--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man is not old when his hair turns…" description: "\"A man is not old when his hair turns gray, A man is not old when his teeth decay, But everyman is headed for his last long sleep, When his mind makes a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/969/anonymous-1_aging_a-man-is-not-old-when-his-hair-turns-gra_1028912.jpg" --- # A man is not old when his hair turns gray, A man is not… ![“A man is not old when his hair turns gray, A man is not old when his teeth decay, But everyman is headed for his last long sleep, When his mind makes an appointment that his body cannot keep” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/969/anonymous-1_aging_a-man-is-not-old-when-his-hair-turns-gra_1028912.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/969/anonymous-1_aging_a-man-is-not-old-when-his-hair-turns-gra_1028912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/969/anonymous-1_aging_a-man-is-not-old-when-his-hair-turns-gra_1028912.jpg) > “A man is not old when his hair turns gray, A man is not old when his teeth decay, But everyman is headed for his last long sleep, When his mind makes an appointment that his body cannot keep” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Age is measured by mind and body limits, not outward signs like gray hair or teeth. **In simple terms:** Age is about health, not looks. Key Takeaway Focus on mental and physical health. Themes aging health mind Mood thoughtful somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - retirement - health checkups - caregiving - end‑of‑life planning Key Concepts biology philosophy longevity Questions to Reflect On - What signs of aging do you ignore? - How can you maintain mental sharpness? A Different Perspective Physical signs can be misleading; mental decline may precede visible aging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Decay Everyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay-everyman-2338012/) [Everyman Headed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyman-headed-2338014/) [Gray Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gray-man-446564/) [Long sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-sleep/) [Old Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-hair-568297/) [Old Teeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-teeth-2338013/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [She resembles the Venus de Milo: she is very old, has no teeth, and has white spots on her yellow skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/she-resembles-the-venus-de-milo-she-is-very-old-has-no-teeth-and-has/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [I'm English. Our dentistry is not world famous. But I made sure I got moldings of my old teeth beforehand because I miss them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/i-m-english-our-dentistry-is-not-world-famous-but-i-made-sure-i-got/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) > [“Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/even-when-you-are-old-i-will-be-the-same-even-when-your-hair-has/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [When I shaved my hair, my friends asked me to keep it, maybe make my own wig out of it, but I wanted the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-bendre/when-i-shaved-my-hair-my-friends-asked-me-to-keep-it-maybe-make-my/) [Sonali Bendre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonali-bendre/) > [I feel very very old. My hair hurts. I have buttocks all over my body and I can't even smoke properly any more. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/i-feel-very-very-old-my-hair-hurts-i-have-buttocks-all-over-my-body/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [“She was thin, but not too small. Maybe five and a half feet tall, from what he could tell. She looked like she could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/she-was-thin-but-not-too-small-maybe-five-and-a-half-feet-tall-from/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [“shudder through the train as if some huge, ancient animal were waking itself from a long sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shudder-through-the-train-as-if-some-huge-ancient-animal-were-waking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-good-laugh-and-a-long-sleep-are-the-two-best-cures-for-anything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What is a man's life but a prelude to his death? And what is death but a long sleep, a most welcome forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-a-man-s-life-but-a-prelude-to-his-death-and-what-is-death-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was driven to Whipsnade one sunny morning. When we set out I did not believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-driven-to-whipsnade-one-sunny-morning-when-we-set-out-i-did-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tomorrow night is nothing but one long sleepless wrestle with yesterdays omissions and regrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tomorrow-night-is-nothing-but-one-long-sleepless-wrestle-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first person who's on your mind the moment you open your eyes after a long sleep is the reason of either your happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-person-who-s-on-your-mind-the-moment-you-open-your-eyes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Something strange and chemical was happening to the Gray Man. Once, he’d been stabbed with a screwdriver — Phillips head, bright blue handle —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/something-strange-and-chemical-was-happening-to-the-gray-man-once-he/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“through life in his vibrant plumage, advertising his presence, hiding nothing, but when he closed his front door behind him the artificial light in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/through-life-in-his-vibrant-plumage-advertising-his-presence-hiding/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“Flattered as I am that you count me among the beautiful people, Barrons, allow me to point out that I’m still alive. I encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/flattered-as-i-am-that-you-count-me-among-the-beautiful-people/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Aging quotes > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“You could see the signs of female aging as diseased, especially if you had a vested interest in making women too see them your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/you-could-see-the-signs-of-female-aging-as-diseased-especially-if-you/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [“It takes maturity to be able to laugh like a child again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/it-takes-maturity-to-be-able-to-laugh-like-a-child-again/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Growing old-it's not nice, but it's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/growing-old-it-s-not-nice-but-it-s-interesting/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Anything is possible in the life of a man if he lives long enough. Even maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-raines/anything-is-possible-in-the-life-of-a-man-if-he-lives-long-enough/) [Howell Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-raines/) > [I just want to be Patty McCormack. I want to spend every year aging the way she has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-just-want-to-be-patty-mccormack-i-want-to-spend-every-year-aging/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Maturity is reached the day we don't need to be lied to about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-yerby/maturity-is-reached-the-day-we-don-t-need-to-be-lied-to-about-anything/) [Frank Yerby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-yerby/) [Browse all 2,792 Aging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man is not old when his hair turns gray, A man is not old when his teeth decay, But everyman is headed for his last long sleep, When his mind makes an appointment that his body cannot keep", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-is-not-old-when-his-hair-turns-gray-a-man-is-not-old-when-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aging" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-is-not-old-when-his-hair-turns-gray-a-man-is-not-old-when-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/969/anonymous-1_aging_a-man-is-not-old-when-his-hair-turns-gra_1028912.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/969/anonymous-1_aging_a-man-is-not-old-when-his-hair-turns-gra_1028912.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/969/anonymous-1_aging_a-man-is-not-old-when-his-hair-turns-gra_1028912.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man is not old when his hair turns gray, A man is not old when his teeth decay, But everyman is headed for…” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A man is not old when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-is-not-old-when-his-hair-turns-gray-a-man-is-not-old-when-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-is-not-old-when-his-hair-turns-gray-a-man-is-not-old-when-his/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```