--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today, elderly people are discarded when…" description: "\"Today, elderly people are discarded when, in reality, they are the seat of wisdom of the society...the right to life means allowing people to live and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/pope-francis-85_aging_today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when_1353011.png" --- # Today, elderly people are discarded when, in reality, they… ![“Today, elderly people are discarded when, in reality, they are the seat of wisdom of the society...the right to life means allowing people to live and not killing, allowing them to grow, to eat, to be educated, to be healed, and to be permitted to die with dignity.” quote by Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/pope-francis-85_aging_today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when_1353011.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/pope-francis-85_aging_today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when_1353011.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/pope-francis-85_aging_today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when_1353011.png) > “Today, elderly people are discarded when, in reality, they are the seat of wisdom of the society...the right to life means allowing people to live and not killing, allowing them to grow, to eat, to be educated, to be healed, and to be permitted to die with dignity.” [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society undervalues elders, yet they hold essential wisdom; respecting life means supporting growth, education, health, and dignified death. **In simple terms:** Elders are wise; life should be respected and dignified. Key Takeaway Honor elders and protect human dignity. Themes respect wisdom human rights agingcare Mood reflective compassionate Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - family decisions - healthcare planning - education - end‑of‑life care Key Concepts intergenerational solidarity human dignity elder care Questions to Reflect On - How can societies better integrate elder wisdom? - What policies ensure dignified aging? A Different Perspective Elders may be seen as burdens, not assets, in some cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Elderly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elderly/) [Elderly People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elderly-people/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Right to life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-life/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Every man has a right to life, and this means that he has also a right to make a comfortable living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/every-man-has-a-right-to-life-and-this-means-that-he-has-also-a-right/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The right to life means that a man has the right to support his life by his own work (on any economic level, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-right-to-life-means-that-a-man-has-the-right-to-support-his-life/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Man's right to life means his right to have the free and unrestricted use of all the things which may be necessary to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/man-s-right-to-life-means-his-right-to-have-the-free-and-unrestricted/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [Every man has a right to life. That means that he also has a right to make a comfortable living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/every-man-has-a-right-to-life-that-means-that-he-also-has-a-right-to/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Wine is a sign of happiness, love and plenty, how many of our adolescents and young people sense that these are no longer found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/wine-is-a-sign-of-happiness-love-and-plenty-how-many-of-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The right to life is the first human right. Abortion is killing someone that cannot defend him or herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-right-to-life-is-the-first-human-right-abortion-is-killing/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The right to life is the first among human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-right-to-life-is-the-first-among-human-rights/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The moral problem of abortion is of a pre religious nature because the genetic code is written in a person at the moment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-moral-problem-of-abortion-is-of-a-pre-religious-nature-because/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The right to life is the first human right. 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I remember that when I was studying in one country the clinics that did abortions then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/europe-has-discarded-its-children-a-bit-triumphantly-i-remember-that/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Human beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. We have created a "disposable" culture which is now spreading. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/human-beings-are-themselves-considered-consumer-goods-to-be-used-and-2/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Unfortunately, what is thrown away is not only food and dispensable objects, but often human beings themselves, who are discarded as 'unnecessary.' For example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/unfortunately-what-is-thrown-away-is-not-only-food-and-dispensable/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Human beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. We have created a 'disposable' culture which is now spreading. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/human-beings-are-themselves-considered-consumer-goods-to-be-used-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Pope Francis > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Most people nowadays would not consider love as related in any way to truth. 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Please join me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-pray-every-day-for-all-who-are-suffering-in-iraq-please-join-me/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Certain realities in life are only seen through eyes that are cleansed through our tears. Let us learn how to weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/certain-realities-in-life-are-only-seen-through-eyes-that-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) [Explore all 1,479 Pope Francis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## 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": "Today, elderly people are discarded when, in reality, they are the seat of wisdom of the society...the right to life means allowing people to live and not killing, allowing them to grow, to eat, to be educated, to be healed, and to be permitted to die with dignity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pope Francis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when-in-reality-they-are-the-seat/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aging" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when-in-reality-they-are-the-seat/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/pope-francis-85_aging_today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when_1353011.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/pope-francis-85_aging_today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when_1353011.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/pope-francis-85_aging_today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when_1353011.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Today, elderly people are discarded when, in reality, they are the seat of wisdom of the society...the right…” — Pope Francis", "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": "Pope Francis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Today, elderly people are discarded when,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when-in-reality-they-are-the-seat/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when-in-reality-they-are-the-seat/#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 } } ] } ```