“We should all start to live before we get too old.”
- June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962
- American
- Actress, Singer, Model, Pop Culture Icon
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Quote
“We should all start to live before we get too old.”
Explanation
This quote is a call to embrace life actively and urgently, highlighting the importance of seizing the present moment rather than waiting for some ideal future. Marilyn Monroe, who often reflected on the fragility of existence, emphasizes that life should be lived fully before time slips away. Her words carry both optimism and warning—a push against procrastination and the false sense that we have endless time to begin truly living.
Monroe’s own life, while glamorous on the surface, was marked by periods of sadness, isolation, and a search for meaning. In this context, the quote likely reflects her awareness that external success doesn’t guarantee inner fulfillment, and that living authentically—pursuing joy, purpose, and connection—requires intention and courage. It’s not enough to survive or perform; one must live deliberately and meaningfully.
In modern life, where busyness and distraction often take precedence, Monroe’s message remains strikingly relevant. Many postpone their passions, relationships, or self-care for “later,” only to find that later never comes in the way they imagined. The quote urges us to recognize that the right time to live is now—not after retirement, not after success, but while we still have the energy and freedom to shape our own experience.
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