What Does “life begins at 40” mean?
Definition:
The phrase life begins at 40 means that when one reaches the age of forty, life becomes better, maybe because one has the skills, experiences, and means necessary for an enjoyable life.
Origin
As life expectancy has increased during the twentieth and twenty-first century, it has become common to consider middle-aged people young enough to enjoy their lives to the fullest.
The phrase has become popular thanks to the American philosopher, Walter B. Pitkin, who published a self-help book in 1932 entitled “Life Begins at Forty”.
Quote
Here is a famous quote by Helen Rowland using the phrase:
Life begins at 40 – but so do fallen arches, rheumatism, faulty eyesight, and the tendency to tell a story to the same person, three or four times.
Example(s)
Alan: “Why are you so depressed?”
Jane: “Tomorrow’s my fortieth birthday.”
Alan: “Come on Jane! Don’t you know that life begins at 40?”
Today, people in their 40s are now able to get married, have children and prosper. As the saying goes: life begins at 40.