--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though why should we expect age to mellow…" description: "\"Though why should we expect age to mellow us? If it isn't life's business to reward merit, why should it be life's business to give us warm comfortable..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/julian-barnes-522_age_though-why-should-we-expect-age-to-mello_385650.png" --- # Though why should we expect age to mellow us? If it isn't… ![“Though why should we expect age to mellow us? If it isn't life's business to reward merit, why should it be life's business to give us warm comfortable feelings towards its end? What possible evolutionary purpose could nostalgia serve?” quote by Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/julian-barnes-522_age_though-why-should-we-expect-age-to-mello_385650.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/julian-barnes-522_age_though-why-should-we-expect-age-to-mello_385650.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/julian-barnes-522_age_though-why-should-we-expect-age-to-mello_385650.png) > “Though why should we expect age to mellow us? If it isn't life's business to reward merit, why should it be life's business to give us warm comfortable feelings towards its end? What possible evolutionary purpose could nostalgia serve?” [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nostalgia isn’t a reward for age; it may have evolutionary roots, but its purpose is unclear. **In simple terms:** Nostalgia’s role in life is uncertain. Key Takeaway Question the value of nostalgia. Themes memory aging evolution Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - elderly care - therapy - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cling to past memories? - Can nostalgia be beneficial? A Different Perspective Nostalgia can hinder present‑focused growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mellow/) [Nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgia/) ## Related quotes > [You need not attempt to shake off or to banter off Romance. 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It seemed unlikely. What evolutionary purpose would such a change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-kostick/was-it-possible-that-human-psychology-changed-between-the-years-of/) Conor Kostick > [“come humans, fulfill your evolutionary purpose adn build your hound a fire." Oberon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/come-humans-fulfill-your-evolutionary-purpose-adn-build-your-hound-a/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [I've made my evolutionary purpose and had children. 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People may not notice at the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-things-that-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“I settled into a contented routine of working, spending my free time with Veronica and, back in my student room, wanking explosively to fantasies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/i-settled-into-a-contented-routine-of-working-spending-my-free-time/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/the-greatest-patriotism-is-to-tell-your-country-when-it-is-behaving/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“There is only good vodka and very good vodka—there is no such thing as bad vodka.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/there-is-only-good-vodka-and-very-good-vodka-there-is-no-such-thing/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [Alice Munro can move characters through time in a way that no other writer can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/alice-munro-can-move-characters-through-time-in-a-way-that-no-other/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [How rarely do our emotions meet the object they seem to deserve? How hopelessly we signal; how dark the sky; how big the waves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/how-rarely-do-our-emotions-meet-the-object-they-seem-to-deserve-how/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [You put together two people who have not been put together before. Sometimes it is like that first attempt to harness a hydrogen balloon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-people-who-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“Also, when you are young, you think you can predict the likely pains and bleaknesses that age might bring. You imagine yourself being lonely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/also-when-you-are-young-you-think-you-can-predict-the-likely-pains/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“Why slum it where people were burdened by yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that? 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I remember that I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/my-train-was-late-slowed-by-the-usual-sunday-engineering-work-i-got/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [In life, every ending is just the start of another story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/in-life-every-ending-is-just-the-start-of-another-story/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“Indeed, isn’t the whole business of ascribing responsibility kind of a cop-out? We want to blame an individual so that everyone else is exculpated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/indeed-isn-t-the-whole-business-of-ascribing-responsibility-kind-of-a/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [Some of the freckles I once loved are now closer to liver spots. But it’s still the eyes we look at, isn’t it? That’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/some-of-the-freckles-i-once-loved-are-now-closer-to-liver-spots-but/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“And what percentage of people take up the option to die off?’ She looked at me, her glance telling me to be calm. ‘Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/and-what-percentage-of-people-take-up-the-option-to-die-off-she/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) [Explore all 454 Julian Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. 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