Sometimes, when you really love something, you have to let it go. As a mature actor with a storied acting career, Andy Griffith understood the bittersweet importance of leaving things in the past, even if they previously brought you joy.

Griffith was responsible for shows like The Andy Griffith Show, a family sitcom that both past and present-day audiences adore. Griffith was well aware of the show's significance and was proud that audiences continued to love the series well after the final episode.

"Mayberry meant a lot to many people," said Griffith during an interview with the Press of Atlantic City.

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Still, Griffith acknowledged that he had a hand in ending the series after about eight seasons. While Griffith had been a mainstay on the series for the show's entirety, he felt his interest in the series waning.

"I wasn't doing the series justice because I had done it for so long. My concentration just wasn't there, and I wanted to try other things. The show made me famous, and I thought I was hot stuff. I felt I could tackle something better; I wanted to make movies. But I was wrong. I didn't work again for a long time."

Of course, Griffith wouldn't be away from television forever; he starred in the popular crime series Matlock for a number of years, and continued to make frequent guest appearances on television shows like The Love Boat. Moreover, Griffith would even return to Mayberry in reunion specials for The Andy Griffith Show, proving that no matter how long something is gone, there's still a chance for a return.