--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many old people receive pensions for no…" description: "\"Many old people receive pensions for no other reason, it seems to me, but as a compensation for having lived a long time ago.\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/henry-david-thoreau-20_age_many-old-people-receive-pensions-for-no_577708.jpg" --- # Many old people receive pensions for no other reason, it… ![“Many old people receive pensions for no other reason, it seems to me, but as a compensation for having lived a long time ago.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/henry-david-thoreau-20_age_many-old-people-receive-pensions-for-no_577708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/henry-david-thoreau-20_age_many-old-people-receive-pensions-for-no_577708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/henry-david-thoreau-20_age_many-old-people-receive-pensions-for-no_577708.jpg) > “Many old people receive pensions for no other reason, it seems to me, but as a compensation for having lived a long time ago.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pensions can be viewed as societal gratitude for a lifetime of experience. **In simple terms:** Pensions reward long lives. Key Takeaway Value and respect elders through fair compensation. Themes respect age society compensation gratitude Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical social. When to use this quote - retirement planning - policy debates - community support - family discussions Key Concepts social contract intergenerational equity economic security Questions to Reflect On - How should societies honor elders beyond money? - What role does experience play in modern economies? A Different Perspective Pensions may create dependency if not paired with purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Compensation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compensation/) [Compensation Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compensation-having-807597/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Long time ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time-ago/) [Old age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-age/) [Old people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-people/) [Pension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pension/) [Pensions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pensions/) [Pensions Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pensions-reason-4755250/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Receive Pensions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receive-pensions-4755251/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) ## Related quotes > [To know the great men dead is compensation for having to live with the mediocre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/to-know-the-great-men-dead-is-compensation-for-having-to-live-with/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [You get behind some of the numbers, like the underfunded pensions in the US, and I'm not sure people even understand how wrong their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-moelis/you-get-behind-some-of-the-numbers-like-the-underfunded-pensions-in/) [Ken Moelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-moelis/) > [One of the big problems in America's economic polarization and shrinkage is that pensions can't be paid. 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