--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You are old, Father William,\" the young…" description: "\"You are old, Father William,\" the young man cried, \"The few locks which are left you are gray; You are hale, Father William, a hearty old man,- Now tel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/robert-southey-4115_cried_you-are-old-father-william-the-young-man_1401813.jpg" --- # You are old, Father William," the young man cried, "The… ![“You are old, Father William," the young man cried, "The few locks which are left you are gray; You are hale, Father William, a hearty old man,- Now tell me the reason I pray.” quote by Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/robert-southey-4115_cried_you-are-old-father-william-the-young-man_1401813.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/robert-southey-4115_cried_you-are-old-father-william-the-young-man_1401813.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/robert-southey-4115_cried_you-are-old-father-william-the-young-man_1401813.jpg) > “You are old, Father William," the young man cried, "The few locks which are left you are gray; You are hale, Father William, a hearty old man,- Now tell me the reason I pray.” [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Age brings wisdom and vigor; questioning can reveal deeper purpose despite physical signs. **In simple terms:** Even old, one can be strong and purposeful. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond appearances. Themes age wisdom vitality purpose questioning Mood thoughtful inspirational contemplative Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - elderly advice - self‑assessment - intergenerational dialogue - personal reflection Key Concepts Poetry reflection human condition Questions to Reflect On - What does vitality mean to you at any age? - How can questioning enrich your later years? A Different Perspective Physical signs may not reflect inner strength. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [I pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-pray/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [“You are old, Father William,' the young man said, 'And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head—…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-are-old-father-william-the-young-man-said-and-your-hair-has/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [I'll get angry in the same way with the coachman Ivan, argue in the same way, speak my mind inappropriately, there will be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ll-get-angry-in-the-same-way-with-the-coachman-ivan-argue-in-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I have not long to live. I have lasted more than a man's average allotted span, and while I still am hale and hearty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/i-have-not-long-to-live-i-have-lasted-more-than-a-man-s-average/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [“But the best reason to pray is that God is really there. In praying, our unbelief gradually starts to melt. God moves smack into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-griffin/but-the-best-reason-to-pray-is-that-god-is-really-there-in-praying/) Emilie Griffin > [One good reason why we should pray: God can do more in a second than what we can do for ourselves in a lifetime.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/one-good-reason-why-we-should-pray-god-can-do-more-in-a-second-than/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Our reason to pray for such spiritual benefits is a fairly obvious one—one that we have affirmed again and again in this book: “so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/our-reason-to-pray-for-such-spiritual-benefits-is-a-fairly-obvious/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [One good reason why we should pray it's because God can do more in five seconds... than what we can do for ourselves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-good-reason-why-we-should-pray-it-s-because-god-can-do-more-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [See your weakness as a reason to pray the more, it should not be the reason for sadness or to abandon your post.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-b-joshua/see-your-weakness-as-a-reason-to-pray-the-more-it-should-not-be-the/) [T. B. Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-b-joshua/) > [“I shall go on in the same way, losing my temper with Ivan the coachman, falling into angry discussions, expressing my opinions tactlessly; there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-shall-go-on-in-the-same-way-losing-my-temper-with-ivan-the-coachman/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [As a nation we've been faced with so many tragedies since the beginning of this Millennium and I believe we have even more reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oleta-adams/as-a-nation-we-ve-been-faced-with-so-many-tragedies-since-the/) [Oleta Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oleta-adams/) > [A feeling of real need is always a good enough reason to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/a-feeling-of-real-need-is-always-a-good-enough-reason-to-pray/) [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) > [We hear in these days of scientific enlightenment a great deal of discussion about the efficacy of Prayer. 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