Who said “Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for…”?

Verified

Eleanor Roosevelt. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourcePreface (December 1960) to The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt (1961), p. xix

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
VerifiedPreface (December 1960) to The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt (1961), p. xix · evidenceLife and Living
Report

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Preface (December 1960) to The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt (1961), p. xix.

APA

Roosevelt, E. (n.d.). Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26816-life-was-meant-to-be-lived-and-curiosity/

MLA

Roosevelt, Eleanor. “Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26816-life-was-meant-to-be-lived-and-curiosity/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Roosevelt, Eleanor. “Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26816-life-was-meant-to-be-lived-and-curiosity/.

Related quotes

More quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt

“It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”
VerifiedVoice of America broadcast (11 November 1951) · evidenceDetails & citeBelief
Report
“I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity.”
VerifiedFrom article "In Defense of Curiosity" appearing in The Saturday Evening Post 208 (August 24, 1935); 8-9, 64-66. · evidenceDetails & citeCuriosity
Report
“The purpose of life...is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
VerifiedYou Learn by Living (1960), Foreword (January 1960) · evidenceDetails & citeLife and Living
Report
All 33 Eleanor Roosevelt quotes →