---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Advice in old age is foolish; for what…"
description: "\"Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the nearer we approach to our journey's end.\" — ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_advice_advice-in-old-age-is-foolish-for-what-ca_2857924.jpg"
---

#  Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd…

![“Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the nearer we approach to our journey's end.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_advice_advice-in-old-age-is-foolish-for-what-ca_2857924.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_advice_advice-in-old-age-is-foolish-for-what-ca_2857924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_advice_advice-in-old-age-is-foolish-for-what-ca_2857924.jpg)

> “Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the nearer we approach to our journey's end.”

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

## 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 advice often seems absurd because we near life's end and need less provision.

**In simple terms:** Advice for old age feels odd as we approach life's end.

Key Takeaway

Focus on present needs, not future anxieties.

Themes

aging wisdom provision

Mood

thoughtful pragmatic

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- retirement planning
- health care
- legacy building

Key Concepts

stoicism economics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you prepare for later life without over‑preparing?
- What truly matters as you age?

A Different Perspective

Future planning is still valuable despite uncertainty.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Old age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-age/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/)

## Related quotes

> [“Favorinus began with an interesting statement that it was “completely foolish and absurd” to think that just because “the tides of the ocean correspond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-scribner/favorinus-began-with-an-interesting-statement-that-it-was-completely/)

Alan Scribner

> [Could you help me catch the moon?” “I might be able to give you some advice,” the old man said reluctantly. “But first you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/could-you-help-me-catch-the-moon-i-might-be-able-to-give-you-some/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [Your modern teenager is not about to listen to advice from an old person, defined as a person who remembers when there was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/your-modern-teenager-is-not-about-to-listen-to-advice-from-an-old/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [Age is no guarantee of maturity. I have found that if a person was foolish and immature throughout their lifetime, when they reach old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kreger/age-is-no-guarantee-of-maturity-i-have-found-that-if-a-person-was/)

[David Kreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kreger/)

> [Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/age-is-foolish-and-forgetful-when-it-underestimates-youth/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think all this talk about age is foolish. Every time I'm one year older, everyone else is too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-swanson/i-think-all-this-talk-about-age-is-foolish-every-time-i-m-one-year/)

[Gloria Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-swanson/)

> [Sometimes you should take an advice from the old... It may be the best thing that you could've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/sometimes-you-should-take-an-advice-from-the-old-it-may-be-the-best/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [“Advice? You're too old to be given it and too young to take it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/advice-you-re-too-old-to-be-given-it-and-too-young-to-take-it/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“Take some advice from an old woman, Abbie. There’s no such thing as a wrong decision. You make your choices in life based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-fallowfield/take-some-advice-from-an-old-woman-abbie-there-s-no-such-thing-as-a/)

Charlotte Fallowfield

> [“If you want the advice of an old man, don't be afraid of making mistakes. That's life. Just be sure you're making them for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-harper/if-you-want-the-advice-of-an-old-man-don-t-be-afraid-of-making/)

[Lou Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-harper/)

> [Can I give a little advice to the old man on Capitol Hill? Stop saying teabagger. Ask your younger staffers what it means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/can-i-give-a-little-advice-to-the-old-man-on-capitol-hill-stop-saying/)

[Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/)

> [Never take advice about never taking advice. That is an old vice of men - to dish it out without being able to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/never-take-advice-about-never-taking-advice-that-is-an-old-vice-of/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [To prescribe medicine for the dead and to give advice to the old is the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/to-prescribe-medicine-for-the-dead-and-to-give-advice-to-the-old-is/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [It is foolish to pluck out one's hair for sorrow, as if grief could be assuaged by baldness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-is-foolish-to-pluck-out-one-s-hair-for-sorrow-as-if-grief-could-be/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [We must not say that every mistake is a foolish one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/we-must-not-say-that-every-mistake-is-a-foolish-one/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero

> [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

[Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

## More Advice quotes

> [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/)

Mak\_786

> [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/)

[Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/)

> [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/)

[Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/)

> [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/)

[Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/)

> [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/)

[Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/)

> [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/)

[Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/)

> [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/)

[Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/)

> [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/)

[Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/)

[Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the nearer we approach to our journey's end.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/advice-in-old-age-is-foolish-for-what-can-be-more-absurd-than-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Advice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/advice-in-old-age-is-foolish-for-what-can-be-more-absurd-than-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_advice_advice-in-old-age-is-foolish-for-what-ca_2857924.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_advice_advice-in-old-age-is-foolish-for-what-ca_2857924.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_advice_advice-in-old-age-is-foolish-for-what-ca_2857924.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the…” — Marcus Tullius Cicero",
                "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Advice in old age is foolish;...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/advice-in-old-age-is-foolish-for-what-can-be-more-absurd-than-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/advice-in-old-age-is-foolish-for-what-can-be-more-absurd-than-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
