--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At thirty, man suspects himself a fool…" description: "\"At thirty, man suspects himself a fool; Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan.\" — Edward Young" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/edward-young-1446_aging_at-thirty-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-kn_2915750.png" --- # At thirty, man suspects himself a fool; Knows it at forty… ![“At thirty, man suspects himself a fool; Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan.” quote by Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/edward-young-1446_aging_at-thirty-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-kn_2915750.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/edward-young-1446_aging_at-thirty-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-kn_2915750.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/edward-young-1446_aging_at-thirty-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-kn_2915750.png) > “At thirty, man suspects himself a fool; Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan.” [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People recognize their foolishness with age and adjust their plans accordingly. **In simple terms:** Age reveals folly, prompting change. Key Takeaway Learn from mistakes and adapt. Themes wisdom age self-reflection Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - midlife crisis Key Concepts growth humility learning Questions to Reflect On - What have you learned with age? - How will you adjust your plans? A Different Perspective May underestimate the difficulty of changing long-held habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fool Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool-knows-800883/) [Forty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forty/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Man Suspects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-suspects-2617407/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortality/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Suspects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspects/) [Suspects Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspects-fool-1893243/) [Thirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirty/) [Thirty Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirty-man-1893242/) ## Related quotes > [“At thirty a man suspects himself a fool; Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan; At fifty chides his infamous delay, Pushes his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/at-thirty-a-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-knows-it-at-forty-and-reforms/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [There is no greater fool than the man who thinks himself wise; no one is wiser than he who suspects he is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-of-valois/there-is-no-greater-fool-than-the-man-who-thinks-himself-wise-no-one/) [Margaret of Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-of-valois/) > [The man who suspects his own tediousness is yet to be born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bailey-aldrich/the-man-who-suspects-his-own-tediousness-is-yet-to-be-born/) [Thomas Bailey Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bailey-aldrich/) > [After thirty-five a man begins to have thoughts about women; before that he has feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/after-thirty-five-a-man-begins-to-have-thoughts-about-women-before/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Perish any man who suspects that these men either did or suffered anything unseemly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-ii-of-macedon/perish-any-man-who-suspects-that-these-men-either-did-or-suffered/) [Philip II of Macedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-ii-of-macedon/) > [“-I’m looking for a man— -There are several suspects in Topeka, Ks. that match that description. Why don’t you try there first?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-looking-for-a-man-there-are-several-suspects-in-topeka-ks-that/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [But when a man suspects any wrong it sometimes happens that if he be already involved in the matter he insensibly strives to cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-when-a-man-suspects-any-wrong-it-sometimes-happens-that-if-he-be/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“The wise man sees the fool & laughs, yet the fool never knows why”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovie-sumner/the-wise-man-sees-the-fool-laughs-yet-the-fool-never-knows-why/) [Jovie Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovie-sumner/) > [“A fool is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-fool-is-someone-who-knows-the-price-of-everything-and-the-value-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the fool knows when to be silent, he would be sitting among the wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/when-the-fool-knows-when-to-be-silent-he-would-be-sitting-among-the/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [He who knows he is a fool is not the biggest fool; He who knows he is confused is not in the worst confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/he-who-knows-he-is-a-fool-is-not-the-biggest-fool-he-who-knows-he-is/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [You can't fool someone that knows you too well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-can-t-fool-someone-that-knows-you-too-well/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [The fool who thinks he is wise is just a fool. The fool who knows he is a fool is wise indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-fool-who-thinks-he-is-wise-is-just-a-fool-the-fool-who-knows-he/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [A lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he is talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/a-lot-of-good-arguments-are-spoiled-by-some-fool-who-knows-what-he-is/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [Even a fool knows you can't touch the stars, but it won't keep the wise from trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/even-a-fool-knows-you-can-t-touch-the-stars-but-it-won-t-keep-the/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) ## More by Edward Young > [Give me, indulgent gods with mind serene, And guiltless heart, to range the sylvan scene, No splendid poverty, no smiling care, No well-bred hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/give-me-indulgent-gods-with-mind-serene-and-guiltless-heart-to-range/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The spirit walks of every day deceased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-spirit-walks-of-every-day-deceased/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Tomorrow is a satire on today, And shows its weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/tomorrow-is-a-satire-on-today-and-shows-its-weakness/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Be wise with speed; a fool at forty is a fool indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/be-wise-with-speed-a-fool-at-forty-is-a-fool-indeed/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Procrastination is the thief of time: Year after year it steals, till all are fled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-year-after-year-it-steals-till/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [ \[The\] public path of life Is dirty. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-public-path-of-life-is-dirty/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [He mourns the dead who lives as they desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-desire/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Too low they build who build below the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/too-low-they-build-who-build-below-the-skies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/we-are-all-born-originals-why-is-it-so-many-of-us-die-copies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [“By night an atheist half believes in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/by-night-an-atheist-half-believes-in-god/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Britannia's shame! There took her gloomy flight, On wing impetuous, a black sullen soul . Less base the fear of death than fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/britannia-s-shame-there-took-her-gloomy-flight-on-wing-impetuous-a/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The chamber where the good man meets his fate Is privileg'd beyond the common walk Of virtuous life, quite in the verge of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-chamber-where-the-good-man-meets-his-fate-is-privileg-d-beyond/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Some go to Church, proud humbly to repent, And come back much more guilty than they went: One way they look, another way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/some-go-to-church-proud-humbly-to-repent-and-come-back-much-more/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [He that is ungrateful has no guilt but one; all other crimes may pass for virtues in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/he-that-is-ungrateful-has-no-guilt-but-one-all-other-crimes-may-pass/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The maid that loves goes out to sea upon a shattered plank, and puts her trust in miracles for safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-maid-that-loves-goes-out-to-sea-upon-a-shattered-plank-and-puts/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) [Explore all 238 Edward Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## 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": "At thirty, man suspects himself a fool; Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/at-thirty-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-knows-it-at-forty-and-reforms/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aging" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/at-thirty-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-knows-it-at-forty-and-reforms/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/edward-young-1446_aging_at-thirty-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-kn_2915750.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/edward-young-1446_aging_at-thirty-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-kn_2915750.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/edward-young-1446_aging_at-thirty-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-kn_2915750.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At thirty, man suspects himself a fool; Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan.” — Edward Young", "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": "Edward Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "At thirty, man suspects himself a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/at-thirty-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-knows-it-at-forty-and-reforms/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/at-thirty-man-suspects-himself-a-fool-knows-it-at-forty-and-reforms/#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 } } ] } ```