--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A person is always startled when he hears…" description: "\"A person is always startled when he hears himself called old for the first time.\" — Oliver Wendell Holmes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/oliver-wendell-holmes-12756_first-time_a-person-is-always-startled-when-he-hear_2761482.jpg" --- # A person is always startled when he hears himself called… ![“A person is always startled when he hears himself called old for the first time.” quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/oliver-wendell-holmes-12756_first-time_a-person-is-always-startled-when-he-hear_2761482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/oliver-wendell-holmes-12756_first-time_a-person-is-always-startled-when-he-hear_2761482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/oliver-wendell-holmes-12756_first-time_a-person-is-always-startled-when-he-hear_2761482.jpg) > “A person is always startled when he hears himself called old for the first time.” [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being labeled “old” can shock self‑perception, prompting reflection on aging. **In simple terms:** Age labels can surprise us. Key Takeaway Embrace aging gracefully. Themes aging identity self‑perception Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - career transition - health care - personal development Key Concepts sociology psychology life stages Questions to Reflect On - How do you define age? - What does “old” mean to you? A Different Perspective Age labels can reinforce stereotypes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-old-685409/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Hears Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hears-called-3173176/) [Person Startled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-startled-685410/) [Startled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startled/) [Startled Hears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startled-hears-685408/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [A person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called an old man for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/a-person-is-always-startled-when-he-hears-himself-seriously-called-an/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/) > [The Ancient Mariner would not have taken so well if it had been called The Old Sailor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/the-ancient-mariner-would-not-have-taken-so-well-if-it-had-been/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [We must be compelled to hold this doctrine to be false, and the old and new law called the Old and New Testament, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/we-must-be-compelled-to-hold-this-doctrine-to-be-false-and-the-old/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [It is so comic to hear oneself called old, even at ninety I suppose!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-james/it-is-so-comic-to-hear-oneself-called-old-even-at-ninety-i-suppose/) [Alice James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-james/) > [We have been called old rockers, rock pensioners, and dinosaurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/we-have-been-called-old-rockers-rock-pensioners-and-dinosaurs/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [“As a kid, I thought the song Auld Lang Syne was called Old Man's Eye. I like my version better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/as-a-kid-i-thought-the-song-auld-lang-syne-was-called-old-man-s-eye-i/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“My Lord... what is Death like?" called the old man tremulously. "When I have investigated it fully, I will let you know," came the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/my-lord-what-is-death-like-called-the-old-man-tremulously-when-i-have/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“He is of what is called the old school - a phrase generally meaning any school that seems never to have been young.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/he-is-of-what-is-called-the-old-school-a-phrase-generally-meaning-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I would say there's about 10 people who know that, that my car was called 'Old Sock.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/i-would-say-there-s-about-10-people-who-know-that-that-my-car-was/) [Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/) > [ I remember it as if it were today... seeing him \[Che\] framed in the viewfinder, with that expression. I am still startled by the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-korda/i-remember-it-as-if-it-were-today-seeing-him-che-framed-in-the/) [Alberto Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-korda/) > [“I jumped at the sound of my last name. I get started frequently, because I spent most of my time in my own head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sariah-wilson/i-jumped-at-the-sound-of-my-last-name-i-get-started-frequently/) [Sariah Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sariah-wilson/) > [“I was woken by a shell-burst in the trench of sleep. Heart skipping, with eyes fighting light, my thoughts sprang up like a field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wiles/i-was-woken-by-a-shell-burst-in-the-trench-of-sleep-heart-skipping/) [Will Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-wiles/) > [I get startled really easily, so I hate horror films. I have to close my eyes when I think something is going to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-lezark/i-get-startled-really-easily-so-i-hate-horror-films-i-have-to-close/) [Leigh Lezark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-lezark/) > [Some years ago, I was introduced to Nicole Kidman and I curtseyed! I'm sure she doesn't remember but she looked a bit startled. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-fitzgerald/some-years-ago-i-was-introduced-to-nicole-kidman-and-i-curtseyed-i-m/) [Tara Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-fitzgerald/) > [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## More by Oliver Wendell Holmes > [Even a dog knows the difference between being kicked and being stumbled over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/even-a-dog-knows-the-difference-between-being-kicked-and-being/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [There are a good many real miseries in life that we cannot help smiling at, but they are the smiles that make wrinkles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/there-are-a-good-many-real-miseries-in-life-that-we-cannot-help/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [The great thing in this world is not so much where you stand, as in what direction you are moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/the-great-thing-in-this-world-is-not-so-much-where-you-stand-as-in/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [A man's mind stretched by a new idea can never go back to its original dimensions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/a-man-s-mind-stretched-by-a-new-idea-can-never-go-back-to-its/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [Husband and wife come to look alike at last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/husband-and-wife-come-to-look-alike-at-last/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [To brag little - to show well - to crow gently, if in luck - to pay up, to own up, and to shut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/to-brag-little-to-show-well-to-crow-gently-if-in-luck-to-pay-up-to/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [Beauty is only skin deep... but dont tell an ugly person that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/beauty-is-only-skin-deep-but-dont-tell-an-ugly-person-that/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/the-mind-once-expanded-to-the-dimensions-of-larger-ideas-never/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, As the swift seasons roll! Leave thy low-vaulted past! Let each new temple, nobler than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/build-thee-more-stately-mansions-o-my-soul-as-the-swift-seasons-roll/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [Alas for those that never sing, but die with all their music in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/alas-for-those-that-never-sing-but-die-with-all-their-music-in-them/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [When men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe... that the ultimate good desired is better reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/when-men-have-realized-that-time-has-upset-many-fighting-faiths-they/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [Don't be consistent but be simple true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/don-t-be-consistent-but-be-simple-true/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [When I think of talking, it is of course with a woman. For talking at its best being an inspiration, it wants a corresponding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/when-i-think-of-talking-it-is-of-course-with-a-woman-for-talking-at/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [If I had a formula for bypassing trouble, I would not pass it round. Trouble creates a capacity to handle it. I don't embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/if-i-had-a-formula-for-bypassing-trouble-i-would-not-pass-it-round/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) > [The woman cries before the wedding; the man afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes/the-woman-cries-before-the-wedding-the-man-afterward/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) [Explore all 53 Oliver Wendell Holmes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes/) ## More First time quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I’m so stressed that a weird Olympic-style commentary starts up in my head. 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For the first time in my life, I’ve found something worth fighting for, someone more important than me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelle-bliss/i-won-t-break-your-heart-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-ve-found/) [Chelle Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelle-bliss/) > [Life is like a parachute jump: you have to get it right the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-is-like-a-parachute-jump-you-have-to-get-it-right-the-first-time/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [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/) > [When my kids were in the school play for the first time, I decided I had to make the costumes from scratch and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alexander/when-my-kids-were-in-the-school-play-for-the-first-time-i-decided-i/) [Sarah Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alexander/) > [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/) [Mennah al refaey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mennah-al-refaey/) > [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. 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