Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.
Interpretation
Aging is not just about age; it's the loss of our ideals and enthusiasm that truly makes us feel old.
This quote emphasizes that growing old is not simply a matter of the passage of time but rather a reflection of how we maintain our passion and ideals throughout life. While physical aging may occur naturally, it is the abandonment of our dreams and enthusiasm that truly ages our spirit and outlook on life.
In practice
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about pursuing dreams at any age.
When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at 20, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at 80.
Youth is not a time of life - it is a state of mind.
Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions, it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.
When the wires are all down and your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then, and only then, have you grown old.
While we are making up our minds as to when we shall begin, the opportunity is lost.
When you compare yourself with others in matters of wealth, position, and health, you should look at people less favoured than yourself. When you compare yourself with others in matters of religion, knowledge and virtue, look at people who are better than yourself.
The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.
I believe in intuitions and inspirations...I sometimes FEEL that I am right. I do not KNOW that I am.
You want to cry aloud for your mistakes. But to tell the truth the world doesn't need any more of that sound.
Books are like mirrors: if a fool looks in, you cannot expect a genius to look out.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.