--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When an old man and a young man work…" description: "\"When an old man and a young man work together, it can make an ugly sight or a pretty one, depending on who's in charge. If the young man's in charge or..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/russell-banks-7660_arguing_when-an-old-man-and-a-young-man-work-tog_1630457.jpg" --- # When an old man and a young man work together, it can make… ![“When an old man and a young man work together, it can make an ugly sight or a pretty one, depending on who's in charge. If the young man's in charge or won't let the old man take over, the young man's brute strength becomes destructive and inefficient, and the old man's intelligence, out of…” quote by Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/russell-banks-7660_arguing_when-an-old-man-and-a-young-man-work-tog_1630457.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/russell-banks-7660_arguing_when-an-old-man-and-a-young-man-work-tog_1630457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/russell-banks-7660_arguing_when-an-old-man-and-a-young-man-work-tog_1630457.jpg) > “When an old man and a young man work together, it can make an ugly sight or a pretty one, depending on who's in charge. If the young man's in charge or won't let the old man take over, the young man's brute strength becomes destructive and inefficient, and the old man's intelligence, out of frustration, grows cruel and inefficient. Sometimes the old man forgets that he is old and tries to compete with the young man's strength, and then it's a sad sight. Or the young man forgets that he is young and argues with the old man about how to do the work, and that's a sad sight, too.” [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collaboration between generations can succeed or fail depending on respect and balance of strength and wisdom. **In simple terms:** Young strength vs. old wisdom needs balance. Key Takeaway Balance respect and strengths. Themes generational collaboration respect balance Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - workplace teams - family businesses - mentor relationships Key Concepts intergenerational dynamics leadership efficiency Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure mutual respect? - What happens when power is misaligned? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argues Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argues-old-477356/) [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Brutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutes/) [Destructive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destructive/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Forgets Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgets-young-477355/) [Frustration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustration/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inefficient Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inefficient-old-477354/) [Man's Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mans-strength/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Old Tries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-tries-477357/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ugly/) [Work together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-together/) [Working together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-together/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) ## Related quotes > [“Being held by him, kissed and mastered, taken under and swept away, enthralled her in a way she—an independent woman if nothing else in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-sumner/being-held-by-him-kissed-and-mastered-taken-under-and-swept-away/) [Tracy Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-sumner/) > [A woman's flexibility and a man's strength . . . put them together and you'll have a body like mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gackt/a-woman-s-flexibility-and-a-man-s-strength-put-them-together-and-you/) [Gackt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gackt/) > [Charm is a woman's strength just as strength is a man's charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/charm-is-a-woman-s-strength-just-as-strength-is-a-man-s-charm/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [A woman's strength is the unresistible might of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-woman-s-strength-is-the-unresistible-might-of-weakness/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man's strength is ultimately born of his knowledge of his own weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/a-man-s-strength-is-ultimately-born-of-his-knowledge-of-his-own/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [“A man who fears a woman's strength is weak; a boy who embraces a woman's power is strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-man-who-fears-a-woman-s-strength-is-weak-a-boy-who-embraces-a-woman/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I remembered Nahadoth's lips on my throat and fought to suppress a shudder, only half succeeding. Death as a consequence of lying with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/i-remembered-nahadoth-s-lips-on-my-throat-and-fought-to-suppress-a/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [No organization can depend on genius; the supply is always scarce and unreliable. It is the test of an organization to make ordinary human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/no-organization-can-depend-on-genius-the-supply-is-always-scarce-and-2/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Charm" — which means the power to effect work without employing brute force — is indispensable to women. Charm is a woman's strength just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/charm-which-means-the-power-to-effect-work-without-employing-brute/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [“ What is a woman's place in this modern world? Jasnah Kholin's words read. I rebel against this question, though so many of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/what-is-a-woman-s-place-in-this-modern-world-jasnah-kholin-s-words/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [As each man's strength gives out, as it no longer responds to his will, the inertia of the whole gradually comes to rest on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/as-each-man-s-strength-gives-out-as-it-no-longer-responds-to-his-will/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Many a man's strength is in opposition, and when he faileth, he grows out of use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/many-a-man-s-strength-is-in-opposition-and-when-he-faileth-he-grows/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Knowledge is one of our direst needs. But it is insufficient on its own. If knowledge was stripped from true up-bringing, it would increase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ameen-rihani/knowledge-is-one-of-our-direst-needs-but-it-is-insufficient-on-its/) [Ameen Rihani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ameen-rihani/) > [I have discovered in my long life that there are many words and phrases which have more power than any spell of magick. