--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Old age equalizes - we are aware that…" description: "\"Old age equalizes - we are aware that what is happening to us has happened to untold numbers from the beginning of time. When we are young we act as if..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/eric-hoffer-343_age_old-age-equalizes-we-are-aware-that-what_1358771.jpg" --- # Old age equalizes - we are aware that what is happening to… ![“Old age equalizes - we are aware that what is happening to us has happened to untold numbers from the beginning of time. When we are young we act as if we were the first young people in the world.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/eric-hoffer-343_age_old-age-equalizes-we-are-aware-that-what_1358771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/eric-hoffer-343_age_old-age-equalizes-we-are-aware-that-what_1358771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/eric-hoffer-343_age_old-age-equalizes-we-are-aware-that-what_1358771.jpg) > “Old age equalizes - we are aware that what is happening to us has happened to untold numbers from the beginning of time. When we are young we act as if we were the first young people in the world.” [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. Recognizes that aging brings perspective that individual experiences repeat across history, reducing youthful self‑importance. **In simple terms:** Aging shows we’re not the first in anything. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and shared humanity. Themes humility history perspective Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - intergenerational dialogue - philosophical discourse Key Concepts existential collective memory Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing shared history change your self‑view? - What can humility teach us about aging? A Different Perspective May overlook individual uniqueness in favor of broad generalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-young-796043/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Age Equalizes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-equalizes-3084051/) [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Equalizes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equalizes-4643566/) [Old age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-age/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [To grow old is to grow common. Old age equalizes -- we are aware that what is happening to us has happened to untold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/to-grow-old-is-to-grow-common-old-age-equalizes-we-are-aware-that/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“When your youth is about to enter in old age it shouldn't wonder, what happened? it must say, well done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/when-your-youth-is-about-to-enter-in-old-age-it-shouldn-t-wonder-what/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I wanted to act from a young age and it didn't seem like a reality for me growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeley-hazell/i-wanted-to-act-from-a-young-age-and-it-didn-t-seem-like-a-reality/) [Keeley Hazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeley-hazell/) > [“You act young," he said, "because you are young. But you know things, Roza. Things people older than you don't even know. That day…"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/you-act-young-he-said-because-you-are-young-but-you-know-things-roza/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I act young, I look old, and I'm crazy to be wrestling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/i-act-young-i-look-old-and-i-m-crazy-to-be-wrestling/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [The way it works in our family is, it's the family business. Much like in the Mafia. Every child is given the opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-bridges/the-way-it-works-in-our-family-is-it-s-the-family-business-much-like-2/) [Jordan Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-bridges/) > [Growing up I had amazing parents who really let me be creative and free. I was the youngest of three by six years, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-taymor/growing-up-i-had-amazing-parents-who-really-let-me-be-creative-and/) [Julie Taymor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-taymor/) > [“Scrutinise three times; act once. Young people don’t always grasp this. Being slow and faultless is better than being quick and final.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sten-nadolny/scrutinise-three-times-act-once-young-people-don-t-always-grasp-this/) [Sten Nadolny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sten-nadolny/) > [“Some people are old at 18 and some people act young at 80. Youth is just a misconception of human mind...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anirban-bose/some-people-are-old-at-18-and-some-people-act-young-at-80-youth-is/) [Anirban Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anirban-bose/) > [I knew I wanted to act from a very young age - from about nine, really - but I didn't know how to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-knew-i-wanted-to-act-from-a-very-young-age-from-about-nine-really/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [I wanted to act when I was young. When I was 12, I asked the head of English at my school, 'Can I audition?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/i-wanted-to-act-when-i-was-young-when-i-was-12-i-asked-the-head-of/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I was very driven to act from a very young age, and my parents were not only tolerant of that drive but also encouraging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-was-very-driven-to-act-from-a-very-young-age-and-my-parents-were/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [The world is burdened with young fogies. Old men with ossified minds are easily dealt with. But men who look young, act young and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-world-is-burdened-with-young-fogies-old-men-with-ossified-minds/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [The way it works in our family is, it's the family business. Much like in the Mafia. Every child is given the opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-bridges/the-way-it-works-in-our-family-is-it-s-the-family-business-much-like/) [Jordan Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-bridges/) > [I would not let my children act when they are young!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-would-not-let-my-children-act-when-they-are-young/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) ## 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? 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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": "Old age equalizes - we are aware that what is happening to us has happened to untold numbers from the beginning of time. 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