Quotes about retirement
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Lawrence Taylor photo

“I had gotten really bad. I mean my place was almost like a crack house.”

Lawrence Taylor (1959) All-American college football player, professional football player, linebacker, Pro Football Hall of Fame member

discussing the depths of his drug problems after he retired, in his 60 Minutes interview with Mike Wallace.

Warren Farrell photo

“Being forced into early retirement can be to a man what being "given up for a younger woman" is for a woman.”

Source: The Myth of Male Power (1993), Part II: The Glass Cellars of the disposable sex, p. 174.

Michael Jordan photo

“I'm retired 99.9%. Of course, there always is that.1%.”

Michael Jordan (1963) American retired professional basketball player and businessman

Statement of 1999-02-18 Classic NBA Quotes: Michael Jordan, 2006-11-22, NBA Encyclopedia, NBA Media Ventures http://www.nba.com/history/Classic_NBA_Quotes_Jordan.html,

Richard Arkwright photo

“Mr. Arkwright, after many years intense and painful application, invented, about the year 1768, his present method of spinning cotton, but upon very different principles from any invention that had gone before it. He was himself a native of Lancashire; but having so recently witnessed the ungenerous treatment of poor Hargrave, by the people of that county, he retired to Nottingham, and obtained a patent in the year 1769, for making cotton, flax, and wool into yarn. But, after some experience, finding that the common method of preparing the materials for spinning (which is essentially necessary to the perfection of good yarn) was very imperfect, tedious, and expensive, he turned his thoughts towards the construction of engines for that purpose; and, in the pursuit, spent several years of intense study and labour, and at last produced an invention for carding and preparing the materials, founded in some measure on the principles of his first machine. These inventions, united, completed his great original plan. But his last machines being very complicated, and containing some things materially different in their construction, and some others materially different in their use, from the inventions for which his first patent was obtained, be procured a patent for these also in December, 1775.”

Richard Arkwright (1732–1792) textile entrepreneur; developer of the cotton mill

Source: The Case of Mr. Richard Arkwright and Co., 1781, p. 23

Peter Cook photo

“You are now to retire, as indeed should I, carefully to consider your verdict of "Not Guilty".”

Peter Cook (1937–1995) British architect

The Secret Policeman's Ball (1979)

Zoran Đinđić photo
Daniel T. Gilbert photo
Alex Ferguson photo
Ted Lindsay photo
Kumar Sangakkara photo
Roman Polanski photo
Mario Cuomo photo
Keith Richards photo

“The idea of retiring is like killing yourself. It's almost like Hari Kari. I intend to live to a 100 and go down in history.”

Keith Richards (1943) British rock musician, member of The Rolling Stones

BBC Newsnight 2005; reported in " In quotes: Keith Richards http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6526133.stm", BBC (April 4, 2007).

Stephen Clarke photo
Calvin Coolidge photo
Amitabh Bachchan photo

“There are no withdrawal symptoms yet (post retirement in 1992). I'm enjoying the feeling of being faltu.”

Amitabh Bachchan (1942) Indian actor

Quotable quotes by Amitabh Bachchan.

Gideon Mantell photo
Anil Kumble photo
Thomas Sowell photo
Harold Macmillan photo
Hideo Kojima photo

“I have to say, even though I received this award, let me state that I will not retire. I will continue to create games as long as I live.”

Hideo Kojima (1963) Japanese video game designer

Source:Nelson, Randy (November 24, 2008). "Hideo Kojima receives lifetime achievement award from MTV". https://web.archive.org/web/20090303222750/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/hideo-kojima-receives-lifetime-achievement-award-from-mtv/Joystiq. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2009.

“Retirement should be a happier time, conditioned upon not being ill.#”

David Blanchflower (1952) British economist

OC Register http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/money/stages/stage6/article_739465.php

Rousas John Rushdoony photo
Jean-François Revel photo
Alan Greenspan photo
William Congreve photo

“Retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom.”

Act I, scene i
The Double Dealer (1694)

Mahela Jayawardene photo

“I’m very disappointed that a national captain, within a few months of retirement, has been retained by another team at a World Cup. I had a lot of respect and gratitude for Mahela’s knowledge but now he’s adviser to a competing team of ours.”

