80+ Encouraging 40th Birthday Quotes: Fabulous Forty and Beyond

Turning 40 is a milestone that often comes with mixed emotions. It’s a time of reflection, celebration, and sometimes, a bit of trepidation about entering a new decade. Did you know that studies have shown that life satisfaction tends to increase after 40? It’s true! The 40s are often described as a time of increased confidence, self-awareness, and personal growth. To help celebrate this fabulous age, we’ve compiled a list of 85 encouraging quotes about turning 40 and embracing the wisdom that comes with it. These quotes will inspire, motivate, and remind you that life only gets better with age!

Embracing the 40s

1. “Life begins at 40. So does arthritis, lower back pain, and the tendency to repeat yourself.” – Anonymous
2. “Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age.” – Victor Hugo
3. “At twenty years of age, the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgment.” – Benjamin Franklin
4. “The years between forty and fifty are the hardest. You are always being asked to do things, and yet you are not decrepit enough to turn them down.” – T.S. Eliot
5. “Forty is the age when you first realize that you will never be as young as you are right now.” – Anonymous

These quotes remind us that turning 40 is a unique transition period, blending the energy of youth with the wisdom of experience. It’s a time to appreciate where you are in life and look forward to what’s ahead.

6. “At 40, life is just beginning.” – Anonymous
7. “Forty is the new fabulous.” – Anonymous
8. “Life really does begin at forty. Up until then, you are just doing research.” – Carl Jung
9. “The best years of a woman’s life – the ten years between 39 and 40.” – Anonymous
10. “Forty is when your body gives your brain a list of things it’s not going to do anymore.” – Anonymous

As we can see, there’s a lot of humor and wisdom in these quotes about turning 40. It’s a time of self-discovery and realizing that you’re entering a new, exciting phase of life.

Wisdom and Growth

11. “At age 20, we worry about what others think of us. At age 40, we don’t care what they think of us. At age 60, we discover they haven’t been thinking of us at all.” – Ann Landers
12. “The lovely thing about being forty is that you can appreciate twenty-five-year-old men more.” – Colleen McCullough
13. “At 40, I’ve learned that life is too short to waste time hating anyone.” – Anonymous
14. “By the time we hit fifty, we have learned our hardest lessons. We have found out that only a few things are really important. We have learned to take life seriously, but never ourselves.” – Marie Dressler
15. “Every man over forty is a scoundrel.” – George Bernard Shaw

These quotes highlight the growth and perspective that come with age. As we enter our 40s, we often find ourselves more comfortable in our own skin and less concerned with others’ opinions.

16. “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” – Sophia Loren
17. “Forty is the age when we become who we always should have been.” – Anonymous
18. “At 40, your vision starts to go. Unfortunately, your ability to deny it improves.” – Anonymous
19. “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” – Lucille Ball
20. “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – Mark Twain

These wise words remind us that age is just a number, and our attitude plays a significant role in how we experience life at any age.

Confidence and Self-Acceptance3

21. “Forty is when you stop pretending to be cool and start being who you really are.” – Anonymous
22. “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.” – Helen Rowland
23. “At 20 years of age the will reigns, at 30 the wit, at 40 the judgment.” – Benjamin Franklin
24. “I’m not 40, I’m 18 with 22 years of experience.” – Anonymous
25. “The first forty years of life give us the text; the next thirty supply the commentary on it.” – Arthur Schopenhauer

These quotes celebrate the increased self-awareness and confidence that often come with turning 40. It’s a time when many people feel more comfortable in their own skin and less concerned with fitting in.

26. “Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age.” – Victor Hugo
27. “At 40, I’ve learned that your health is wealth.” – Anonymous
28. “Life really does begin at forty. Up until then, you are just doing research.” – Carl Gustav Jung
29. “The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.” – Madeleine L’Engle
30. “Forty is the age when your body gives your brain a list of things it’s not going to do anymore.” – Anonymous

As we progress through this list, we see a recurring theme of embracing change and finding humor in the aging process. Turning 40 is about accepting yourself and appreciating the journey you’ve been on.

Celebrating Life

31. “Forty is not old. If you’re a tree.” – Anonymous
32. “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” – Lucille Ball
33. “You’re not 40, you’re 18 with 22 years of experience.” – Anonymous
34. “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.” – Helen Rowland
35. “Forty is the age when you finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.” – Anonymous

36. “At 20 years of age, the will reigns; at 30, the wit; and at 40, the judgment.” – Benjamin Franklin
37. “The years between forty and fifty are the hardest. You are always being asked to do things, and yet you are not decrepit enough to turn them down.” – T.S. Eliot
38. “I’m not 40. I’m 18 with 22 years of experience.” – Anonymous
39. “Forty isn’t old, if you’re a tree.” – Anonymous
40. “The first forty years of life give us the text; the next thirty supply the commentary on it.” – Arthur Schopenhauer

These quotes emphasize that turning 40 is a time of gained wisdom and perspective. It’s an age where we can look back on our experiences and use them to shape our future.

Wisdom and Reflection

41. “At age 20, we worry about what others think of us. At age 40, we don’t care what they think of us. At age 60, we discover they haven’t been thinking of us at all.” – Ann Landers
42. “Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age.” – Victor Hugo
43. “The lovely thing about being forty is that you can appreciate twenty-five-year-old men more.” – Colleen McCullough
44. “Every man over forty is a scoundrel.” – George Bernard Shaw
45. “Life begins at forty. So does arthritis, lower back pain, and the tendency to repeat yourself.” – Anonymous

These quotes reflect on the changing perspectives and priorities that come with age. They remind us that with age comes a certain freedom from the concerns of youth.

