--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always thought that the stereotype…" description: "\"I've always thought that the stereotype of the dirty old man is really the creation of a dirty young man who wants the field to himself.\" — Hugh Downs" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/hugh-downs-30103_creation_i-ve-always-thought-that-the-stereotype_2655707.jpg" --- # I've always thought that the stereotype of the dirty old… ![“I've always thought that the stereotype of the dirty old man is really the creation of a dirty young man who wants the field to himself.” quote by Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/hugh-downs-30103_creation_i-ve-always-thought-that-the-stereotype_2655707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/hugh-downs-30103_creation_i-ve-always-thought-that-the-stereotype_2655707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/hugh-downs-30103_creation_i-ve-always-thought-that-the-stereotype_2655707.jpg) > “I've always thought that the stereotype of the dirty old man is really the creation of a dirty young man who wants the field to himself.” [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that negative stereotypes about older men are actually projected by younger men seeking dominance over shared spaces. **In simple terms:** Older men are stereotyped because younger men want control. Key Takeaway Recognize how projections shape stereotypes. Themes stereotypes power projection Mood critical reflective Type analytical observational When to use this quote - workplace - public spaces - gender relations Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What personal biases influence your view of others? - How does power affect perception? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can also stem from genuine observations, not just projections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Stereotype](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotype/) ## Related quotes > [Dirty old men, ignoring society, continue to follow nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/dirty-old-men-ignoring-society-continue-to-follow-nature/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [With the "old dog" stuff, maybe the term "old" is in there, but I'm 26. I'm not that old. It's mostly like, "Ah, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/with-the-old-dog-stuff-maybe-the-term-old-is-in-there-but-i-m-26-i-m/) [Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/) > [“Mean Mr. Mustard Such a dirty old man Such a dirty old man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-beatles/mean-mr-mustard-such-a-dirty-old-man-such-a-dirty-old-man/) [The Beatles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-beatles/) > [“Talk dirty to me. Call me names." "You dirty, dirty, old person." Praline said rather unenthusiastically.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/talk-dirty-to-me-call-me-names-you-dirty-dirty-old-person-praline/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [“The front door had been secure at some point in time, I suppose, but now it usually hung ajar by a few inches, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thurman/the-front-door-had-been-secure-at-some-point-in-time-i-suppose-but/) [Rob Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thurman/) > [“One thing I could never stand was to see a filthy dirty old drunky howling away at the filthy songs of his fathers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/one-thing-i-could-never-stand-was-to-see-a-filthy-dirty-old-drunky/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [“I love the saying “Nobody likes a dirty old man or a clean little boy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-love-the-saying-nobody-likes-a-dirty-old-man-or-a-clean-little-boy/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [TV tends to look for the living equivalents of squeaky-clean Kens and Barbies, but with my dial I'm more like Ken's dirty old uncle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/tv-tends-to-look-for-the-living-equivalents-of-squeaky-clean-kens-and/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [“Hugh Crain,” Theodora said, “you were a dirty old man, and you made a dirty old house and if you can still hear me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/hugh-crain-theodora-said-you-were-a-dirty-old-man-and-you-made-a/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“Dirty old men are dirty because they are hanging on to life. Sex is the life force, and the nearer they come to death,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-wheelis/dirty-old-men-are-dirty-because-they-are-hanging-on-to-life-sex-is/) [Allen Wheelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-wheelis/) > [Perhaps we should never procure a new suit, however ragged or dirty the old, until we have so conducted or enterprised or sailed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/perhaps-we-should-never-procure-a-new-suit-however-ragged-or-dirty/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“I still contend that Shakespeare is a dirty old man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-riggs/i-still-contend-that-shakespeare-is-a-dirty-old-man/) Stephanie Riggs > [People think of me as a stereotype: muse, privileged, decorative. Classically, the muses were the inspiration. They'd come and go - they wouldn't actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-harlech/people-think-of-me-as-a-stereotype-muse-privileged-decorative/) [Amanda Harlech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-harlech/) > [I tell the truth and they call me a fascist, a racist, an ugly, dirty, nasty, xenophobic populist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/i-tell-the-truth-and-they-call-me-a-fascist-a-racist-an-ugly-dirty/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [It would be flattering to call it a modern Dirty Harry, but I think this film deals more with the loss of his wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/it-would-be-flattering-to-call-it-a-modern-dirty-harry-but-i-think/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) ## More by Hugh Downs > [Happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/happy-person-is-not-a-person-in-a-certain-set-of-circumstances-but/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [There are more stars known to exist right now than the total number of all the grains of sand on every beach in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/there-are-more-stars-known-to-exist-right-now-than-the-total-number/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [Hatred is never anything but fear - if you feared no one, you would hate no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/hatred-is-never-anything-but-fear-if-you-feared-no-one-you-would-hate/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [I have no ego