Powerful Retirement Lessons: Inspiring Quotes from 7 Famous Retirees

The following 7 successful individuals shared wisdom that can help you have a better retirement. They also demonstrated that age is just a number, some of them reaching their physical, financial, and professional peaks well after traditional retirement age.

Andrew Carnegie, 1835-1919 — Retired 1901

Andrew Carnegie is one of the most famous — and arguably richest — business people in American history.   Born in 1835, he built a massive fortune through the expansion of the steel industry.

In 1901 at 66 years old, Carnegie sold his highly profitable holdings at a massive valuation.  His companies were sold for $480 million — a figure equivalent to 12 times the businesses’ annual earnings.

It is fairly unusual for a business person to retire.  Many continue to pursue for profit ventures. Carnegie, however focused instead on writing, activism and philanthropy.

Retirement Lesson: Carnegie did not get rich by accident.  Building wealth and retirement planning takes focus and dedication.  Use retirement planning tools that let you track and manage your strategies.

Retirement Lesson: There should be a purpose for the money you amass — and for your retirement.  You might want to think about creating a “retirement manifesto.”

Louis Armstrong, 1901-1971, Never Retired

Louis Armstrong had a long vibrant career as one of our most beloved jazz musicians.  He recorded his best selling record in 1964 at the age of 63 and kept touring and performing all over the world until his death.

Retirement Lesson from Louis Armstrong:

Retirement Lesson: Armstrong kept the music and never retired.  The lesson here is to figure out what gives you happiness and just keep doing it.  Explore 41 ideas for health, wealth and happiness in retirement.

Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1867-1957, Did Not Retire, Started Writing Her Series at 65

Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in 1867 in the Big Woods region of Wisconsin, the second of five children in a family of pioneers and settlers. Laura and her husband Almanzo began a farm near Mansfield, Missouri in 1894, where they had an apple orchard, raised poultry and dairy, and cultivated wheat. As Wilder became recognized as an authority in rural living, she was invited to contribute a column to the Missouri Ruralist at the age of 44.

The stock market crash of 1929 devastated the Wilders and their daughter Rose Wilder Lane, already an established journalist and travel writer. To generate some income, Lane and Wilder, now age 65, collaborated on a manuscript based on Wilder’s pioneering childhood. That manuscript eventually become Little House in the Big Woods and turned into a nine-volume series about pioneering life in the 19th century.

Wilder passed away at home, just days after her 90th birthday.

Retirement Lessons from Laura Ingalls Wilder

Retirement Lesson: Focus on what is important to you and make sure you spend your time doing what matters.

George Burns, 1896-1996, Never Retired

Born Nathan Birnbaum in 1896, George Burns entertained in vaudeville, radio, film and television, working nearly right up to his death at the age of 100.

Burns underwent major heart surgery in 1975 but didn’t even consider retirement, saying, “The happiest people I know are the ones that are still working. The saddest are the ones who are retired. Very few performers retire on their own. It’s usually because no one wants them.”

Returning to the film industry, Burns won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance The Sunshine Boys and continued to star in films, perform live comedy, and write two best-selling books.

Retirement Lessons: If Michael Jordon is the greatest example of thriving in a second career, George Burns is the poster child for someone who never retired.  His work just happened to be exactly what he loved doing and was probably one of the things that helped him to live such a long life.  Explore the many benefits of working past retirement age.

Sophia Loren, 1934-Present

While Sophia Loren is an acclaimed film star, she is probably most famous for being one of the most beautiful women in the world. At the age of 83, she remains a stunning and vibrant icon.

Retirement Lesson from Sophia Loren:

Want More Retirement Quotes?

You’ll laugh (or cry) when you read these list of famous quotations about retirement.

Also, check out our other pages of retirement quotes: “More Funny and Inspirational Quotes About Retirement and Aging,” or “Retirement Sayings About the Pros and Cons of Retirement.”