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/i-have-discovered-in-my-long-life-that-there-are-many-words-and/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [Prayer is the acid test of the inner man's strength. A strong spirit is capable of praying much and praying with all perseverance until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/prayer-is-the-acid-test-of-the-inner-man-s-strength-a-strong-spirit/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) ## More by Russell Banks > [The best thing about writing programs is that it rationalized the apprenticeship of a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/the-best-thing-about-writing-programs-is-that-it-rationalized-the/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [“The received truth of history is shot through and falsified by unknown secrets carried to the grave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/the-received-truth-of-history-is-shot-through-and-falsified-by/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [“Secrets and lies, they eat your insides until all you have left is a hard thin skin that covers you like the shell of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/secrets-and-lies-they-eat-your-insides-until-all-you-have-left-is-a/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [But really, it was reading that led me to writing. And in particular, reading the American classics like Twain who taught me at an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/but-really-it-was-reading-that-led-me-to-writing-and-in-particular/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [“Let the truth take care of itself, I decided. It's done all right on its own so far.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/let-the-truth-take-care-of-itself-i-decided-it-s-done-all-right-on/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [What you believe matters, however. It’s all anyone has to act on. And since what you do is who you are, your actions define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/what-you-believe-matters-however-it-s-all-anyone-has-to-act-on-and/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [Although I still occasionally paint and draw, my life has now been shaped by my writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/although-i-still-occasionally-paint-and-draw-my-life-has-now-been/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [“my blue eyes peering into their brown eyes and seeing there some essential part of myself, some irreducible aspect of my being, which in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/my-blue-eyes-peering-into-their-brown-eyes-and-seeing-there-some/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [If you dedicate your attention to discipline in your life you become smarter while you are writing than while you are hanging out with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/if-you-dedicate-your-attention-to-discipline-in-your-life-you-become/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [So the same cultural and political issues that divided us in 1968 are still dividing us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/so-the-same-cultural-and-political-issues-that-divided-us-in-1968-are/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [“They were the only three people I'd chosen on my own to love, and they were gone. But still, that morning in Mobay when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/they-were-the-only-three-people-i-d-chosen-on-my-own-to-love-and-they/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [“Lists of books we re-read and books we can't finish tell more about us than about the relative worth of the books themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/lists-of-books-we-re-read-and-books-we-can-t-finish-tell-more-about/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [First of all it's usually women who run these higher primate sanctuaries, rarely men. They are white. They come from privileged backgrounds. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/first-of-all-it-s-usually-women-who-run-these-higher-primate/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [The United States particularly abandoned Liberia after the end of the Cold War.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/the-united-states-particularly-abandoned-liberia-after-the-end-of-the/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [Storytelling is an ancient and honorable act. An essential role to play in the community or tribe. It's one that I embrace wholeheartedly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/storytelling-is-an-ancient-and-honorable-act-an-essential-role-to/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) [Explore all 85 Russell Banks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) [Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When an old man and a young man work together, it can make an ugly sight or a pretty one, depending on who's in charge. If the young man's in charge or won't let the old man take over, the young man's brute strength becomes destructive and inefficient, and the old man's intelligence, out of frustration, grows cruel and inefficient. Sometimes the old man forgets that he is old and tries to compete with the young man's strength, and then it's a sad sight. Or the young man forgets that he is young and argues with the old man about how to do the work, and that's a sad sight, too.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Banks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/when-an-old-man-and-a-young-man-work-together-it-can-make-an-ugly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arguing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/when-an-old-man-and-a-young-man-work-together-it-can-make-an-ugly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/russell-banks-7660_arguing_when-an-old-man-and-a-young-man-work-tog_1630457.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/russell-banks-7660_arguing_when-an-old-man-and-a-young-man-work-tog_1630457.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/russell-banks-7660_arguing_when-an-old-man-and-a-young-man-work-tog_1630457.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When an old man and a young man work together, it can make an ugly sight or a pretty one, depending on who's…” — Russell Banks", "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": "Russell Banks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When an old man and a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/when-an-old-man-and-a-young-man-work-together-it-can-make-an-ugly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/when-an-old-man-and-a-young-man-work-together-it-can-make-an-ugly/#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 } } ] } ```