--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great renunciation of old age as it…" description: "\"The great renunciation of old age as it prepared for death, wraps itself up in its chrysalis, which may be observed at the end of lives that are at all..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e9/marcel-proust-114_age_the-great-renunciation-of-old-age-as-it_575215.jpg" --- # The great renunciation of old age as it prepared for… ![“The great renunciation of old age as it prepared for death, wraps itself up in its chrysalis, which may be observed at the end of lives that are at all prolonged, even in old lovers who have lived for one another, in old friends bound by the closest ties of mutual sympathy, who, after a certain…” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e9/marcel-proust-114_age_the-great-renunciation-of-old-age-as-it_575215.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e9/marcel-proust-114_age_the-great-renunciation-of-old-age-as-it_575215.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e9/marcel-proust-114_age_the-great-renunciation-of-old-age-as-it_575215.jpg) > “The great renunciation of old age as it prepared for death, wraps itself up in its chrysalis, which may be observed at the end of lives that are at all prolonged, even in old lovers who have lived for one another, in old friends bound by the closest ties of mutual sympathy, who, after a certain year, cease to make the necessary journey or even to cross the street to see one another, cease to correspond, and know that they will communicate no more in this world.” [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Old age ends relationships and communication, isolating individuals as life wanes. **In simple terms:** Aging can sever ties and silence contact. Key Takeaway Cherish connections before they fade. Themes aging isolation relationships Mood melancholic nostalgic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - family gatherings - friend reunions - elder care Key Concepts mortality social decay Questions to Reflect On - What bonds can survive aging? - How can we maintain contact in later life? A Different Perspective May romanticize decline without acknowledging resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Chrysalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chrysalis/) [Closest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closest/) [Communicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicate/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [End of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-life/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lives Prolonged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-prolonged-4738871/) [Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mutual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual/) [Mutual Sympathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-sympathy-1006644/) [Old age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-age/) [Old friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-friends/) [Old love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-love/) [Old Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-lovers-1244445/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Prolonged Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prolonged-old-980459/) [Renunciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renunciation/) [Renunciation Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renunciation-old-4738870/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [This world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-world/) [Ties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ties/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Wraps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wraps/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“The process which had begun in her - and in he a little earlier only than it must come to all of us -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/the-process-which-had-begun-in-her-and-in-he-a-little-earlier-only/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [How incessant and great are the ills with which a prolonged old age is replete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/how-incessant-and-great-are-the-ills-with-which-a-prolonged-old-age/) [C. 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It's untouchable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-savoretti/jacques-brel-s-song-of-old-lovers-la-chanson-des-vieux-amants-to-me/) [Jack Savoretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-savoretti/) ## More by Marcel Proust > [“machinery' of life at Versailles; and was able, too, to persuade herself that her silence, a shade of good humour or of arrogance on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/machinery-of-life-at-versailles-and-was-able-too-to-persuade-herself/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [ “For her \[Françoise\], wealth was like a necessary condition without which virtue would lack both merit and charm. 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He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [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/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. 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