Quote Of The Day By Keith Richards: 'I Mean, I Wasn't Far From The End Of The Runway Before I...'

Mick Jagger may have been the Rolling Stones' frontman, but guitarist and co-founder Keith Richards is equally synonymous with the group. Born in Kent, England, on December 18, 1943, his maternal grandfather was a touring jazz musician and fostered his grandson's interest in music by giving him his first guitar.

Richards initially met Jagger in elementary school in the early '50s –– the pair would go their separate ways for a few years before reconnecting on a train platform in 1961. Richards had gotten expelled from high school for absenteeism, but his love and talent for music and performing had landed him a spot at the Sidcup Art College. Through their love of the blues and American rock 'n' roll, the boys set out to find their other bandmates –– Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts –– establishing themselves as the Rolling Stones in 1962. Richards was the rhythm guitarist and co-writer of some of the group's greatest hits, including their first No. 1 hit "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

From his unique fashion sense to his ability to take inspiration from several different genres of music, Richards is undoubtedly a clear archetype for rockstars throughout the '60s, '70s, and beyond. Even his solo releases, such as the 1988 album "Talk Is Cheap," made it to No. 24 on the Billboard 200, affirming his musical and commercial merit outside of the Rolling Stones. His extraordinary talent and rambunctious personality have made him a timeless star, and that's why he gets today's quote of the day.

"I mean, I wasn't far from the end of the runway before I screamed for help. But you tend to slow down if you want to keep going; you pace yourself."

In a June 2026 interview with The Guardian, Keith Richards was opening up about being a great-grandfather, his anti-AI music stance, and promoting the Rolling Stones' newest album, "Foreign Tongues." In addition to playfully complaining about Mick Jagger's relentless desire to carry on touring, he also discussed their different approaches to creating new music –– with Richards being more of a traditionalist. However, despite his attachment to the old ways, he was still set on taking the same free-flowing and intuitive approach to his career that he always has. 

This quote was in relation to his philosophy on health and longevity, especially as the 82-year-old guitarist reflected on kicking some of his worst habits. Many people don't believe in adjusting their behavior until it's far too late, but Richards' recent approach seems to favor stamina over instant gratification.

In Keith Richards' quote from his 2026 interview with The Guardian, the Rolling Stones co-founder was describing how he had previously waited far too long to start making adequate changes to his lifestyle. Riding whatever habit all the way until his body "screamed for help," he managed to avoid some of the more sinister side effects of his rockstar lifestyle –– but still pushed his body to its limit. 

There are countless examples of Richards taking things too far throughout the early days of his career, but even rock legends need to prioritize self-care. He quit smoking cigarettes in 2020, cut down on drinking, and has been taking a more measured approach to performing following his arthritis diagnosis. In a March 2026 interview with Guitar World, Richards shared how "Honestly, I just look at my hands, and my hands look at me, and we say, 'Well, let's see what we can do today,'" illustrating this same sentiment of pacing himself and meeting his body where it's at. Rather than abstaining from playing altogether, he's also explained how he's adjusting the instrument itself (opting for a wider fingerboard) to make things easier for himself. 

As humans get older, our "runways" tend to get shorter and shorter. Even as a young performer, Richards' lifespan was constantly called into question due to his dangerous habits. However, by listening to his body and working with it, he's been able to find the pace that satisfies him.

• "The songs grow as you play them; the older they are, the more magic there is in them. It's never dull. We're born to have fun, you see! We can't help it."

• "Mick did his thing and I tried to keep the band together. That's always what it's been, basically. If I'm leapin' about, it's only because something's goin' drastically wrong or it's going drastically right."

• "As far as I'm concerned, the Stones is my band. If they happen to go to sleep for four or five years then I get antsy and find the opportunity to lay down some stuff. I want to keep my hand in. It's what I do."

• "I hope that we widened people's scope of what kind of music you could play and what music you listened to."

• "In actual fact, music is a necessity, because it's the one thing that will maybe bring you up and give you just that little bit extra to keep on going ... Who knows what music does?"