Oh, once you’ve been initiated into the Elderly, the world…
““Oh, once you’ve been initiated into the Elderly, the world doesn’t want you back.” Veronica settled herself in a rattan chair and adjusted her hat just so. “We—by whom I mean anyone over sixty—commit two offenses just by existing. One is Lack of Velocity. We drive too slowly, walk too slowly, talk too slowly. The world will do business with dictators, perverts, and drug barons of all stripes, but being slowed down it cannot abide. Our second offence is being Everyman’s memento mori. The world can only get comfy in shiny-eyed denial if we are out of sight.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Elderly people are marginalized, seen as slow and irrelevant, leading to societal exclusion.
In simple terms: Society pushes elders aside as burdens.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for inclusion of older adults.
Themes
ageism
exclusion
societal values
Mood
somber
critical
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- policy making
- community programs
- family dynamics
Key Concepts
longevity
human dignity
intergenerational equity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we value the experience of elders?
- What structures can counteract ageist assumptions?
A Different Perspective
May overlook individual agency.