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, Herbert (1640), Howell (1659).