Age Quote by Devdutt Pattanaik
“In India, the eldest has the most responsibility and the crown goes to him. The crown could go to a person with the most talent. But how could 'most talent' be determined? So Indian society settled on age.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Myth = India, 2015
Indian tradition assigns leadership by age, not talent, because age is an observable proxy for experience, avoiding subjective talent judgments.
In simple terms: Age decides leadership, not skill.
Key Takeaway
Question age‑based hierarchies.
Themes
culture
leadership
tradition
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
theoretical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family business
- political succession
- community decision‑making
Key Concepts
anthropology
social structure
Questions to Reflect On
- How can talent be fairly assessed?
- What are alternatives to age‑based leadership?
A Different Perspective
Age may not reflect competence.
