Time & hindsight

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

150 answers answered between 1956 and 2026 one of 25 in The Q&A

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The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

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Read by field Everyone Science and medicine 10 Arts and letters 115 Politics and public life 11 Business and finance 7 Technology 2 Sport 5

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Warren Zevon Songwriter and musician

I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years. ... It's one of those phobias that didn't pay off. ... How much you're supposed to enjoy every sandwich.

Recorded David Letterman, Late Show with David Letterman, 30 October 2002, as reported in the New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, 26 January 2003 source ↗

Ed Harris American actor and director

Don't let MGM distribute a film you care about.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 August 2007 source ↗

Edward Enninful Ghanaian-born English editor and stylist

That there is no ideal life. Disappointments sit around every corner, so enjoy the here and now.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 December 2022 source ↗

Minnie Driver British and American actress

That your life is only in this very second.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 February 2023 source ↗

John Simm English musician and actor

Live in the moment. Enjoy life because time cruelly speeds up as you get older and becomes scarily finite.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 March 2023 source ↗

Sofia Coppola American filmmaker and actress

To follow your path and not worry about what to do too much; one thing leads to the next, and you wind up where you’re meant to be.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 March 2023 source ↗

Maggie O'Farrell Irish-British novelist

To keep going and never give up, and to enjoy it to the absolute full because, at any moment, the curtain can fall.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 March 2023 source ↗

Sharon Corr Musical artist

Trust my instincts.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 June 2023 source ↗

Life is not worth living if there is no one you would die for.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 October 2023 source ↗

To know thyself, as Shakespeare said.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2023 source ↗

To believe my eyes and not my ears.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 January 2024 source ↗

Healthy body and a healthy mind – very simple.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 January 2024 source ↗

Michelle Visage

Do not take life too seriously, this is all a sham.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 January 2024 source ↗

Peter Sarsgaard

To tell the truth.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 February 2024 source ↗

We are not here for long – try not to take everything too seriously.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 March 2024 source ↗

To have the courage to fail.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 April 2024 source ↗

Daphne Guinness British socialite

Discipline. Also to have a goal, however small and whatever it may be.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 July 2024 source ↗

Marcus Brigstocke

To be here in this one moment.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 January 2025 source ↗

If it scares you, do it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 April 2025 source ↗

Redemption. People can be redeemed, goals can be redeemed.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 April 2025 source ↗

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