--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like children, the elders are a burden…" description: "\"Like children, the elders are a burden. But unlike children, they offer no hope or promise. They are a weight and an encumbrance and a mirror of our ow..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/kent-nerburn-10008_aging_like-children-the-elders-are-a-burden-bu_2804115.jpg" --- # Like children, the elders are a burden. But unlike… ![“Like children, the elders are a burden. But unlike children, they offer no hope or promise. They are a weight and an encumbrance and a mirror of our own mortality. It takes a person of great heart to see past this fact and to see the wisdom the elders have to offer, and so serve them out of…” quote by Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/kent-nerburn-10008_aging_like-children-the-elders-are-a-burden-bu_2804115.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/kent-nerburn-10008_aging_like-children-the-elders-are-a-burden-bu_2804115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/kent-nerburn-10008_aging_like-children-the-elders-are-a-burden-bu_2804115.jpg) > “Like children, the elders are a burden. But unlike children, they offer no hope or promise. They are a weight and an encumbrance and a mirror of our own mortality. It takes a person of great heart to see past this fact and to see the wisdom the elders have to offer, and so serve them out of gratitude for the life they have passed on to us.” [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Elders can seem burdensome yet hold deep wisdom; recognizing this requires compassion and gratitude. **In simple terms:** Elders are heavy but wise; see beyond the weight. Key Takeaway Respect and learn from older generations. Themes age wisdom burden gratitude mortality compassion Mood respectful hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - family caregiving - community mentorship - elder care policies Key Concepts intergenerational learning life cycles Questions to Reflect On - What wisdom can elders share today? - How can we support elders without viewing them as burdens? A Different Perspective May romanticize elders, ignoring real hardships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elders/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Mortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortality/) [No hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-hope/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Two generations ago only a few unfortunate children ever saw anyone hit over the head with a brick, shot, rammed by a car, blown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-leach/two-generations-ago-only-a-few-unfortunate-children-ever-saw-anyone/) [Penelope Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-leach/) > [Children need the wisdom of their elders; the aging need the encouragement of a child's exuberance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/children-need-the-wisdom-of-their-elders-the-aging-need-the/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [Youngsters lack wisdom; elders lack energy! When wisdom and energy comes to gather, great things are destined to happen!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/youngsters-lack-wisdom-elders-lack-energy-when-wisdom-and-energy/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Lofty mountains are full of springs; great hearts are full of tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philibert-joseph-roux/lofty-mountains-are-full-of-springs-great-hearts-are-full-of-tears/) [Philibert Joseph Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philibert-joseph-roux/) > [I do not think I am successful just because I have money. I'm successful because I love who I am and I have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/i-do-not-think-i-am-successful-just-because-i-have-money-i-m/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [The cosmos is a vast living body, of which we are still parts. 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It shows they have a great heart, one that can feel compassion for others." —Cornflower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/even-the-strongest-and-bravest-must-sometimes-weep-it-shows-they-have-2/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [ \[The web\] is going to end up being a tremendous advantage, providing we can work out the financial structure. I think we’ll see newspapers… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-evans/the-web-is-going-to-end-up-being-a-tremendous-advantage-providing-we/) [Harold Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-evans/) > [We're going to show great heart. DACA is a very, very difficult subjects, one of the most difficult. You have these incredible kids in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-re-going-to-show-great-heart-daca-is-a-very-very-difficult/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Everyone sees the unseen in proportion to the clarity of his hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/everyone-sees-the-unseen-in-proportion-to-the-clarity-of-his-hear/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Great hearts alone understand how much glory there is in being good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-michelet/great-hearts-alone-understand-how-much-glory-there-is-in-being-good/) [Jules Michelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-michelet/) > [The greatest problem with Irish Wolfhounds, though, is that they don't live very long: their great hearts give out. A good deal of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/the-greatest-problem-with-irish-wolfhounds-though-is-that-they-don-t/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [The great heart of comrade Kim Jong Il has ceased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-yong-nam/the-great-heart-of-comrade-kim-jong-il-has-ceased/) Kim Yong-nam > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More by Kent Nerburn > [We may not all live holy lives, but we live in a world alive with holy moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-may-not-all-live-holy-lives-but-we-live-in-a-world-alive-with-holy/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/remember-to-be-gentle-with-yourself-and-others-we-are-all-children-of/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“In some corner of your life, you know more about something than anyone else on earth. The true measure of your education is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/in-some-corner-of-your-life-you-know-more-about-something-than-anyone/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [We live in a world alive with holy moments. We need only take the time to bring these moments into the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-live-in-a-world-alive-with-holy-moments-we-need-only-take-the-time/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance, and none can say while some fields will blossom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/remember-to-be-gentle-with-yourself-and-others-we-are-all-children-of-2/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [...Good leaders wait to be called and they give up their power when they are no longer needed. 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When you are gone, you are gone. It isn't a problem to be gone, so long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/when-you-are-here-you-are-here-when-you-are-gone-you-are-gone-it-isn/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [We measure our presence in generations; we cannot dig down ten thousand years and find our bones. Our arrival is scribed upon the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/we-measure-our-presence-in-generations-we-cannot-dig-down-ten/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“Now is the moment when I must pause and lift my heart — now, before the day fragments and my consciousness shatters into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/now-is-the-moment-when-i-must-pause-and-lift-my-heart-now-before-the/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [When all the words have been written, and all the phrases have been spoken, the great mystery of life will still remain. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/when-all-the-words-have-been-written-and-all-the-phrases-have-been/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [“Loneliness is like sitting in an empty room and being aware of the space around you. It is a condition of separateness. Solitude is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/loneliness-is-like-sitting-in-an-empty-room-and-being-aware-of-the/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) [Explore all 68 Kent Nerburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) ## More Aging quotes > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“You could see the signs of female aging as diseased, especially if you had a vested interest in making women too see them your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/you-could-see-the-signs-of-female-aging-as-diseased-especially-if-you/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [“It takes maturity to be able to laugh like a child again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/it-takes-maturity-to-be-able-to-laugh-like-a-child-again/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Growing old-it's not nice, but it's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/growing-old-it-s-not-nice-but-it-s-interesting/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Anything is possible in the life of a man if he lives long enough. Even maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-raines/anything-is-possible-in-the-life-of-a-man-if-he-lives-long-enough/) [Howell Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-raines/) > [I just want to be Patty McCormack. I want to spend every year aging the way she has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-just-want-to-be-patty-mccormack-i-want-to-spend-every-year-aging/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Maturity is reached the day we don't need to be lied to about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-yerby/maturity-is-reached-the-day-we-don-t-need-to-be-lied-to-about-anything/) [Frank Yerby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-yerby/) [Browse all 2,792 Aging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like children, the elders are a burden. But unlike children, they offer no hope or promise. 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