Mahela Jayawardene (1977) Former Sri Lankan cricketer

Thilanga Sumathipala on Mahela being a coaching consultant for England, quoted on The Guardian, "Kumar Sangakkara: England made smart move on mentor Mahela Jayawardene" http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/13/kumar-sangakkara-england-mahela-jayawardene-world-twenty20-sri-lanka, March 13, 2016.
About

Gustav Stresemann photo

“I hope that you will be in agreement with me when I beg you to do everything possible to prevent Hindenburg's retirement. We must under no circumstances bear the responsibility before the bar of history for having overthrown Hindenburg. I feel that even the abdication of the Kaiser would be easier to bear than the retirement of Hindenburg.”

Gustav Stresemann (1878–1929) German politician, statesman, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate

Letter to the Chief of the National Liberal Party in Prussia, quoted in W. M. Knight-Patterson, Germany. From Defeat to Conquest 1913-1933 (London: George Allen and Unwin, 1945), p. 208, n. 2
1910s

David Letterman photo

“David Letterman: Earlier today, the man who owns this network, Leslie Moonves—he and I have had a relationship for years and years and years—and we have had this conversation in the past, and we agreed that we would work together on this circumstance and the timing of this circumstance. And I phoned him just before the program, and I said, "Leslie, it's been great, you've been great, the network has been great, but I'm retiring."
Paul Shaffer: This is—really?
David Letterman: Yep.
Paul Shaffer: This is—this is—you actually did this?
David Letterman: Yes, I did.
[dead silence in the studio followed by nervous laughter from the audience]
Paul Shaffer: Well—do I have a minute to call my accountant, because…I, uh…
[Dave cracks up]
David Letterman: I just want to reiterate my thanks for the support from the network, all of the people who have worked here, all of the people in the theatre, all the people on the staff, everybody at home. Thank you very much. And what this means now, is that Paul and I can be married.
[uproarious laughter and applause as wedding chimes play]
David Letterman: So we don't have the timing of this precisely down, I think it will be at least a year or so. But sometime in the not too distant future—2015 for the love of God, in fact, Paul and I will be wrapping things up and taking a hike.
[studio audience goes wild, gives him a standing ovation]
David Letterman: Thank you, thanks everybody. All right, thanks very much.”

David Letterman (1947) American comedian and actor

On announcing his retirement, quoted in Here’s what happened the moment David Letterman announced his retirement (transcript + video) http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/04/03/heres-what-happened-the-moment-david-letterman-announced-his-retirement-transcript-video/ by Emily Yahr, in "The Washington Post" (3 April 2014).

Sunil Gavaskar photo

“Sri Lanka will suffer with their batting after Sangakkara's retirement. It will be very difficult for them to win the next Test without him around”

Sunil Gavaskar (1949) Indian cricket player.

Sunil Gavaskar, "Kumar Sangakkara's Retirement Will Hit Sri Lanka Hard, Says Sunil Gavaskar" http://sports.ndtv.com/sri-lanka-vs-india-2015/news/247486-kumar-sangakkara-s-retirement-will-hit-sri-lanka-hard-says-sunil-gavaskar, August 24, 2015.

Harry Emerson Fosdick photo

“Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to.”

Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American pastor

As quoted in Wisdom for Our Time (1961) by James Nelson

George Foreman photo

“I don't even think about a retirement program because I'm working for the Lord, for the Almighty. And even thought the Lord's pay isn't very high, his retirement program is, you might say, out of this world.”

George Foreman (1949) a retired American professional boxer, ordained Baptist minister, author and entrepreneur

George works for a higher power. http://www.yeartosuccess.com/public/Inspiration_from_George_Foreman.html

George W. Bush photo

“My plan reduces the national debt, and fast. So fast, in fact, that economists worry that we're going to run out of debt to retire.”

George W. Bush (1946) 43rd President of the United States

Presidential Radio Address (24 February 2001) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/02/24/national/main274334.shtml
2000s, 2001

Nigel Cumberland photo

“Unless you have retired or inherited a fortune, you need to work to fund your life. You owe it to yourself to ensure that your working day can be as positive and enjoyable as possible – so much fun that it does not feel like work anymore.”

