Skip to content

If you question any candid person who is no longer young…

“If you question any candid person who is no longer young, he is very likely to tell you that, having tasted life in this world, he has no wish to begin again as a "new boy" in another.” quote by Bertrand Russell
Download Open image
“If you question any candid person who is no longer young, he is very likely to tell you that, having tasted life in this world, he has no wish to begin again as a "new boy" in another.”

Bertrand Russell

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Older people often reject starting anew because they value the life they've lived and fear losing that identity.

In simple terms: Older people resist becoming a “new boy.”

Key Takeaway

Respect experience, but stay open to growth.

Themes

wisdom age identity

Mood

contemplative serene

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • career change
  • personal reinvention
  • late‑life education

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “new boy” symbolize for you?
  • Can wisdom coexist with youthful curiosity?
A Different Perspective

May underestimate the benefits of fresh perspectives.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Bertrand Russell

Explore all 1,620 Bertrand Russell quotes

More Begin again quotes

Browse all 127 Begin again quotes