What were Eleanor Roosevelt's exact words?

September 21, 2007 1:25 PM

Hello, a while ago I heard a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt but since then I haven't been able to find it anywhere. It was along the lines of your mind growing with your experiences and age. The quote expresses her initial worry when as a late teenager she assumed her mind would maintain the same (limited) mindset, paradigm, mentality even into her adult, aged years. If I remember correctly the quote is short, being only a line or two. Thank you so much, this quote is very important to me!
posted by albernathy0 to Society & Culture (9 answers total)

Not sure if this is it:

Probably the happiest period in life most frequently is in middle age, when the eager passions of youth are cooled, and the infirmities of age not yet begun; as we see that the shadows, which are at morning and evening so large, almost entirely disappear at midday.
posted by never used baby shoes at 2:17 PM on September 21, 2007 [2 favorites]

Years ago I saw a production of the one-woman play, Eleanor: Her Secret Journey, based on Rhoda Lerman's novel Eleanor. I seem to remember there being a line it very much like the one you're looking for, but I'm not certain. Sorry I can't be of more help.
posted by trip and a half at 4:48 PM on September 21, 2007

er, "a line in it"
posted by trip and a half at 4:51 PM on September 21, 2007

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people."
posted by Reggie Digest at 5:07 PM on September 21, 2007

"A mature person is one who is does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and all things, and who walks humbly and deals charitably with the circumstances of life, knowing that in this world no one is all-knowing and therefore all of us need both love and charity."
posted by Reggie Digest at 5:11 PM on September 21, 2007

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
posted by Orange Pamplemousse at 6:08 PM on September 21, 2007

Response by poster: Wow thank you guys so much for the help, however I regret to say these aren't what I am remembering. I think she actually uses an exact age in her quote, like, "If I thought I was going to be 18 forever..." Keep trying! Thank you so much!
posted by albernathy0 at 9:39 PM on September 21, 2007

"In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility." ?
posted by dorkwad at 1:28 AM on September 22, 2007

do let us know if you find it. now i'm curious too!
posted by mittenedsex at 12:21 PM on September 23, 2007