Nigel Cumberland (1967) British author and leadership coach

Your Job-Hunt Ltd – Advice from an Award-Winning Asian Headhunter (2003), Successful Recruitment in a Week (2012) https://books.google.ae/books?idp24GkAsgjGEC&printsecfrontcover&dqnigel+cumberland&hlen&saX&ved0ahUKEwjF75Xw0IHNAhULLcAKHazACBMQ6AEIGjAA#vonepage&qnigel%20cumberland&ffalse, 100 Things Successful People Do: Little Exercises for Successful Living (2016) https://books.google.ae/books?idnu0lCwAAQBAJ&dqnigel+cumberland&hlen&saX&ved0ahUKEwjF75Xw0IHNAhULLcAKHazACBMQ6AEIMjAE

Mitt Romney photo

“So we started a new business called Bain Capital. The only problem was, while WE believed in ourselves, nobody else did. We were young and had never done this before and we almost didn't get off the ground. In those days, sometimes I wondered if I had made a really big mistake. I had thought about asking my church's pension fund to invest, but I didn't. I figured it was bad enough that I might lose my investors' money, but I didn't want to go to hell too. Shows what I know. Another of my partners got the Episcopal Church pension fund to invest. Today there are a lot of happy retired priests who should thank him. That business we started with 10 people has now grown into a great American success story. Some of the companies we helped start are names you know. An office supply company called Staples – where I'm pleased to see the Obama campaign has been shopping; The Sports Authority, which became a favorite of my sons. We started an early childhood learning center called Bright Horizons that First Lady Michelle Obama rightly praised. At a time when nobody thought we'd ever see a new steel mill built in America, we took a chance and built one in a corn field in Indiana. Today Steel Dynamics is one of the largest steel producers in the United States.”

Mitt Romney (1947) American businessman and politician

2012-08-31
http://www.npr.org/2012/08/30/160357612/transcript-mitt-romneys-acceptance-speech
Transcript: Mitt Romney's Acceptance Speech
NPR
[2012-08-30, gopconvention2012, Mitt Romney: Introduction (video), YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_cGyPwt5UI]
2012

Joe Biden photo
Hugh Gaitskell photo

“In recent years, hours of work have been reduced, holidays have been increased, the age of entry into employment has gone up, and above all, our general health and expectation of life as a people have markedly improved. It is a natural corollary of these changes that we should work longer and retire later.”

Hugh Gaitskell (1906–1963) British politician

Speech https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1951/apr/10/social-insurance-and-assistance#column_849 in the House of Commons (10 April 1951) introducing the 1951 budget

Drew Carey photo
James Thomson (poet) photo
Ricky Hatton photo

“When I retire, I'll get Ricky Hatton to wash my clothes and cut my lawn and buckle my shoes.”

Ricky Hatton (1978) English former professional boxer

Floyd Mayweather Jr talking the talk http://news2.thdo.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/6328555.stm
Other boxers on Ricky(Sourced)

Harriet Martineau photo
Josh Billings photo
Thomas Francis Meagher photo
Bill Hicks photo
Robert Silverberg photo
Peter Paul Rubens photo
Stephen Fry photo
Pat Sajak photo

“I would be surprised… if someone at CBS wasn't thinking that eventually Johnny's gonna retire and if we have somebody in place, we'll be in good shape.”

Pat Sajak (1946) American television host

1980s-1990s
Source: Newsweek, Vol. 113 (1989), p. 138: Article states that "It's in the network's interest to get some kind of talk show going."

Calvin Coolidge photo
James Taylor photo
Angus King photo

“I had no intention of getting back into politics. I was teaching at Bowdoin and happily retired from politics.”

Angus King (1944) United States Senator from Maine

On his decision to get back into politics, after the surprise announcement of the widely respected Senator Olympia Snowe that she would not run for office again, as quoted in "Maine’s Incoming Independent Senator Angus King on Caucusing With the Dems" on PBS NewsHour (19 November 2012) http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics-july-dec12-king_11-19/

Erastus Otis Haven photo
Abraham Davenport photo
Garry Kasparov photo

“It's not common, in our age, for someone to retire while still at the top, but I'm a man who needs a goal, and who wants to make a difference.”

Garry Kasparov (1963) former chess world champion

Source: 2010s, Winter is Coming (2015), p. 136

Didier Sornette photo

“Finally, empirical data suggests that assets are sold much more slowly during retirement years than when they are accumulated during working years.”

Didier Sornette (1957) French scientist

Source: Why Stock Markets Crash - Critical Events in Complex Systems (2003), Chapter 10, 2050: The End Of The Growth Era?, p. 378.

Neal Stephenson photo
James Thomson (poet) photo

“Poor is the triumph o’er the timid hare!
Scared from the corn, and now to some lone seat
Retired”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Autumn (1730), l. 71-73.