investment in being on the air. I don't knock others for whom that kind of attention is like oxygen, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/i-have-no-ego-investment-in-being-on-the-air-i-don-t-knock-others-for/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [If hemp could supply the energy needs of the United States, its value would be inestimable. Now that the drug czar is in final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/if-hemp-could-supply-the-energy-needs-of-the-united-states-its-value/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [Life begins when you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/life-begins-when-you-do/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [We are a one party country. Half of them call themselves Democrats and the other half call themselves Republicans. All the good ideas come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/we-are-a-one-party-country-half-of-them-call-themselves-democrats-and/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [I sympathize with people who want to ban guns, but I can't agree with them. We have to be careful in our zeal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/i-sympathize-with-people-who-want-to-ban-guns-but-i-can-t-agree-with/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [The price of freedom is responsibility, but it's a bargain, because freedom is priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/the-price-of-freedom-is-responsibility-but-it-s-a-bargain-because/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [Television is the medium of the 20th century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/television-is-the-medium-of-the-20th-century/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [As the first human to land on any world outside the Earth, and probably the first living creature of any sort to come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/as-the-first-human-to-land-on-any-world-outside-the-earth-and/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [How many times has the end of the world been predicted? The same number of times the prediction has proved false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/how-many-times-has-the-end-of-the-world-been-predicted-the-same/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [This country is a one-party country. Half of it is called Republican and half is called Democrat. It doesn't make any difference. All the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/this-country-is-a-one-party-country-half-of-it-is-called-republican/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [The most mature human insight comes from one's introspection rather than from exterior research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/the-most-mature-human-insight-comes-from-one-s-introspection-rather/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) > [Something about an old-fashioned Christmas is hard to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/something-about-an-old-fashioned-christmas-is-hard-to-forget/) [Hugh Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) [Explore all 17 Hugh Downs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/) ## More Creation quotes > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [And wheresoever, in his rich creation, Sweet music breathes--in wave, or bird, or soul-- 'Tis but the faint and far reverberation Of that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-sargent-osgood/and-wheresoever-in-his-rich-creation-sweet-music-breathes-in-wave-or/) [Frances Sargent Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-sargent-osgood/) > [I believe if there is a creator it will basically ask me two questions, how well did you enjoy my creation and what did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-believe-if-there-is-a-creator-it-will-basically-ask-me-two/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [With no other choices open to us, we'd turned our gaze seaward. The oceans were our America: they reached farther than any prairie, untamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/with-no-other-choices-open-to-us-we-d-turned-our-gaze-seaward-the/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) > [In the quiet moments of your day, what do you think and do? When you are with your Self and no one else, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/in-the-quiet-moments-of-your-day-what-do-you-think-and-do-when-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I think that storytelling and creation are very close to what the center of what magic is about. I think not just for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-think-that-storytelling-and-creation-are-very-close-to-what-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [To be part of the creation, I must act humbly. I'll take that over a goddess any day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-o-hara/to-be-part-of-the-creation-i-must-act-humbly-i-ll-take-that-over-a/) [Maureen O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-o-hara/) > [The country of Iraq is somewhat of an artificial creation going back to colonial days. And so you have the Kurds and then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clapper/the-country-of-iraq-is-somewhat-of-an-artificial-creation-going-back/) [James Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clapper/) [Browse all 5,225 Creation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always thought that the stereotype of the dirty old man is really the creation of a dirty young man who wants the field to himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugh Downs" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-stereotype-of-the-dirty-old-man-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-stereotype-of-the-dirty-old-man-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/hugh-downs-30103_creation_i-ve-always-thought-that-the-stereotype_2655707.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/hugh-downs-30103_creation_i-ve-always-thought-that-the-stereotype_2655707.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/hugh-downs-30103_creation_i-ve-always-thought-that-the-stereotype_2655707.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've always thought that the stereotype of the dirty old man is really the creation of a dirty young man who…” — Hugh Downs", "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": "Hugh Downs", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-downs/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've always thought that the stereotype...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-stereotype-of-the-dirty-old-man-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-downs/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-stereotype-of-the-dirty-old-man-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 } } ] } ```