--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We really have to think about aging…" description: "\"We really have to think about aging because women are living longer than men. More of the people who need care are women. A lot of them are living alon..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/martha-c-nussbaum-11905_aging_we-really-have-to-think-about-aging-beca_2336415.jpg" --- # We really have to think about aging because women are… ![“We really have to think about aging because women are living longer than men. More of the people who need care are women. A lot of them are living alone, with no one to care for them, or they're shunted into institutions. I would like to see a sensible aging policy more like what the Nordic…” quote by Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/martha-c-nussbaum-11905_aging_we-really-have-to-think-about-aging-beca_2336415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/martha-c-nussbaum-11905_aging_we-really-have-to-think-about-aging-beca_2336415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/martha-c-nussbaum-11905_aging_we-really-have-to-think-about-aging-beca_2336415.jpg) > “We really have to think about aging because women are living longer than men. More of the people who need care are women. A lot of them are living alone, with no one to care for them, or they're shunted into institutions. I would like to see a sensible aging policy more like what the Nordic countries have. They're cutting back those programs, but there you can still have in-home nursing care. You don't have to rely on your children. I personally don't want to be a burden on my daughter.” [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights gender disparities in aging, noting women outlive men, face higher care needs, and often lack support, urging Nordic‑style home care policies. **In simple terms:** Women live longer and need more care, so policies should support them at home. Key Takeaway Advocate for home‑based elder care policies. Themes aging gender care policy social welfare longevity Mood concerned hopeful determined Type policy advocacy social commentary When to use this quote - government planning - family support services - community health programs - elderly housing - non‑profit advocacy Key Concepts demographic trends public policy family dynamics healthcare systems Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance fiscal constraints with compassionate elder care? - What models best ensure dignity for aging women? A Different Perspective Implementation costs and cultural resistance may limit adoption. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Living alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-alone/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nordic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nordic/) [Nursing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Aging in women is 'unbeautiful' since women grow more powerful with time, and since the links between generations of women must always be broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/aging-in-women-is-unbeautiful-since-women-grow-more-powerful-with/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [There's a lot of criticism on how an actress is aging. Why do we do that with women? I work with a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/there-s-a-lot-of-criticism-on-how-an-actress-is-aging-why-do-we-do/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [I sometimes miss the sense of excitement that I remember having when I was younger. I miss that sense of, 'Oh wow.' I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/i-sometimes-miss-the-sense-of-excitement-that-i-remember-having-when/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [ I think \[aging\] has nothing to recommend it. You don't gain any wisdom as the years go by. You fall apart, is what happens.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-aging-has-nothing-to-recommend-it-you-don-t-gain-any-wisdom/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [In interviews, the first question I get in America is always: 'What do you do to stay young?' I do nothing. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/in-interviews-the-first-question-i-get-in-america-is-always-what-do-2/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [I think aging is underrated. As you grow older, you have perspective and you realize just how fortunate you are to be working. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/i-think-aging-is-underrated-as-you-grow-older-you-have-perspective/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [I find it interesting that 16-year-olds are having plastic surgery. People in their 40s used to think, 'I'm aging, I have to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-seymour/i-find-it-interesting-that-16-year-olds-are-having-plastic-surgery/) [Jane Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-seymour/) > [It's scary when you look at how kids age, because you think, 'Am I aging at that rate, too?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-o-hara/it-s-scary-when-you-look-at-how-kids-age-because-you-think-am-i-aging/) [Catherine O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-o-hara/) > [Most people think that aging is genetic and yet if your parents lived to age 80+ that will add three years to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/most-people-think-that-aging-is-genetic-and-yet-if-your-parents-lived/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I think I am aging, but I'm enjoying the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/i-think-i-am-aging-but-i-m-enjoying-the-process/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [I do think about aging. I have those moments of panic and vanity, but life keeps getting better, so you can't worry about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/i-do-think-about-aging-i-have-those-moments-of-panic-and-vanity-but/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [I used to think aging was a scam, a total abdication of your self. Well, aging's not a scam, but quitting is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lowe/i-used-to-think-aging-was-a-scam-a-total-abdication-of-your-self-well/) [Jeff Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lowe/) > [In interviews, the first question I get in America is always: 'What do you do to stay young?' I do nothing. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/in-interviews-the-first-question-i-get-in-america-is-always-what-do/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [Most people think that aging is fatal and scientific data shows that that's not true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/most-people-think-that-aging-is-fatal-and-scientific-data-shows-that/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Most people think that aging is irreversible and we know that there are mechanisms even in the human machinery that allow for the reversal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/most-people-think-that-aging-is-irreversible-and-we-know-that-there/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) ## More by Martha C. Nussbaum > [I think that's what we really need in America, for people to hear each other. And I think philosophy could do a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/i-think-that-s-what-we-really-need-in-america-for-people-to-hear-each/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [If you really do want to increase women's status, you could focus on just that, but you'd probably better focus also on women's education.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/if-you-really-do-want-to-increase-women-s-status-you-could-focus-on/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [We are lucky in the United States to have our liberal arts system. In most countries, if you go to university, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/we-are-lucky-in-the-united-states-to-have-our-liberal-arts-system-in/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [Life is about more than earning a living, and if you're not in the habit of thinking about it, you can end up middle-aged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/life-is-about-more-than-earning-a-living-and-if-you-re-not-in-the/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [Our emotional life maps our incompleteness: A creature without any needs would never have reasons for fear, or grief, or hope, or anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/our-emotional-life-maps-our-incompleteness-a-creature-without-any/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [I do think there's a lot of bad writing, and I worry about that in philosophy. I worry about it even more in literary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/i-do-think-there-s-a-lot-of-bad-writing-and-i-worry-about-that-in/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [With the rise of capitalism, it became more obvious that people pursue individual self-interest. The great nationalist in Italy, Giuseppe Mazzini, a wonderful philosopher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/with-the-rise-of-capitalism-it-became-more-obvious-that-people-pursue/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [The EU might have become a large federal nation. But they would have had to do things differently. Number one, they would've had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/the-eu-might-have-become-a-large-federal-nation-but-they-would-have/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [As human beings, we ought to be vulnerable. We shouldn't try to say that we can be self-sufficient or do everything that's necessary for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/as-human-beings-we-ought-to-be-vulnerable-we-shouldn-t-try-to-say/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [Disgust relies on moral obtuseness. It is possible to view another human being as a slimy slug or a piece of revolting trash only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/disgust-relies-on-moral-obtuseness-it-is-possible-to-view-another/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [The thing that I find so bad about anger is the desire for payback. Of course, it is very human to wish for revenge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/the-thing-that-i-find-so-bad-about-anger-is-the-desire-for-payback-of/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [The GDP approach doesn't address many aspects of human life: health, education, political liberty, religious liberty, employment opportunities. And these are not all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/the-gdp-approach-doesn-t-address-many-aspects-of-human-life-health/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [Knowledge is no guarantee of good behavior, but ignorance is a virtual guarantee of bad behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/knowledge-is-no-guarantee-of-good-behavior-but-ignorance-is-a-virtual/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [Today, I think, the state of philosophizing about democracy is very healthy. It bridges political science and philosophy, as it should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/today-i-think-the-state-of-philosophizing-about-democracy-is-very/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [“We might say that there can be pity in its full-fledged form only where there is also mercy for self: for the self engulfed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/we-might-say-that-there-can-be-pity-in-its-full-fledged-form-only/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) [Explore all 57 Martha C. Nussbaum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) ## 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": "We really have to think about aging because women are living longer than men. 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