Karl Popper photo

“The game of science is, in principle, without end. He who decides one day that scientific statements do not call for any further test, and that they can be regarded as finally verified, retires from the game.”

Source: The Logic of Scientific Discovery (1934), Ch. 2 "On the Problem of a Theory of Scientific Method", Section XI: Methodological Rules as Conventions

Martin Short photo
Raymond Poincaré photo

“The most powerful figure in French politics after the retirement of Clemenceau was ex-President Poincaré. He disliked the Treaty [of Versailles] intensely. For several years after the withdrawal of Clemenceau, the policy of France was dominated by this rather sinister little man. He represented the vindictive and arrogant mood of the governing classes in France immediately after her terrible sacrifices and her astounding victory. He directly and indirectly governed France for years. All the Premiers who followed after Clemenceau feared Poincaré. Millerand was his creature. Briand, who was all for the League and a policy of appeasement, was thwarted at every turn by the intrigues of Poincaré. Under his influence, which continued for years after his death, the League became not an instrument of peace and goodwill amongst all men, including Germans; it was converted into an organisation for establishing on a permanent footing the military and thereby the diplomatic supremacy of France. That policy completely discredited the League as a body whose decisions on disputes between nations might be trusted to be as impartial as those of any ordinary tribunal in any civilised country. The obligations entered into by the Allies as to disarmament were not fulfilled. British Ministers put up no fight against the betrayal of the League and the pledges as to disarmament. Hence the Nazi Revolution, which has for the time—maybe for a long time—destroyed the hopes of a new era of peaceful co-operation amongst free nations.”

Raymond Poincaré (1860–1934) 10th President of the French Republic

David Lloyd George, The Truth about the Peace Treaties. Volume II (London: Victor Gollancz, 1938), p. 1410.
About

Fred Astaire photo

“For a guy who had retired ostensibly, your comeback represents the greatest event since Satchel Paige.”

Fred Astaire (1899–1987) American dancer, singer, actor, choreographer and television presenter

Bing Crosby in a letter to Fred Astaire, c.1948, on Astaire's return in Easter Parade, as quoted in Astaire's biography, Steps in Time, United States, 1959. p. 293. ISBN 0815410581.

André Maurois photo
Dejan Stojanovic photo

“He had an answer to almost everything and he retired at an early age.”

Dejan Stojanovic (1959) poet, writer, and businessman

Early Retirement http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/early-retirement-2/
From the poems written in English

Alexander Graham Bell photo
Charles James Fox photo
Feng Shih-kuan photo

“Anyone (including retired ROC generals) would have stood up under that circumstance (during PRC national anthem) or it would be impolite.”

Feng Shih-kuan (1945) Taiwanese politician

Feng Shih-kuan (2016) cited in " Retired generals stayed silent: minister http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2016/11/18/484298/Retired-generals.htm" on The China Post, 18 November 2016

James Mattis photo

“There is only one ‘retirement plan’ for terrorists.”

James Mattis (1950) 26th and current United States Secretary of Defense; United States Marine Corps general

Speaking on the subject of combating insurgents. http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/fiasco/

Rand Paul photo
Margaret Mead photo

“Sooner or later I'm going to die, but I'm not going to retire.”

Margaret Mead (1901–1978) American anthropologist

Interviewed in Los Angeles on the occasion of her 75th birthday, December 1976, as quoted in Newsweek Vol. 88, p. 157
1970s

Christopher Walken photo
Mohammad Hidayatullah photo

“I was never in the mood of Lord Macaulay who said – I shall retire early I am very tired– I know that life meant that one must continue to occupy his time with work.”

Mohammad Hidayatullah (1905–1992) 11th Chief Justice of India

Speech By Mr. S. G. Page, Government Pleader, High Court, Bombay, Made On Monday, 28 September, 1992

Judi Dench photo
Theodore Roszak photo
Eyal Berkovic photo

“I am prepared to retire (from playing) today…and coach the national team. Maybe it's time to bring in new blood, people who understand today's players, their psyche. If they ask me, I'll do it. It's an honour to coach the national team.”

