Quote of the day by W. Somerset Maugham: 'What makes old age hard to bear is not the failing of one's...' - emotional quote by Of Human Bondage and The Razor's Edge author teaches life lessons on aging, old age, growing older, accepting the past and why memories can feel heavier with age

Quote of the day by W. Somerset Maugham: Growing older is a part of life that everyone eventually faces, but it can mean different things to different people. While aging is often associated with changes in health, energy and mental abilities, writer W. Somerset Maugham looked at it from a more emotional perspective. For many people, the passing years also mean carrying a lifetime of memories. Some memories bring comfort and happiness, while others may remind us of people we have lost, choices we regret or moments we wish we could experience again. Over time, those memories can become just as significant as the physical changes that come with age.

Maugham’s words offer a reminder that growing older is not only about what we lose physically. It can also be about everything we carry from the past.

Quote of the Day Today: W. Somerset Maugham on cc

W. Somerset Maugham said, “What makes old age hard to bear is not the failing of one's faculties, mental and physical, but the burden of one's memories,” as per BrainyQuote.

What Does W. Somerset Maugham’s Quote Mean

Maugham’s quote suggests that the difficulties of old age are not necessarily limited to declining physical or mental abilities. A lifetime of memories can also become emotionally difficult to carry.

As people grow older, they naturally collect memories of relationships, experiences, successes, disappointments and difficult moments. While some memories can bring happiness, others may bring sadness or regret.

The quote captures how the past can sometimes feel heavier with time. Things that happened years ago may remain vivid, even when the people or circumstances connected to them are long gone.

Life Lesson From W. Somerset Maugham’s Quote

The quote offers a simple lesson about making peace with the past. Memories are an unavoidable part of life, but they do not have to prevent us from appreciating the present.

Some experiences cannot be changed, and some moments cannot be repeated. Learning to accept that can make it easier to look back without allowing the past to overshadow the life being lived today.

Who Was W. Somerset Maugham

W. Somerset Maugham was an English novelist, playwright and short-story writer known for his clear writing style and sharp understanding of human nature.

Born in Paris on January 25, 1874, Maugham was orphaned at 10 and later studied medicine at St. Thomas’s Hospital Medical School in London, as per a Britannica report. He qualified as a doctor in 1897 but left medicine after the success of his first novel, Liza of Lambeth.

W. Somerset Maugham’s Writing Career

Maugham became known for novels including Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, Cakes and Ale and The Razor’s Edge. He also achieved major success as a playwright, with four plays running in London in 1908.

During World War I, he worked as a secret agent. In 1928, he bought a villa on Cape Ferrat in southern France, which became his permanent home.

W. Somerset Maugham’s Legacy

Maugham’s short stories and novels often explored human nature, relationships and people living in unfamiliar surroundings. His works were known for economy, suspense and psychological insight.

He died in 1965 in Nice after suffering a stroke.