--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A compilation of what outstanding people…" description: "\"A compilation of what outstanding people said or wrote at the age of 20 would make a collection of asinine pronouncements.\" — Eric Hoffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/eric-hoffer-343_age_a-compilation-of-what-outstanding-people_2698125.jpg" --- # A compilation of what outstanding people said or wrote at… ![“A compilation of what outstanding people said or wrote at the age of 20 would make a collection of asinine pronouncements.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/eric-hoffer-343_age_a-compilation-of-what-outstanding-people_2698125.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/eric-hoffer-343_age_a-compilation-of-what-outstanding-people_2698125.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/eric-hoffer-343_age_a-compilation-of-what-outstanding-people_2698125.jpg) > “A compilation of what outstanding people said or wrote at the age of 20 would make a collection of asinine pronouncements.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early‑life statements often lack depth and can seem naive when viewed later. **In simple terms:** Youthful statements can be naive. Key Takeaway Value experience over early opinions. Themes youth wisdom experience reflection growth humility Mood reflective humorous Type philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - career mentoring - education - personal journaling Key Concepts cognitive development generational perspective self‑assessment Questions to Reflect On - How have your views changed with age? - What early advice still holds value? A Different Perspective Some early insights prove prescient. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Age of 20](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-of-20/) [Asinine Pronouncements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asinine-pronouncements-2712700/) [Collection Asinine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collection-asinine-2712702/) [Collections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collections/) [Compilation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compilation/) [Outstanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outstanding/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-said/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-wrote-1804341/) [Wrote Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-age-2712701/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [Anything I wrote before the age of 17 is probably worth putting a pin in and moving on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-capaldi/anything-i-wrote-before-the-age-of-17-is-probably-worth-putting-a-pin/) [Lewis Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-capaldi/) > [I don't think much of anything I wrote before the age of 30.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-parsons/i-don-t-think-much-of-anything-i-wrote-before-the-age-of-30/) [Tony Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-parsons/) > [ \[Black-ish creator\] Kenya Bariss wrote on Girlfriends. We've been friendly since then. He sent me \[the pilot\] and said, "I wrote it for you."… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/black-ish-creator-kenya-bariss-wrote-on-girlfriends-we-ve-been/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [I do not know what God said or wrote, but I know what people claimed in words and writing that God said or wrote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana-fulger/i-do-not-know-what-god-said-or-wrote-but-i-know-what-people-claimed/) [Mariana Fulger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana-fulger/) > [Though you tried to tell me you never loved me, I know you did, 'cause you said it and you wrote it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-nash/though-you-tried-to-tell-me-you-never-loved-me-i-know-you-did-cause/) [Kate Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-nash/) > [I asked Ring Lardner the other day how he writes his short stories, and he said he wrote a few widely separated words or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ross/i-asked-ring-lardner-the-other-day-how-he-writes-his-short-stories/) [Harold Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ross/) > [If I wanted to curse you out, I would write everything I wanted to say to you in my diary, and it was like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claressa-shields/if-i-wanted-to-curse-you-out-i-would-write-everything-i-wanted-to-say/) [Claressa Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claressa-shields/) > [In the '70s and '80s, if you said you wrote for 'the people,' that meant you weren't any good. But I think that's changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-wilberg/in-the-70s-and-80s-if-you-said-you-wrote-for-the-people-that-meant/) [Mack Wilberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-wilberg/) > [“About the library," he whispered. He took out the pencil stub from his pocket and poised it over the page. "Will you write like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-whitcomb/about-the-library-he-whispered-he-took-out-the-pencil-stub-from-his/) [Laura Whitcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-whitcomb/) > [You need only do three things in this country to avoid poverty - finish high school, marry before having a child, and marry after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-galston/you-need-only-do-three-things-in-this-country-to-avoid-poverty-finish/) [William Galston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-galston/) > [You'll live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-ll-live-to-be-a-hundred-if-you-give-up-all-the-things-that-make/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I am considered an icon at the age of 20 when people like after 40s or after they die are considered icons. It's just amazing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-kapoor/i-am-considered-an-icon-at-the-age-of-20-when-people-like-after-40s/) [Sonam Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-kapoor/) > [You know, you don't need to grow old to die. I was dying at the age of 20 as a result of no direction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-cardone/you-know-you-don-t-need-to-grow-old-to-die-i-was-dying-at-the-age-of/) [Grant Cardone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-cardone/) > [Any man who is not a communist at the age of 20 is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-lapid/any-man-who-is-not-a-communist-at-the-age-of-20-is-a-fool/) [Yair Lapid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-lapid/) > [ All the shows we did pre-airdate, and I'd come out - "Rob Lowe!" - and it was \[Offers bored applause.\] After the show aired?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/all-the-shows-we-did-pre-airdate-and-i-d-come-out-rob-lowe-and-it-was/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-creative-mind-is-the-playful-mind-philosophy-is-the-play-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-best-part-of-the-art-of-living-is-to-know-how-to-grow-old/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [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/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A compilation of what outstanding people said or wrote at the age of 20 would make a collection of asinine pronouncements.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Hoffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-compilation-of-what-outstanding-people-said-or-wrote-at-the-age-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Age" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-compilation-of-what-outstanding-people-said-or-wrote-at-the-age-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/eric-hoffer-343_age_a-compilation-of-what-outstanding-people_2698125.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/eric-hoffer-343_age_a-compilation-of-what-outstanding-people_2698125.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/eric-hoffer-343_age_a-compilation-of-what-outstanding-people_2698125.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A compilation of what outstanding people said or wrote at the age of 20 would make a collection of asinine…” — Eric Hoffer", "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": "Eric Hoffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A compilation of what outstanding people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-compilation-of-what-outstanding-people-said-or-wrote-at-the-age-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-compilation-of-what-outstanding-people-said-or-wrote-at-the-age-of/#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 } } ] } ```