--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We pay when old for the excesses of youth." description: "\"We pay when old for the excesses of youth.\" — J. B. Priestley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/151/j-b-priestley-9291_age_we-pay-when-old-for-the-excesses-of-yout_971294.png" --- # We pay when old for the excesses of youth. ![“We pay when old for the excesses of youth.” quote by J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/151/j-b-priestley-9291_age_we-pay-when-old-for-the-excesses-of-yout_971294.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/151/j-b-priestley-9291_age_we-pay-when-old-for-the-excesses-of-yout_971294.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/151/j-b-priestley-9291_age_we-pay-when-old-for-the-excesses-of-yout_971294.png) > “We pay when old for the excesses of youth.” [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Older generations bear the cost of younger generations' reckless choices. **In simple terms:** Older pay for youthful excesses. Key Takeaway Recognize intergenerational responsibility. Themes responsibility generations consequences Mood reflective critical Type social philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - family budgeting - public health planning Key Concepts social contract intergenerational equity Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance fairness with personal freedom? - What policies can mitigate this burden? A Different Perspective May overlook individual agency and personal accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Excesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excesses/) [Excesses Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excesses-youth-1175703/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Old Excesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-excesses-1866204/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [To me, the counterculture was always what I grew up with the hippies in the late '60s. But, however you define it, it's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-ridgers/to-me-the-counterculture-was-always-what-i-grew-up-with-the-hippies/) [Derek Ridgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-ridgers/) > [The excesses of our youth are drafts upon our old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-excesses-of-our-youth-are-drafts-upon-our-old-age/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Empires implode from within due to their own excesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-saad/empires-implode-from-within-due-to-their-own-excesses/) [Gad Saad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-saad/) > [“As with most excesses in life, you have to drown yourself in them to realize that they don’t make you happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/as-with-most-excesses-in-life-you-have-to-drown-yourself-in-them-to/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“Down close to certain flowers all excesses are sufficiencies”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-giannini/down-close-to-certain-flowers-all-excesses-are-sufficiencies/) [David Giannini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-giannini/) > [Our vices are the excesses of our virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pleasant-rowland/our-vices-are-the-excesses-of-our-virtues/) [Pleasant Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pleasant-rowland/) > [While pimples are not as simple as too much milk or sugar in your diet, both have a significant impact. Nutritional deficiencies as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/while-pimples-are-not-as-simple-as-too-much-milk-or-sugar-in-your/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [Excesses are essentially gestures. 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Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouriel-roubini/no-country-can-be-complacent-in-making-sure-that-excessive-debt-of/) [Nouriel Roubini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouriel-roubini/) > [The excesses of love soon pass, but its insufficiencies torment us forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-excesses-of-love-soon-pass-but-its-insufficiencies-torment-us/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [True charity is liable to excesses and transports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/true-charity-is-liable-to-excesses-and-transports/) [Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/) > [Enjoy the necessities of life but eschew the excesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gardner/enjoy-the-necessities-of-life-but-eschew-the-excesses/) [Ian Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gardner/) ## More by J. B. 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