WIST Quotations

Keynes, John Maynard -- “Clissold” (1927)

Dave — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 17:39:41 +0000

Most men love money and security more, and creation and construction less, as they get older.

John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946) English economist
“Clissold” (1927)

Buck, Pearl S. -- My Several Worlds, Part 4 (1954)

Dave — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 21:28:47 +0000

Yet somehow our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.

Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973) American writer
My Several Worlds, Part 4 (1954)
(Source)

See Dostoyevsky, Johnson.

Scalzi, John -- Old Man’s War (2005)

Dave — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 02:24:15 +0000

She shrugged. “I don’t mind getting old.”

“I didn’t mind getting old when I was young, either,” I said. “It’s the being old now that’s getting to me.”

John Scalzi (b. 1969) American writer
Old Man’s War (2005)

Kasdan, Lawrence -- Return of the Jedi (1983) [with George Lucas]

Dave — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:56:52 +0000

YODA: When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not, hmm?

Lawrence Kasdan (b. 1949) American screenwriter, director, producer
Return of the Jedi (1983) [with George Lucas]

Tennyson, Alfred, Lord -- “In Memoriam A. H. H.” [Arthur Henry Hallam], part 106 (1849)

Dave — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 17:06:24 +0000

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow;
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) English poet
“In Memoriam A. H. H.” [Arthur Henry Hallam], part 106 (1849)

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 10, Moving Pictures (1990)

Dave — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 14:11:21 +0000

Because inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened.

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author
Discworld No. 10, Moving Pictures (1990)
(Source)

Prentice, George -- Prenticeana (1860)

Dave — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 13:24:25 +0000

Some old women and men grow bitter with age. The more their teeth drop out the more biting they get.

George D. Prentice (1802-1870) American newspaper editor
Prenticeana (1860)
(Source)

London, Jack -- “The Wit of Porpotuk” (1907)

Dave — Wed, 27 May 2015 13:54:36 +0000

Age is never so old as youth would measure it.

Jack London (1876-1916) American novelist
“The Wit of Porpotuk” (1907)
(Source)

Heinlein, Robert A. -- Time Enough For Love [Lazarus Long] (1973)

Dave — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 12:29:59 +0000

Oh, knock it off, Bud; there’s no virtue in being old, it just takes a long time.

Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) American writer
Time Enough For Love [Lazarus Long] (1973)

Johnson, Samuel -- The Plays of William Shakespeare, “Cymbeline” (1765)

Dave — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:08:53 +0000

No state can be more destitute than that of a him who, when the delites of sense forsake him, has no pleasures of the mind.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
The Plays of William Shakespeare, “Cymbeline” (1765)

Shakespeare, William -- Sonnet 104, ll. 1-3

Dave — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 14:38:27 +0000

To me, fair friend, you never can be old,
For as you were when first your eye I ey’d,
Such seems your beauty still.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Sonnet 104, ll. 1-3
(Source)

Butcher, Jim -- White Night (2007)

Dave — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 16:46:58 +0000

Age is always advancing, and I’m fairly sure it’s up to no good.

Jim Butcher (b. 1971) American author
White Night (2007)

Thoreau, Henry David -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 16:45:38 +0000

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American philosopher and writer
(Attributed)

First attributed in Kate Sanborn, A Year of Sunshine; Cheerful Extracts for Every Day in the Year (1886), but not found in his writings.

Bacon, Francis -- Apothegms, # 97 (1624)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 19:00:00 +0000

Alonso of Aragon was wont to say in commendation of age, that age appears to be best in four things — old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) English philosopher, scientist, author, statesman
Apothegms, # 97 (1624)

See Alfonso X.