“You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth.”

— H.L. Mencken

Last update June 3, 2021. History

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H.L. Mencken 281

American journalist and writer 1880–1956

Jenny Colgan (1972) British writer

Source: The Little Shop of Happy Ever After

“Government can't do anything for you except in proportion as it can do something to you.”

William F. Buckley Jr. (1925–2008) American conservative author and commentator

As quoted in "Broken Government: Where the right went wrong," CNN (2006-11-03).

“If you care about what you do and work hard at it, there isn't anything you can't do if you want to.”

Jim Henson (1936–1990) American puppeteer

Source: It's Not Easy Being Green: And Other Things to Consider

“Life is about growth and change. When you are no longer doing that — that is your whisper; that is your whisper that you are supposed to do something else.”

Oprah Winfrey (1954) American businesswoman, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist

“I have this kind of philosophy that I can't do anything about what happened yesterday, or what's going to happen tomorrow. But I feel in full control of what's going on now. I think worry will make you sick. I've never seen it accomplish anything. I've never seen worrying about anything change it. So I decided not to do it. If you can't do anything about it, why in the hell worry about it? Every negative thought you have releases poison into your system, and will kill you or give you cancer, or tumors or whatever else you can think of. So if you are thinking negative about anything, erase that.”

Willie Nelson (1933) American country music singer-songwriter.

Willie Nelson On Eggs, Martial Arts & Living A Life Without Worry, Southern Living, Lifestyle Network, January 2017, February 22, 2017 http://www.southernliving.com/culture/celebrities/willie-nelson-interview-video,

“The length of your education is less important than its breadth, and the length of your life is less important than its depth.”

Marilyn vos Savant (1946) US American magazine columnist, author and lecturer

As quoted in The Reader's Digest (1992) Vol. 140, p. 194

“The big problem is that your mind keeps reminding you of things when you can't do anything about them. It has no sense of past or future.”

David Allen book Getting Things Done

Source: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (2001), Ch. 1

“Isn’t there anything you can do about the predator?”

Robert Sheckley book Dimension of Miracles

Carmody asked.
“Nothing. Nor would I if I could. Predation is a necessary circumstance. Even the Gods are eventually eaten by Fate. You will not be an exception to the universal rule.”

Chapter 21 (p. 136)
Dimension of Miracles (1968)

“Once you learn what life is about, there is no way to erase that knowledge. If you try to do something else with your life, you will always sense that you are missing something”

James Redfield (1950) American author, lecturer, screenwriter and film producer

Source: The Celestine Prophecy: A Pocket Guide to the Nine Insights

“I thought you could write something about me that men can't – What I want written – I do not know – I have no definite idea of what it should be. – but a woman who has lived many things and who sees lines and colors as an expression of living – might say something that a man can't – I feel there is something unexplored about woman that only a woman can explore – Men have done all they can do about it. Does that mean anything to you – or doesn't it?”

Georgia O'Keeffe (1887–1986) American artist

In a letter to Mabel Dodge Luhan, New York 1925; as quoted in Voicing our visions, – Writings by women artists, ed. Mara R. Witzling, Universe New York, 1991, p. 224
1920s

“You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth.”

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H.L. Mencken 281

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