# Lessons learned late in life. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 21, 2000, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028 "2000-01-21T10:37:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/21 "2000-01-22T02:25:00Z")
A ceiling fan can hit a street hockey ball through a plate glass window, even with the fan on low. Given enough time, a four year old can flush an entire sweater down the toilet. Dr. Watson “Whadda ya mean yer allergic to latex?” ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/22 "2000-01-22T02:29:00Z")
**Sevy:** Great list! Most people do the best they can. A lot of problems you just can’t fix, but if you wait long enough they’ll solve themselves. 95% of what you’re worrying about right now won’t matter a damn in 5 years. Any meeting can be made bearable by industriously recording cliches–and you’ll look busy, too. Surest cure for most ills: help someone else, i.e. move the body and get your mind off yourself. When in doubt, shut up. When not in doubt, shut up anyway. Never apologize for your tastes. Always try something new from a menu. Don’t expect to love everything new. Err on the side of generosity and tolerance. You might need them back someday. Cut yourself some slack already. Veb ---
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/23 "2000-01-22T02:31:00Z")
1. You’re probably nothing special, but that’s all right, because nobody cares. 2. When in doubt, stop talking. Catrandom ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/24 "2000-01-22T04:56:00Z")
Don’t worry so much about what people will think of you…it won’t matter anyway, you’re bound to please some and make others gripe, no matter what you do. Make your own fashion statement. Don’t tell others to ‘watch their step’, it is more likely to make you fall. If you have a choice between cleaning and having fun…go have fun, the dust will always wait for you. The fun may not. * * * “Consider it a challenge…” ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/25 "2000-01-22T05:46:00Z")
Money can’t buy happiness, so don’t trade your happiness for money. * * * “pluto … a seriously demented but oddly addictive presence here.” – TVeblen ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/26 "2000-01-22T19:12:00Z")
Just so you know, Sevy’s list comes from “Dave Barry Turns 50”. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/27 "2000-01-22T19:20:00Z")
If you want to feel young, associate with the young. If you want to feel old, try to keep up with them. . . (Author unknown.) ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/28 "2000-01-22T19:28:00Z")
when addressing superiors, you guys is not a proper term. “whatever” is also not a good response to them. ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/29 "2000-01-22T20:36:00Z")
She’s always right. Even if she’s wrong, you don’t tell her that. Even if you’re SURE, don’t say anything. No, really. Never talk to people when you’re drunk. Don’t try to outstubborn a cat. Store beer in a cold, dark place (or a dark, stomachy place, in a pinch). People won’t learn anything until it bites them on the ass. Always make sure you have a ride home. Leave a way out. Beauty is its own purpose. So are kittens. It may not mean anything, but what the hell, Lachaim! * * * I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![Angkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Angkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angkins)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/30 "2000-01-23T16:29:00Z")
We are all going to become our parents…especially if we have kids!! My mom is always right…when will I be always right?? ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/31 "2000-01-23T17:38:00Z")
The older I get, the smarter my parents get. You’re welcome, special! * * * “The quickest way to a man’s heart is through his ribcage.” --anonymous redhead ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2000, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028/32 "2000-01-24T10:26:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Sevy: > **3.The most powerful force in the universe is gossip.** ## This is simply untrue. We all know the most powerful source in the universe is **Improbability**. Coldfire * * * “You know how complex women are” - Neil Peart, Rush (1993) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-learned-late-in-life/13028.md?page=1)