Wow, I thought I was feisty!
Our readers responded to our call for favorite quotes about aging (original column below) with fun…
“I’ll never be done turning my wild oats into shredded wheat!”
-Kathy B.
…and with wit…
“Studies have shown that people who have the most birthdays live the longest.”
-Sue O’D
A few had a good perspective on grey hair. Here’s my favorite so far…
“I don’t have gray hair…I have wisdom highlights.”
-Judy G.
You GO, girl!
Readers Bella and Lisa offer extensive commentary worth checking out in the comments below.
Personally I like Rose’s attitude.
“…Life is good and I”m HAPPY to be here.”
That’s what I call aging with attitude!
We’ll leave this column up for a while so folks can enjoy quotes and maybe start thinking of their own. We’ll bring back this column with some other quotes at a future date, so be on the lookout.
Original Column posted 12/5:
Aging is a journey everyone will face (if they’re lucky!), yet society has so many indications that it’s something to avoid looking at, or even to dread.
Well, screw that.
Here’s a list of just some of my favorite quotes about aging, from people who know what’s up.
- “The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.” ~ Frank Lloyd Wright
- “Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears. ~John Lennon
- “You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.” ~George Bernard Shaw
- “Oh, the worst of all tragedies is not to die young, but to live until I am seventy-five and yet not ever truly to have lived.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
- “Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” ~Franz Kafka
- “Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better!” ~Ingrid Bergman
What’s your favorite quote about aging – either your own or from someone you admire. Let us know in the comments!
Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog “Don’t Get Me Started” puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City. Send your suggestions for Open Threads to her at editor@seniorplanet.org.
COMMENTS
30 responses to “Open Thread Update: Fave Quotes About Aging”
I’m lovin’ Judy G’s comment. Mine’s “Ladies First, then Whatever’s Leftover”<– it's prettier in Spanish
I have always liked the quote from Mark Twain…”Age is mostly a matter of mind,
if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
“Getting older is inevitable, aging is optional”
From my older brother: Getting old beats the alternative….but some days, not by much.
Aging – It happens…hopefully!
I’ll never be done turning my wild oats into shredded wheat!
Well said …
“Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough.” – Earnest Hemingway’
“Please don’t retouch my wrinkles. It took me so long to earn them. ” – Anna Magnani
“Life goes on and on after one’s luck has run out. Youthfulness persists, alas, long after one has ceased to be young.” – Glenway Wescott
“One of the best things about getting older: Knowing someone is an asshole before they even speak.” – Maggie Smith
“What makes old age hard to bear is not the failing of one’s faculties, mental and physical, but the burden of one’s memories.” – W. Somerset Maugham
“Everything about aging in my experience so far has been a plus. Except the death part!” – Gloria Steinem
“Do not go gentle into that good night but rage, rage against the dying of the light.” – Dylan Thomas
Bella
I like that one that says, The best thing about getting older, is knowing asshole before they even speak. LOL
“Aging is becoming who you were always meant to be.”- David Bowie
Many years ago when a few gray hairs first appeared, my wife plucked them out, saying she said she didn’t want me to look ‘old’ (or something like that).
I replied that she should leave them alone because they were an honor and I had earned them.
Lol. My husband tells not to dye my grey. So I have finally start to just let it grow out. And it is not so bad. Plus, I am getting tired of dying it. Lol
Perhaps the quote you attributed to John Lennon was just his favorite quote. I have a trivet from my mom, from the 1940’s with that quote on it!
Hi there
I tell people at times if you don’t like your age reverse the numbers! (Might be younger.). This past month I was telling people I was turning 37! Tho of course I was turning 73 – people always get a laugh.
Overall I am not concerned re aging – I quite enjoy it – life is good and I’m HAPPY to be here!
You know you’re old when you start saying — actually believing: “When I was his/her/their age I did everything a better way.” I made this up myself, so if it really sucks, it’s my bad. Which is actually good, because I’m still creating.
Yeah, Senior Planet!!!
Getting old ain’t for sissies.
True that! My Mom was right!
Studies have shown that people who have the most birthdays live the longest.
Sue — That one sounds like a Yogi-ism (Yogi Berra).
/LarryG
“You only live once, but if you do it right once is enough”. – Mae West
I keep losing gray hairs
I find them everywhere
On my clothes, in the sink, in the tub
Gray Hairs in the bed and on the rugs
But there’s no lack of gray on this head
I just keep getting more gray instead
So long to my Brunette days
And hello to the gray
Each gray hair is a sign
A sign if this long life that is mine
A sign of love, concern and care
A symbol to others of my time spent here
I embrace the gray and old age
There is a freedom, a knowing
There is wisdom still growing
And so I say, “BRING ON THE GRAY!”
Lisa Betts
Wonderful!
I totally agree. I have finally gotten tired of dying my grey. I am letting it grow on out now. Not dying it anymore. I am starting to like it. Take care and have a great day.
“This is what 65 looks like” – Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, upon being told she doesn’t look 65.
*”I surrender my youth gladly — I have outgrown it….” This was on a bookmark I purchased many years ago — not credit as to who said it…
*When referred to as ‘young lady’ — I respond :
“I’m an old woman and proud of it.”
“I don’t have gray hair. I have wisdom highlights.”
I don’t have wrinkles, I have smile lines! :)
Yes! I totally agree. I am 63 years young. Lol
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER!
We all are the same age. An unknown fraction of a lifetime!
Love that Quote. Thanks for sharing it.
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