It's Never Too Late -- Words that Inspire Action Quiz

Answer: INXS

Lead singer Michael Hutchence was responsible for those poignant words that appeared in the song "Never Tear Us Apart" on INXS's monster album "Kick". The song, with melody written by Andrew Farriss, was released as a single and did better in the US (reaching #7 on the Billboard charts) than it did in Australia where it only hit #14 on its initial release.

The song was re-released when a mini-series titled "INXS: Never Tear Us Apart" was aired in 2014, and it did better on the charts the second time, reaching #11.

While the song referred to a relationship between two people, the line "'Cause we all have wings - But some of us don't know why" has a much wider meaning. We have the power to change who we are - to grow, to be a better version of ourselves.

Answer: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

The teen comedy "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was written and directed by John Hughes and starred Matthew Broderick as the title character who faked an illness to stay home from school. Or rather, to spend a day on the town in Chicago with his neurotic friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) and his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara).

As critic Richard Roeper stated: "Ferris has made it his mission to show Cameron that the whole world in front of him is passing him by, and that life can be pretty sweet if you wake up and embrace it. That's the lasting message of ' Ferris Bueller's Day Off'".

It's an important message - appreciate every day we've been given.

Answer: Eagles

"Already Gone" wasn't written by a member of the Eagles, but by Jack Tempchin and Robb Strandlund. The song appeared on the Eagles' 1970 album "On the Border" and was the first single from the album, but it only reached #32 on the US Billboard charts.

The third single from the album, "Best of My Love" became the band's first US #1 hit. But back to "Already Gone" - Glenn Frey liked the tune because he had just been through a break-up and the lyrics spoke to him. But the final lines before the chorus apply to much more than relationships: "So often times it happens, that we live our lives in chains, and we never even know we have the key".

There are so many chains in life - what is holding you back?

Answer: Walden or Life in the Woods

The actual quote by Henry David Thoreau was in the conclusion of his book "Walden": "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." "Walden" was filled with inspiring words, including Thoreau's explanation for why he spent two years living alone near Walden Pond in Massachusetts: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." Avoid being one of "The mass of men [who] lead lives of quiet desperation" - find your purpose in life!

Answer: Braveheart

Mel Gibson a philosopher? He may have starred in and directed "Braveheart", but the screenplay and quote were written by Randall Wallace (no connection to William). "Braveheart" follows William Wallace's rampage against the English following the death of his wife, but the film took quite a few liberties with history.

For example, in the film the quote was made by William Wallace to Isabella of France with whom he had a relationship. In reality, Isabella of France was around nine years old when Wallace died. Still a great quote and a reminder not to just exist - get out there and live!

Answer: Glen Campbell

Written by Curt Sapaugh and Bobby Austin, "Try a Little Kindness" was released in 1969 on Campbell's album of the same title and has since been covered by several other artists. But it was a particular favorite song of Campbell's, and his family sang the song at his memorial service in 2017. According to his daughter Ashley, "My dad was always a shining light and he always told people 'Just be kind'".

The lyrics written during the civil unrest of the 1960s still resonate many years later: "And if you try a little kindness, then you'll overlook the blindness, of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets". So go forth, make a difference, and be kind!

Answer: Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption

Both versions were narrated by Red, a long-term prisoner at Shawshank prison who told the story of Andy Dufresne's eventual escape from the prison. In the 1994 film "The Shawshank Redemption", Dufresne (Tim Robbins) first made the statement to Red (Morgan Freeman) after telling him about his post-prison plans in Mexico: "It comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying".

Then toward the end of the film when Red leaves the halfway house, he repeats the latter part of the statement.

But in the original 1982 novella written by Stephen King, the quote didn't appear until the end of the story, and it was made by Red: "It always comes down to just two choices. Get busy living or get busy dying". It's a simple and concise way to point out if you aren't truly living your life, you're just biding time until death.

Answer: It's a Wonderful Life

Well, we weren't actually told it; it was written as an inscription in a copy of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and appeared at the end of the film as George Bailey's (James Stewart) friends were helping him out of his financial troubles. The full inscription was "Dear George: Remember, no man is a failure who has friends! Thanks for the wings! Love, Clarence".

The sentimental 1946 film about a man who thought his family would be better off if he were dead showed us the impact that one person can have on many others: "Each man's life touches so many other lives".

It's a reminder to pay attention to the relationships in our lives.

Answer: Pink Floyd

"Time" was the fourth track on "The Dark Side of the Moon" and was written by Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason, with Waters getting credit for the lyrics. He stated that the idea for the song came to him when he realized he was at a point of inaction in his life; it was a wake-up moment about how time can slip by us and we don't realize it until it's too late. Waters apparently had this revelation when he was 28 or 29 so certainly not too late, but hey - it's probably not to late for us either! Get a start, better late than never.

Answer: Auntie Mame

The play and film were based on the novel "Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade" written by Patrick Dennis, a pseudonym for Edward Everett Tanner III. Tanner allegedly based the Mame Dennis character on his bohemian aunt Marion Tanner, although they both later came to deny it. Rosalind Russell portrayed the eccentric Mame on both stage and film, picking up Tony and Oscar nominations for her work.

In "Auntie Mame", the title character had a secretary Agnes Gooch (played by Peggy Cass on both stage and film) to whom the quote was made: "Oh Agnes, where is your spine? Here you've been taking my dictation for weeks and you don't get the message of my book. LIVE, that's the message!" And there's your message - take part in the banquet of life!