Eyal Berkovic (1972) Israeli footballer and manager

When asked about what the IFA should do after Avraham Grant did not qualify the national team for the World Cup in 2006. [Berkovic ready to coach national side, Eurosport, 23 October 2005, http://www.eurosport.com/football/world-cup-2006-qualifying2/2004/sport_sto781152.shtml, 27 March, 2007]

Anthony Burgess photo
C. D. Broad photo
Robert G. Ingersoll photo
Jopie Huisman photo

“I was sitting in the barn, drawing a dead bird which I had put on a box. Then the barn door opened and Kees entered [an old iron-merchant, already retired].... He came down next to me.... After a short silence he said: 'Are you painting? '.... it looks somewhat like that bird'. I said: 'To me that means a compliment Kees, because I am trying to draw that bird.' Stunned, he looked at me and asked, "Why are you doing that?" What could I answer? I said: Actually, I don't know myself'. Then he hoisted himself to his feet and said, I'll bring you the stuff next Monday' and he went to the door..”

Jopie Huisman (1922–2000) Dutch painter

translation, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018
version in original Dutch / citaat van Jopie Huisman, in het Nederlands: ** Ik zat in de schuur en tekende een dode vogel, die ik op een kistje had neergelegd. Toen ging de schuurdeur open en kwam Kees binnen [een oud ijzerkoopman, al met pensioen].. ..Hij ging op zijn hurken naast me zitten.. ..Toen zei hij, na een korte stilte: 'Ben je aan het schilderen?'.. .. 'Het lijkt wel wat op die vogel'. Ik zei: 'Dat is voor mij een compliment, Kees, want die vogel probeer ik na te tekenen.' Stomverbaasd keek hij me aan en vroeg: 'Waarom doe je dat?' Wat moest ik daar nu op antwoorden? Ik zei: 'Ja, dat weet ik eigenlijk zelf ook niet'. Toen hees hij zichzelf overeind en zei 'Ik breng de rommel maandag wel bij je.' Hij liep naar de deur..
Source: Jopie de Verteller' (2010) - postumous, p. 27

Nelson Mandela photo
Omar Khayyám photo
Miguel de Unamuno photo
Baltasar Gracián photo

“The person who does not know how to put up with others should retire into himself, if indeed he can suffer even himself.”

El que no se hallare con ánimo de sufrir apele al retiro de sí mismo, si es que aun a sí mismo se ha de poder tolerar.
Maxim 159 (p. 90)
The Art of Worldly Wisdom (1647)

Jack McDevitt photo
Joseph Strutt photo

“A number of little birds, to the amount, I believe, of twelve or fourteen, being taken from different cages, were placed upon a table in the presence of the spectators; and there they formed themselves into ranks like a company of soldiers: small cones of paper bearing some resemblance to grenadiers caps were put upon their heads, and diminutive imitations of muskets made with wood, secured under their left wings. Thus equipped, they marched to and fro several times; when a single bird was brought forward, supposed to be a deserter, and set between six of the musketeers, three in a row, who conducted him from the top to the bottom of the table, on the middle of which a small brass cannon charged with a little gunpowder had been previously placed, and the deserter was situated in the front part of the cannon; his guards then divided, three retiring on one side, and three on the other, and he was left standing by himself. Another bird was immediately produced; and, a lighted match being put into one of his claws, he hopped boldly on the other to the tail of the cannon, and, applying the match to the priming, discharged the piece without the least appearance of fear or agitation. The moment the explosion took place, the deserter fell down, and lay, apparently motionless, like a dead bird; but, at the command of his tutor he rose again; and the cages being brought, the feathered soldiers were stripped of their ornaments, and returned into them in perfect order.”

Joseph Strutt (1749–1802) British engraver, artist, antiquary and writer

pg. 250
The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England (1801), Public entertainment

William H. Rehnquist photo

“Perhaps you should say there should be mandatory retirement even of members of the court, members of the federal judiciary. I'm sure there can be questions about whether one does as good work when you get into your—you know, I'm 67.”

William H. Rehnquist (1924–2005) Chief Justice of the United States

Booknotes http://www.booknotes.org/Transcript/index_print.asp?ProgramID=1107 television interview (July 5, 1992)

Brian Clevinger photo
Sima Qian photo
Han-shan photo
André Maurois photo
Waheeda Rehman photo

“The shelf-life of a heroine is very limited. But I feel that a true artiste should never retire. Even now, I can't say no to a role that excites me. But I don't see films as my career any longer. I do it for the fun and satisfaction.”

Waheeda Rehman (1938) Indian actress

Quoted in Guru Dutt was my mentor: Waheeda, 23 June 2009, 15 December 2013, The Hindu http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-06-23/news-interviews/28202984_1_guru-dutt-rojulu-maraayi-waheeda-rehman,
Quote

Anil Kumble photo
Daniel Boone photo