Quote of the day by Rob Lowe: 'Anyone who’s lived their life to the fullest extent has a scandal buried somewhere' - The truth on how mistakes help in shaping our journey of self-discovery by the American actor

Hollywood actor Rob Lowe once offered a blunt take on fame, mistakes and the idea of living a perfect life. In an interview published in the March 1990 issue of Interview magazine, Lowe argued that people who have lived fully are likely to have something in their past they would rather keep private. “Anyone who's lived their life to the fullest extent has a scandal buried somewhere,” Lowe said, which is the quote of the day.

He went on to suggest that a person without any scandal might not have experienced life to its fullest, adding, “I mean, you show me someone who's led a perfect life and I'll show you a dullard.”

The quote reflects a view of human experience in which mistakes, difficult decisions and uncomfortable memories are part of life rather than proof that someone has failed.

Quote of the day: What Rob Lowe said about living life fully

Quote of the day from Lowe challenges the idea that people should have a completely clean personal history. His words imply that a life of experience will not always be without embarrassment, controversy or regret.

The quote also asks if one’s worth should be determined by whether one has avoided every mistake. In Lowe's view, having a seemingly perfect record doesn't necessarily translate into an interesting or meaningful life.

From teenage fame to a Hollywood star

Lowe was born on March 17, 1964 in Charlottesville, Virginia but moved to Dayton, Ohio as a child and then to California with his family. As a child he became interested in acting after seeing a production of the musical Oliver! and began looking for work in television and theater.

He starred in films like Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders and St. Elmo’s Fire in the early 1980s. Lowe belonged to the Brat Pack, a group of young actors who became famous during that time.

Later, he enjoyed a successful television career as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and Chris Traeger on Parks and Recreation. His other credits include Brothers & Sisters, Wayne's World and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Rob Lowe's personal struggles

Lowe's own life has included public controversy and personal challenges. His career faced a setback in 1988 following a scandal involving a sexually explicit videotape.

He also struggled with alcohol and entered rehabilitation in 1990, when he was 26. Since then, he has stayed sober, and has talked about his experiences and personal growth in his memoirs, Stories I Only Tell My Friends and Love Life.