46. “At forty, I no longer care what people think of me. I’m too busy listening to what I think of myself.” – Anonymous
47. “The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.” – Madeleine L’Engle
48. “Forty is when your body gives your brain a list of things it’s not going to do anymore.” – Anonymous
49. “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – Mark Twain
50. “Life really does begin at forty. Up until then, you are just doing research.” – Carl Jung

These quotes emphasize the wisdom and self-awareness that come with reaching 40. It’s a time to reflect on past experiences and use them to shape a brighter future.

Embracing Change

51. “Forty is the new thirty. Sixty is the new forty. Death is the new black.” – Anonymous
52. “At 40, your vision starts to go. Unfortunately, your ability to deny it improves.” – Anonymous
53. “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” – Lucille Ball
54. “Forty is when you stop pretending to be cool and start being who you really are.” – Anonymous
55. “Life begins on your 40th birthday. But so do fallen arches, rheumatism, faulty eyesight, and the tendency to tell the same story to the same person three or four times.” – Helen Rowland

These quotes highlight the changes that come with turning 40, both physical and mental. They remind us to approach these changes with humor and grace.

56. “At 40, I’ve learned that life is too short to waste time hating anyone.” – Anonymous
57. “Forty is the age when we become who we always should have been.” – Anonymous
58. “The years between forty and fifty are the hardest. You are always being asked to do things, and yet you are not decrepit enough to turn them down.” – T.S. Eliot
59. “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” – Sophia Loren
60. “At 40, your vision starts to go. Unfortunately, your ability to deny it improves.” – Anonymous

These quotes emphasize the importance of embracing change and finding new ways to express ourselves as we enter our 40s. It’s a time of self-discovery and growth.

Confidence and Self-Assurance

61. “Forty is the new fabulous.” – Anonymous
62. “At forty, I no longer care what people think of me. Not that I ever did what anyone thought anyway.” – Anonymous
63. “The best years of a woman’s life – the ten years between 39 and 40.” – Anonymous
64. “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.” – Helen Rowland
65. “I’m not 40, I’m 18 with 22 years of experience.” – Anonymous

These quotes celebrate the increased confidence and self-assurance that often come with turning 40. It’s a time when many people feel more comfortable in their own skin and less concerned with fitting in.

66. “At 40, I’ve learned that your health is wealth.” – Anonymous
67. “Forty isn’t old, if you’re a tree.” – Anonymous
68. “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” – Lucille Ball
69. “At age 20, we worry about what others think of us. At age 40, we don’t care what they think of us.” – Anonymous
70. “Forty is when you stop pretending to be cool and start being who you really are.” – Anonymous

These quotes remind us that turning 40 is about accepting yourself and appreciating the journey you’ve been on. It’s a time to embrace your true self and let go of unnecessary worries.

Wisdom and Growth

71. “At forty, I no longer care what people think of me. I’m too busy listening to what I think of myself.” – Anonymous
72. “The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.” – Madeleine L’Engle
73. “Life really does begin at forty. Up until then, you are just doing research.” – Carl Jung
74. “At 40, I’ve learned that life is too short to waste time hating anyone.” – Anonymous
75. “Forty is the age when we become who we always should have been.” – Anonymous

These quotes highlight the growth and perspective that come with age. As we enter our 40s, we often find ourselves more comfortable in our own skin and less concerned with others’ opinions.

76. “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” – Sophia Loren
77. “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – Mark Twain
78. “The first forty years of life give us the text; the next thirty supply the commentary on it.” – Arthur Schopenhauer
79. “At 20 years of age the will reigns, at 30 the wit, at 40 the judgment.” – Benjamin Franklin
80. “Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age.” – Victor Hugo

These wise words remind us that age is just a number, and our attitude plays a significant role in how we experience life at any age.

Embracing the Journey

81. “Life begins at 40. So does arthritis, lower back pain, and the tendency to repeat yourself.” – Anonymous
82. “Forty is not old. If you’re a tree.” – Anonymous
83. “At forty, your vision starts to go. Unfortunately, your ability to deny it improves.” – Anonymous
84. “The lovely thing about being forty is that you can appreciate twenty-five-year-old men more.” – Colleen McCullough
85. “Every man over forty is a scoundrel.” – George Bernard Shaw

We conclude our list of these 85 quotes about turning 40 by being reminded that it is, after all, a birthday that is to be commemorated alongside an occasion for introspection and development. These quotes have shown us that turning 40 is about embracing change, gaining wisdom, and finding comfort in our own skin.

The comprehensive inference to be drawn from these quotes is that, at 40, life does not get over; rather, in many aspects, it has just begun. The feeling of confidence in self and the ability to value life’s journey start to come in this decade. Of course, physical changes will keep bothering one, but the mental and emotional development during the 40s is worth the price.

As you reflect upon these quotes, remember: age is just a number. Your 40s can be a time of reinvention, pursuing passion, and living life to the fullest. Embrace this new chapter with open arms, a sense of humor, and that perceived wisdom you have gained from your experiences. After all, you are not just 40 years-you are 40 years young!