--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The older a fool is, the worse he is." description: "\"The older a fool is, the worse he is.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_age_the-older-a-fool-is-the-worse-he-is-9484_948411.png" --- # The older a fool is, the worse he is. ![“The older a fool is, the worse he is.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_age_the-older-a-fool-is-the-worse-he-is-9484_948411.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_age_the-older-a-fool-is-the-worse-he-is-9484_948411.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_age_the-older-a-fool-is-the-worse-he-is-9484_948411.png) > “The older a fool is, the worse he is.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fool’s age worsens his folly, as experience fails to bring wisdom without self‑awareness. **In simple terms:** Age can deepen foolishness without insight. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑reflection to avoid worsening mistakes. Themes wisdom age foolishness self‑awareness Mood reflective cautionary Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career development - personal relationships - education - leadership Key Concepts personal growth humility learning from experience Questions to Reflect On - How can one recognize and correct growing folly? - What practices foster humility over time? A Different Perspective Self‑awareness is required to break the cycle. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Old age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-age/) ## Related quotes > [Life is not fair... Anyone who says it is, or even that it ought to be, is a fool or worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/life-is-not-fair-anyone-who-says-it-is-or-even-that-it-ought-to-be-is/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [To let a fool kiss you is stupid, to let a kiss fool you is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-let-a-fool-kiss-you-is-stupid-to-let-a-kiss-fool-you-is-worse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is not fit that every man should travel; it makes a wise man better, and a fool worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/it-is-not-fit-that-every-man-should-travel-it-makes-a-wise-man-better/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Travel makes a wise man better, and a fool worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fuller/travel-makes-a-wise-man-better-and-a-fool-worse/) [Thomas Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-fuller/) > [O innocent victims of Cupid, Remember this terse little verse: To let a fool kiss you is stupid, To let a kiss fool you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/o-innocent-victims-of-cupid-remember-this-terse-little-verse-to-let-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes there are accidents in our lives the skillful extrication from which demands a little folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/sometimes-there-are-accidents-in-our-lives-the-skillful-extrication/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Some accidents there are in life that a little folly is necessary to help us out of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/some-accidents-there-are-in-life-that-a-little-folly-is-necessary-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [There are certain people fated to be fools; they not only commit follies by choice, but are even constrained to do so by fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/there-are-certain-people-fated-to-be-fools-they-not-only-commit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Some follies are caught, like contagious diseases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/some-follies-are-caught-like-contagious-diseases/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is with an old love as it is with old age a man lives to all the miseries, but is dead to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-with-an-old-love-as-it-is-with-old-age-a-man-lives-to-all-the/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Just because you're old doesn't mean you've matured.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/just-because-you-re-old-doesn-t-mean-you-ve-matured/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [Do not tell me you are too old. Age is all imagination. Ignore years and they will ignore you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/do-not-tell-me-you-are-too-old-age-is-all-imagination-ignore-years/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [Old age is fifteen years older than I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/old-age-is-fifteen-years-older-than-i-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel like old age in America is a very sad thing. I have been many different places around the world where getting older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/i-feel-like-old-age-in-america-is-a-very-sad-thing-i-have-been-many/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [I’m 59 and people call me middle aged. How many 118 year old men do you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-cryer/i-m-59-and-people-call-me-middle-aged-how-many-118-year-old-men-do/) [Barry Cryer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-cryer/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## 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": "The older a fool is, the worse he is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-older-a-fool-is-the-worse-he-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Age" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-older-a-fool-is-the-worse-he-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_age_the-older-a-fool-is-the-worse-he-is-9484_948411.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_age_the-older-a-fool-is-the-worse-he-is-9484_948411.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_age_the-older-a-fool-is-the-worse-he-is-9484_948411.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The older a fool is, the worse he is.” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "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": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The older a fool is, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-older-a-fool-is-the-worse-he-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-older-a-fool-is-the-worse-he-is/#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 } } ] } ```