--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People change when they get older. They…" description: "\"“People change when they get older. They get more . . . cautious. They’ve been hit harder and more often. It doesn’t mean they’re stupid or timid—Mom”\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/s-m-stirling-2-43806_cautious_people-change-when-they-get-older-they-g_804969.png" --- # People change when they get older. They get more… ![“People change when they get older. They get more . . . cautious. They’ve been hit harder and more often. It doesn’t mean they’re stupid or timid—Mom” quote by S. M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/s-m-stirling-2-43806_cautious_people-change-when-they-get-older-they-g_804969.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/s-m-stirling-2-43806_cautious_people-change-when-they-get-older-they-g_804969.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/s-m-stirling-2-43806_cautious_people-change-when-they-get-older-they-g_804969.png) > ““People change when they get older. They get more . . . cautious. They’ve been hit harder and more often. It doesn’t mean they’re stupid or timid—Mom”” [S. M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People become more cautious with age after hard experiences, not because they are weak. **In simple terms:** Age brings caution, not stupidity. Key Takeaway Respect experience, avoid judgment. Themes growth experience caution Mood thoughtful empathetic Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - health choices Key Concepts Psychology of aging risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How does experience shape your risk tolerance? - When does caution hinder progress? A Different Perspective Caution can become excessive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) [Change Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-older-507644/) [Older Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-cautious-6153408/) [People change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-change/) [Timid Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timid-mom-6153409/) ## Related quotes > [“We do not start any change. We are part of it. Something older than us had triggered change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/we-do-not-start-any-change-we-are-part-of-it-something-older-than-us/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [I've seen that most people change as they get older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilberto-hernandez-guerrero/i-ve-seen-that-most-people-change-as-they-get-older/) [Gilberto Hernandez Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilberto-hernandez-guerrero/) > [I think that just your tastes change as you get older and I think they'll continue to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hartnett/i-think-that-just-your-tastes-change-as-you-get-older-and-i-think/) [Josh Hartnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hartnett/) > [I'm not a really super-political type of person, and that might change as I get older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tash-sultana/i-m-not-a-really-super-political-type-of-person-and-that-might-change/) [Tash Sultana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tash-sultana/) > [“people change as they get older…grow wiser, make better decisions...i am very old,Laurel. Anyone who lives as long as I have can't help but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/people-change-as-they-get-older-grow-wiser-make-better-decisions-i-am/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [“Little by little he'd change; he'd get older; everything he felt now would fade into memory and then into nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/little-by-little-he-d-change-he-d-get-older-everything-he-felt-now/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“We all make mistakes. Unfortunately, that seems to be one thing that doesn't change, even as you get older. I guess that’s what life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-lawless/we-all-make-mistakes-unfortunately-that-seems-to-be-one-thing-that/) [M.J. Lawless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-lawless/) > [I'm still disturbed if a chord isn't together, but your priorities change as you get older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-m-still-disturbed-if-a-chord-isn-t-together-but-your-priorities/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [Your priorities change when you get older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/your-priorities-change-when-you-get-older/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [“Well, you change as you get older, especially at this time in your life. You become more yourself, hopefully. And sometimes that changes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lord/well-you-change-as-you-get-older-especially-at-this-time-in-your-life/) [Emery Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lord/) > [“We don't change as we get older - we just get to be ore of what we've always been.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/we-don-t-change-as-we-get-older-we-just-get-to-be-ore-of-what-we-ve/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [We don't change as we get older - we just get to be more of what we've always been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/we-don-t-change-as-we-get-older-we-just-get-to-be-more-of-what-we-ve/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [When I became successful, I put up a caution. I didn't think it was fair to have the shadow of that kind of success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-became-successful-i-put-up-a-caution-i-didn-t-think-it-was/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) ## More by S. M. Stirling > [“O God, You know me to be set in the midst of great peril. Grant me such strength of mind and body, that those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling-2/o-god-you-know-me-to-be-set-in-the-midst-of-great-peril-grant-me-such/) [S. M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling-2/) > [“Having thought, I have acted, she thought. Let the arrow fly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling-2/having-thought-i-have-acted-she-thought-let-the-arrow-fly/) [S. M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling-2/) > [“necessity had no respect for law. Even custom must bow to it at times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling-2/necessity-had-no-respect-for-law-even-custom-must-bow-to-it-at-times/) [S. M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling-2/) > [“remember that even if you intend to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling-2/remember-that-even-if-you-intend-to-kill-a-man-it-costs-nothing-to-be/) [S. M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling-2/) > [“Raptors like these falcons were solitary by nature; they didn’t even like each other except in the mating season, much less humans. All you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling-2/raptors-like-these-falcons-were-solitary-by-nature-they-didn-t-even/) [S. M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling-2/) > [“You can’t make a falcon love you, but you can convince its little bird brain that sitting on your glove means a full croup.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling-2/you-can-t-make-a-falcon-love-you-but-you-can-convince-its-little-bird/) [S. M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling-2/) > [“Every reality that we can make begins with a dream,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling-2/every-reality-that-we-can-make-begins-with-a-dream/) [S. M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling-2/) > [“Good to have powerful friends. Even better to be a powerful friend, neh?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling-2/good-to-have-powerful-friends-even-better-to-be-a-powerful-friend-neh/) [S. M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling-2/) [Explore all 9 S. M. Stirling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling-2/) ## More Cautious quotes > [When I became successful, I put up a caution. I didn't think it was fair to have the shadow of that kind of success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-became-successful-i-put-up-a-caution-i-didn-t-think-it-was/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [When you jump across a canyon, cautious small steps and vacillation won't work. Sometimes you just have to go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-you-jump-across-a-canyon-cautious-small-steps-and-vacillation/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Fear and caution are two different things. Be cautious - be conscious - but do not be fearful. Fear only paralyzes, while consciousness mobilizes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-and-caution-are-two-different-things-be-cautious-be-conscious/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear; The brave may not live forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [Americans want a strong military but one that is extremely cautious about getting involved in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/americans-want-a-strong-military-but-one-that-is-extremely-cautious/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [We old roosters must be cautious. Don't try to outwit your arteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/we-old-roosters-must-be-cautious-don-t-try-to-outwit-your-arteries/) [S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/) > [The more a race is governed by its passions, the less it has acquired the habit of cautious and reasoned argument, the more intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-more-a-race-is-governed-by-its-passions-the-less-it-has-acquired/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It's kind of an unwritten law, I think, being - carrying the name - George Bush. At times I ask myself, 'Am I going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/it-s-kind-of-an-unwritten-law-i-think-being-carrying-the-name-george/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [You ought to be extremely cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty; for instead of securing your rights, you may lose them forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/you-ought-to-be-extremely-cautious-watchful-jealous-of-your-liberty/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [I'm not paranoid, but I am cautious. I don't drink tea with strangers, I don't fly Aeroflot and I avoid certain countries with close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/i-m-not-paranoid-but-i-am-cautious-i-don-t-drink-tea-with-strangers-i/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Candidates should be extremely cautious in displaying a sense of humor. If he or she tells a joke with a point, there is almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-germond/candidates-should-be-extremely-cautious-in-displaying-a-sense-of/) [Jack Germond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-germond/) [Browse all 501 Cautious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People change when they get older. They get more . . . cautious. They’ve been hit harder and more often. It doesn’t mean they’re stupid or timid—Mom”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "S. M. 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