--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Truths that become old become decrepit…" description: "\"Truths that become old become decrepit and unreliable; sometimes they may be kept going artificially for a certain time, but there is no life in them.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/p-d-ouspensky-9110_certain_truths-that-become-old-become-decrepit-a_796725.jpg" --- # Truths that become old become decrepit and unreliable… ![“Truths that become old become decrepit and unreliable; sometimes they may be kept going artificially for a certain time, but there is no life in them.” quote by P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/p-d-ouspensky-9110_certain_truths-that-become-old-become-decrepit-a_796725.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/p-d-ouspensky-9110_certain_truths-that-become-old-become-decrepit-a_796725.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/p-d-ouspensky-9110_certain_truths-that-become-old-become-decrepit-a_796725.jpg) > “Truths that become old become decrepit and unreliable; sometimes they may be kept going artificially for a certain time, but there is no life in them.” [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Outdated truths lose vitality; artificially sustaining them creates false reliability, leading to eventual decay. **In simple terms:** Old ideas die unless refreshed; forced persistence fails. Key Takeaway Seek fresh perspectives and let ideas evolve naturally. Themes philosophy psychology change intellectual honesty Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Academic discourse - personal growth - organizational development Key Concepts Cognitive stagnation cultural renewal Questions to Reflect On - Which old ideas still serve us? - How to balance tradition with innovation? A Different Perspective May dismiss valuable traditions that still hold relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artificially Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artificially-certain-6108414/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Decrepit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decrepit/) [Decrepit Unreliable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decrepit-unreliable-6108415/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths/) [Truths Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths-old-2932452/) [Unreliable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unreliable/) [Unreliable Kept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unreliable-kept-6108416/) ## Related quotes > [Stick to the old truths and the old paths, and learn their di- vineness by sick-beds and in every-day work, and do not darken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/stick-to-the-old-truths-and-the-old-paths-and-learn-their-di-vineness/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [“In these days of physical fitness, hair dye, and plastic surgery, you can live much of your life without feeling or even looking old.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/in-these-days-of-physical-fitness-hair-dye-and-plastic-surgery-you/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [Some will read only old books, as if there were no valuable truths to be discovered in modern publications: others will only read new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/some-will-read-only-old-books-as-if-there-were-no-valuable-truths-to/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [All truths are old, and all that we have to do is recognize and utter them anew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-truths-are-old-and-all-that-we-have-to-do-is-recognize-and-utter/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [When everybody owns something, nobody owns it, and nobody has a direct interest in maintaining or improving its condition. That is why buildings in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/when-everybody-owns-something-nobody-owns-it-and-nobody-has-a-direct/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [And what's a life? - a weary pilgrimage, Whose glory in one day doth fill the stage With childhood, manhood, and decrepit age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/and-what-s-a-life-a-weary-pilgrimage-whose-glory-in-one-day-doth-fill/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I closed the gulf of anarchy and brought order out of chaos. I rewarded merit regardless of birth or wealth, wherever I found it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/i-closed-the-gulf-of-anarchy-and-brought-order-out-of-chaos-i/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! Blind among enemies, O worse than chains, dungeon or beggary, or decrepit age! 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If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/the-ideal-state-is-meekness-or-humility-or-the-semi-invalid-state-of/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [If architects want to strengthen a decrepit arch, they increase the load which is laid upon it, for thereby the parts are joined more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/if-architects-want-to-strengthen-a-decrepit-arch-they-increase-the/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Autumn is the very soul of metamorphosis, a time when the world is poised at the door of winter - which is the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/autumn-is-the-very-soul-of-metamorphosis-a-time-when-the-world-is/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [I'll always be a boulevardier. I have an extreme reverence and romantic longing for all that is decrepit and fatalistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-ll-always-be-a-boulevardier-i-have-an-extreme-reverence-and/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [The voting booth joint is a great leveler; the whole neighborhood - rich, poor, old, young, decrepit and spunky - they all turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/the-voting-booth-joint-is-a-great-leveler-the-whole-neighborhood-rich/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) ## More by P.D. 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