General: Midlife & Beyond
Midway in life's journey, I found myself in a dark wood, having lost the way.
The Comedy of Dante Alighieri
The word “young” is not especially appealing or magical to me. I don’t know why we
should be afraid of having lived a long time. I take a great deal of satisfaction… in
reaching this point, and also in being aware of the fact that one of the benefits we
get is that we’re in a harvesting stage of our lives. We work all our lives to
accomplish certain things, and then we reach the point where we can actually do the
essential harvesting, and that is rewarding”.
Norman Cousins
Midlife is when you reach the top of the ladder and find that it was against the
wrong wall.
Joseph Campbell
Wholly unprepared, we embark upon the second half of life... we take the step into
the afternoon of life; worse still we take this step with the false assumption that
our truths and ideals will serve as before. But we cannot live the afternoon of life
according to the program of life's morning - for what was great in the morning will
be little at evening, and what in the morning was true will at evening have become a
lie.
Carl Jung
Transition
I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to
elevate his life by conscious endeavor.
Henry David Thoreau
The best way out is always through.
Robert Frost
Legacy
We are generative [we give to the next generation] with our craft, our care, our
hands, our genius – as parents, teachers, shepherds, guardians, guides, artists,
scientists, active citizens and much more…
John Kotre
One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.
Chinese Proverb
Purpose & Meaning
Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out
a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor
can his life be repeated, thus, everyone's task is unique as his specific opportunity
to implement it.
Viktor E. Frankl
Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is
whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning.
Joseph Campbell
Life is a promise. Fulfill it.
Mother Theresa
The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity
Leo Tolsty
The secret to success is focus of purpose.
Thomas Edison
We have the power to change things. It doesn’t take much to start a revolution of
thought and spirit. It takes one person and then another and then another…It’s a
responsibility and a chore. But when it works, it’s a work of art.
Lenny Zakim
Other
The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.
James Taylor
Education is the best provision for old age.
Aristotle
