt-louisa-5547663/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Little people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-people/) [Louisa Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/louisa-loved-5547664/) [Philip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philip/) [Philip Realised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philip-realised-5547662/) [Pity Aunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-aunt-5547665/) ## Related quotes > [“Philip was on friendly terms with the little Chinaman who sat at table with him twice each day. His name was Sung. 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"I'll let that pass,"he decided.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/what-do-you-want-his-brow-lifted-at-that-and-he-took-a-long-leisurely/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [The quantum death of Philip Seymour Hoffman. 24 hours before he was "officially" declared dead it was announced on the internet that he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/the-quantum-death-of-philip-seymour-hoffman-24-hours-before-he-was/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [Reality, by itself, becomes a story by Philip K. Dick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/reality-by-itself-becomes-a-story-by-philip-k-dick/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [It's unthinkable not to love -you'd have a severe nervous breakdown. 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They are: 1) tyranny or oppression, of which history provides so many well-known examples that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/misgovernment-is-of-four-kinds-often-in-combination-they-are-1/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“The King’s blond hair, bound by a silver coronet, fell down to his shoulders to frame a white face, narrow eyes, a beak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-doherty/the-king-s-blond-hair-bound-by-a-silver-coronet-fell-down-to-his/) [Paul Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-doherty/) > [I'm more interested than Philip Roth in understanding women, even if I do it imperfectly. 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It’s asking a great deal that things should appeal to your reason as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-somerset-maugham/if-they-re-beautiful-i-don-t-much-mind-if-they-re-not-true-it-s/) [William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-somerset-maugham/) [Explore all 74 William Somerset Maugham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-somerset-maugham/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. 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Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. 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