--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would not say that old men grow wise…" description: "\"I would not say that old men grow wise, for men never grow wise; and many old men retain a very attractive childishness and cheerful innocence. Elderly..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_adventurous_i-would-not-say-that-old-men-grow-wise-f_2930759.jpg" --- # I would not say that old men grow wise, for men never grow… ![“I would not say that old men grow wise, for men never grow wise; and many old men retain a very attractive childishness and cheerful innocence. Elderly people are often much more romantic than younger people, and sometimes even more adventurous, having begun to realize how many things they do not…” quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_adventurous_i-would-not-say-that-old-men-grow-wise-f_2930759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_adventurous_i-would-not-say-that-old-men-grow-wise-f_2930759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_adventurous_i-would-not-say-that-old-men-grow-wise-f_2930759.jpg) > “I would not say that old men grow wise, for men never grow wise; and many old men retain a very attractive childishness and cheerful innocence. Elderly people are often much more romantic than younger people, and sometimes even more adventurous, having begun to realize how many things they do not know.” [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Age does not guarantee wisdom; many elders retain childlike wonder and optimism. **In simple terms:** Old age isn’t always wise; often playful. Key Takeaway Value youthful curiosity at any age. Themes age wisdom innocence Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - elderly mentorship - intergenerational friendships - learning new skills Key Concepts philosophical psychology Questions to Reflect On - What youthful traits do elders keep? - How can we learn from their innocence? A Different Perspective Assuming age equals insight can be misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventurous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventurous/) [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Cheerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerful/) [Childishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childishness/) [Elderly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elderly/) [Elderly People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elderly-people/) [Innocence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocence/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Old men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-men/) ## Related quotes > [Wise men never grow up; indeed, they grow younger, for they lose the appalling worldly wisdom of youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/wise-men-never-grow-up-indeed-they-grow-younger-for-they-lose-the/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [“And sometimes we finally grow wise enough to understand life is a gift that can't- shouldn't- last forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-meadows/and-sometimes-we-finally-grow-wise-enough-to-understand-life-is-a/) [Jodi Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-meadows/) > [Knowledge is indivisible. When people grow wise in one direction, they are sure to make it easier for themselves to grow wise in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/knowledge-is-indivisible-when-people-grow-wise-in-one-direction-they/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Each step, each strain of the eye Opens out a new horizon; And every day throws in our way Something new, to grow more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-leighton/each-step-each-strain-of-the-eye-opens-out-a-new-horizon-and-every/) [Robert B. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-leighton/) > [“We think we grow old, we grow wise and more tolerant; we just grow more lazy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/we-think-we-grow-old-we-grow-wise-and-more-tolerant-we-just-grow-more/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [What shelter to grow ripe is ours? What leisure to grow wise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/what-shelter-to-grow-ripe-is-ours-what-leisure-to-grow-wise/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [If we walk with the wise, we will grow wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-curtis-chapman/if-we-walk-with-the-wise-we-will-grow-wise/) [Steven Curtis Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-curtis-chapman/) > [He bids fair to grow wise who has discovered that he is not so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-bids-fair-to-grow-wise-who-has-discovered-that-he-is-not-so/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [One should take good care not to grow too wise for so great a pleasure of life as laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/one-should-take-good-care-not-to-grow-too-wise-for-so-great-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Learn everything you can - everything. And then use all that you have learned to grow up too be a wise and good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/learn-everything-you-can-everything-and-then-use-all-that-you-have/) [Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/) > [...that though they may refuse to grow wise, they must inevitably grow old; ...that the proper solaces of age are not music and compliments,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/that-though-they-may-refuse-to-grow-wise-they-must-inevitably-grow/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [THERE are no wise few; for in all men rages the folly of the Fall. Take your strongest, happiest, handsomest, best born, best bred,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/there-are-no-wise-few-for-in-all-men-rages-the-folly-of-the-fall-take/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“A wise old owl lived in an oak The more he saw the less he spoke The less he spoke the more he heard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/english-nursery-rhyme/a-wise-old-owl-lived-in-an-oak-the-more-he-saw-the-less-he-spoke-the/) English Nursery Rhyme > [A wise old owl once lived in a wood, the more he heard the less he said, the less he said the more he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flann-o-brien/a-wise-old-owl-once-lived-in-a-wood-the-more-he-heard-the-less-he/) [Flann O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flann-o-brien/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) ## More by Gilbert K. Chesterton > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Youth is always too serious, and just now it is too serious about frivolity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/youth-is-always-too-serious-and-just-now-it-is-too-serious-about/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Tradition does not mean a dead town; it does not mean that the living are dead but that the dead are alive. It means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/tradition-does-not-mean-a-dead-town-it-does-not-mean-that-the-living/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [It is shorter to state the things forbidden than the things permitted; precisely because most things are permitted and only a few things forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/it-is-shorter-to-state-the-things-forbidden-than-the-things-permitted/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [For Scotland has a double dose of the poison called heredity; the sense of blood in the aristocrat, the sense of doom in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/for-scotland-has-a-double-dose-of-the-poison-called-heredity-the/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all conquerors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/faith-is-always-at-a-disadvantage-it-is-a-perpetually-defeated-thing/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [A building is akin to dogma; it is insolent, like dogma. Whether or no it is permanent, it claims permanence, like a dogma. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-building-is-akin-to-dogma-it-is-insolent-like-dogma-whether-or-no/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The triangle of truisms, of father, mother and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-triangle-of-truisms-of-father-mother-and-child-cannot-be/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Criticism is only words about words, and of what use are words about such words as these?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/criticism-is-only-words-about-words-and-of-what-use-are-words-about/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place...The old humility was a spur that prevented a man from stopping; not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/what-we-suffer-from-today-is-humility-in-the-wrong-place-the-old/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Plato was only a Bernard Shaw who unfortunately made his jokes in Greek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/plato-was-only-a-bernard-shaw-who-unfortunately-made-his-jokes-in/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The word good has many meanings...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-word-good-has-many-meanings/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Music with dinner is an insult both to the cook and the violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/music-with-dinner-is-an-insult-both-to-the-cook-and-the-violinist/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Eugenics asserts that all men must be so stupid that they cannot manage their own affairs; and also so clever that they can manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/eugenics-asserts-that-all-men-must-be-so-stupid-that-they-cannot/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Explore all 868 Gilbert K. Chesterton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## More Adventurous quotes > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [“Life is adventurous and exciting because you never know where you will be in a few minutes or so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/life-is-adventurous-and-exciting-because-you-never-know-where-you/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [ I wanted to play in New York when I was in my prime and I was young, fierce, lock-down \[defender\]. Madison Square Garden, that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-wanted-to-play-in-new-york-when-i-was-in-my-prime-and-i-was-young/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [“To an adventurous spirit any place is an unexplored land”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-montgomery-fate/to-an-adventurous-spirit-any-place-is-an-unexplored-land/) Tom Montgomery Fate > [The chef has kids complaining to their parents the food they get in school is better than what they get at home. He's turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-nestle/the-chef-has-kids-complaining-to-their-parents-the-food-they-get-in/) [Marion Nestle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-nestle/) > [We have a family holiday once a year, usually abroad, but that's it. I feel I should have holidays for my family's sake, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/we-have-a-family-holiday-once-a-year-usually-abroad-but-that-s-it-i/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [“A silenced leader's gaze stifles the oppressor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-i-svikiro/a-silenced-leader-s-gaze-stifles-the-oppressor/) Andy I. Svikiro > [Archaeology, I found, comprehended all manner of excitement and achievement. Adventure is coupled with bookish toil. Romantic excursions go hand in hand with scholarly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/archaeology-i-found-comprehended-all-manner-of-excitement-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Create your environment from your best innate tenacity. Always embrace the abundance of an inspirational mentality. Eliminate distractions, clutter, and work from a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-s-spence-sr/create-your-environment-from-your-best-innate-tenacity-always-embrace/) [Joseph S. Spence Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-s-spence-sr/) > [I've noticed that the more adventurous and in that mode that I am, it seems that the more the audience really likes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-corea/i-ve-noticed-that-the-more-adventurous-and-in-that-mode-that-i-am-it/) [Chick Corea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-corea/) > [Don't you think now is the time to be adventurous, while we're still young?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-you-think-now-is-the-time-to-be-adventurous-while-we-re-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not-3/) [Christopher McCandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mccandless/) > [The adventurous state of mind is a high house... The joy of adventure is unaccountable. This is the attractiveness of artwork. It is adventurous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/the-adventurous-state-of-mind-is-a-high-house-the-joy-of-adventure-is/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [If there was the opportunity to climb a mountain, or to go ballooning, or some adventurous activity, I would always be keen to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/if-there-was-the-opportunity-to-climb-a-mountain-or-to-go-ballooning/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“Get to know who you are instead of waiting for some magical person to walk into your life and make you more adventurous, richer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bain/get-to-know-who-you-are-instead-of-waiting-for-some-magical-person-to/) Andrea Bain [Browse all 375 Adventurous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventurous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would not say that old men grow wise, for men never grow wise; and many old men retain a very attractive childishness and cheerful innocence. 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