Old people Quote by Bill Bryson
““The parking lot was almost empty, except for an old bus from which a load of senior citizens were disembarking. The bus was from the Calvary Baptist Church in someplace like Firecracker, Georgia, or Bareassed, Alabama. The old people were noisy and excited, like schoolchildren, and pushed in front of me at the ticket booth, little realizing that I wouldn't hesitate to give an old person a shove, especially a Baptist. Why is it, I wondered, that old people are always so self-centered and excitable? But I just smiled benignly and stood back, comforted by the thought that soon they would be dead.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson, 1998
The narrator observes elderly churchgoers at a bus stop, feeling a mix of irritation and dark humor about aging and mortality.
In simple terms: Older people can seem self‑absorbed, but the narrator reflects on their inevitable death.
Key Takeaway
Recognize fleeting irritation and practice compassion.
Themes
irritation
aging
humor
Mood
wry
reflective
darkly humorous
Type
observational
social commentary
humorous
When to use this quote
- airport queues
- church events
- public transport
- intergenerational interactions
Key Concepts
human nature
mortality
social observation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you react when impatience surfaces?
- What does humor reveal about our attitudes toward aging?
A Different Perspective
The comment may be seen as ageist and dismissive of seniors' humanity.
