Golden Girls: 10 Empowering Quotes To Live By

There are very few series that have aged as well as The Golden Girls, which maintains its power to amuse even though it has been off of the air since 1992. Part of what makes it so funny, of course, is the wit and wisdom that its characters constantly display.

These feisty women show time and again that they are not going to just sit back and let old age claim them; they are going to live life on their own terms. As a result, they have many quotes that are good guideposts for living one’s life.

10 Sophia On Getting Older

“No Matter How Bad Things Get, Remember These Sage Words: You’re Old, You Sag, Get Over It.”

Of the four women, Sophia is arguably the wisest, having lived over eight decades. She is also the one who is most able to tell the truth, no matter how much of a burn it is or whose feelings she might hurt in the process. As she demonstrates in this quote, there’s no use in getting upset about the process of aging or the impact that it has on one’s body. It’s best just to accept it and move on, making the most out of every day of life.

9 Rose On Life’s Ups And Downs

“It’s Like Life Is A Big Weenie Roast, And I’m The Biggest Weenie.”

It’s hard to deny that Rose is one of the most likable characters on the show, in part because she has an infectious sort of optimism that governs her life and her way of looking at the world. In this case, she essentially says that, when one gets right down to it, it’s better to just look on the bright side, even if that means imagining that one is a hot dog.

Not even Sophia’s sarcasm is enough to dampen Rose’s spirits.

8 Sophia On Life’s Little Victories

“After 80, Every Year Without A Headstone Is A Milestone.”

Even though the series is a comedy, it repeatedly delves into some serious issues, including aging. Given that Sophia is by far the oldest of the three, she repeatedly has to deal with the death of many of her friends and loved ones. However, rather than giving in to depression or fatalism, she essentially accepts the fact that death is a natural part of life and that, rather than seeing it as a grim thing, one should instead celebrate every year that one has (at least after 80). As this line shows, Sophia is the mistress of the one-liner.

7 Rose On The Advantages of Aging

“The Older You Get, The Better You Get. Unless You’re A Banana.”

In addition to being an irrepressible optimist, Rose is also full of the wit and wisdom that can only come from her hometown of St. Olaf, Minnesota. Though these are often played for laughs – and there are some excellent St. Olaf stories in the show – there is something to be said for the homespun wisdom of Rose and her family. In this case, she demonstrates that it’s best to just embrace the process of getting older since, unlike fruit, one doesn’t go rotten.

6 Blanche On Accepting Friends And Family For Who They Are

“I Still Can’t Say I Understand What You’re Doing, But I Do Intend To Try To Respect Your Decision To Do It. I Want You To Be Happy.”

Even though Blanche is the most sexually liberated of the four women, she has some struggles with other people’s sexuality, particularly once her brother comes out as gay and becomes engaged to another man. Here, she makes it clear that she’s going to do everything she can to embrace her desire for him to be happy. It’s an inspirational quote that shows that Golden Girls was ahead of its time, and it’s a good rule by which to live one’s life.

5 Blanche On Being Sexually Liberated

“We’re Not Embarrassed, We’re Not Uncomfortable, We Are Not Humiliated. We’re Gonna Walk Outta Here Today With Our Heads Held High, Secure In The Knowledge That What We Have Done Is Morally And Socially Responsible. Isn’t That Right, Girls?”

Golden Girls has many truly hilarious moments, but few match the moment when the girls get embarrassed after trying to buy condoms. While Dorothy and Rose are dying of shame, Blanche proudly reminds the people gathered around laughing at them that they aren’t ashamed. Instead, they embrace the fact that they are sexually active and responsible, showing that it is often better to simply own one’s decisions rather than letting the opinions of others have so much weight.

4 Sophia On Living – And Drinking – To The Fullest

“People Waste Their Time Pondering Whether A Glass Is Half Empty Or Half Full. Me, I Just Drink Whatever’s In The Glass.”

Though Rose has her own wisdom, it’s Sophia who is the font from which most of the wittiest sayings come. Here, she demonstrates that it’s better not to think too much about whether one fits into the mold of an optimist or a pessimist. Instead, it’s better to just embrace the joys of life.

Even Dorothy’s remark that the person who originated this quote (yet another relative) was a hopeless alcoholic doesn’t change its essential wisdom.

3 Blanche On Being Comfortable In Your Own Skin

“Nobody Ever Believes Me When I’m Telling The Truth. I Guess It’s The Curse Of Being A Devastatingly Beautiful Woman.”

Part of what makes Blanche such an appealing character is that she doesn’t even pretend to be a humble person. Instead, she embraces the fact that she is a beautiful woman. In this case, she shows that it really is better to be comfortable in one’s own skin, to not worry about whether other people believe you, and to move through the world with a powerful confidence that other people have no choice but to respect.

2 Blanche On Pushing Through Pain

“Crying Is For Plain Women. Pretty Women Go Shopping.”

Because she has a lot of confidence in herself, Blanche doesn’t always have the most patience with people that she thinks are plainer than she is (which is essentially everyone). However, even her most insensitive statements contain a grain of wisdom, as is the case here, when she reminds everyone that, when faced with a crisis, it’s better to just go shopping than it is to sit around crying. Just as importantly, it’s also important to see oneself as beautiful.

1 Dorothy On Not Letting Age Define You

“Oh, C’mon Blanche. Age Is Just A State Of Mind.”

If there’s one character in this show who has no time for other people’s nonsense, it’s Dorothy, who isn’t afraid to tell her roommates when they’re being foolish or silly. In this case, she makes the pointed, and useful, reminder that age really is just a state of mind. Even though Blanche doesn’t seem like she’s convinced by this line of argument, it’s still one of those quotes that is as true today as it was when Golden Girls was first on the air.

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