--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the first fourteen years for a rod…" description: "\"For the first fourteen years for a rod they do while for the next as a pearl in the world they do shine. For the next trim beauty beginneth to swerve. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/thomas-tusser-19163_age_for-the-first-fourteen-years-for-a-rod-t_2082127.jpg" --- # For the first fourteen years for a rod they do while for… ![“For the first fourteen years for a rod they do while for the next as a pearl in the world they do shine. For the next trim beauty beginneth to swerve. For the next matrons or drudges they serve. For the next doth crave a staff for a stay. For the next a bier to fetch them away.” quote by Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/thomas-tusser-19163_age_for-the-first-fourteen-years-for-a-rod-t_2082127.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/thomas-tusser-19163_age_for-the-first-fourteen-years-for-a-rod-t_2082127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/thomas-tusser-19163_age_for-the-first-fourteen-years-for-a-rod-t_2082127.jpg) > “For the first fourteen years for a rod they do while for the next as a pearl in the world they do shine. For the next trim beauty beginneth to swerve. For the next matrons or drudges they serve. For the next doth crave a staff for a stay. For the next a bier to fetch them away.” [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life follows stages: early vigor, middle beauty, later service, then decline and death. **In simple terms:** Life has stages from youth to death. Key Takeaway Recognize and honor each life stage. Themes life cycle aging wisdom Mood contemplative nostalgic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - elder care - intergenerational mentorship Key Concepts philosophy literature human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you view your current life stage? - What can you learn from each stage? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex lives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Crave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crave/) [Fetch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fetch/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Fourteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fourteen/) [Fourteen Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fourteen-years/) [Matrons Drudges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matrons-drudges-4071557/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Pearls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pearls/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) [Staff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staff/) [Staff Stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staff-stay-4071555/) [Swerve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swerve/) [Trim Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trim-beauty-4071556/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Rod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-rod-4071554/) ## Related quotes > [Senseless is the breast and cold Which relenting love would fold; Bloodless are the veins and chill Which the pulse of pain did fill;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/senseless-is-the-breast-and-cold-which-relenting-love-would-fold/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Prophet may you be! 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That said, Night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-huneven/its-subtlest-most-appealing-accomplishment-may-be-in-how-other/) [Michelle Huneven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-huneven/) > [A way a lone a last a loved a long the riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/a-way-a-lone-a-last-a-loved-a-long-the-riverrun-past-eve-and-adam-s/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [They also live Who swerve and vanish in the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/they-also-live-who-swerve-and-vanish-in-the-river/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) ## More by Thomas Tusser > [God sendeth and giveth both mouth and meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/god-sendeth-and-giveth-both-mouth-and-meat/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Fear God, and offend not the Prince nor his laws, and keep thyself out of the magistrate's claws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/fear-god-and-offend-not-the-prince-nor-his-laws-and-keep-thyself-out/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [In March and in April from morning till night In sowing and seeding good housewives delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/in-march-and-in-april-from-morning-till-night-in-sowing-and-seeding/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Sweet April showers do spring May flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/sweet-april-showers-do-spring-may-flowers/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Ill husbandry lieth In prison for debt: Good husbandry spieth Where profit get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/ill-husbandry-lieth-in-prison-for-debt-good-husbandry-spieth-where/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Except wind stands as it never stood It is an ill wind turns none to good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/except-wind-stands-as-it-never-stood-it-is-an-ill-wind-turns-none-to/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Make hunger thy sauce, as a medicine for health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/make-hunger-thy-sauce-as-a-medicine-for-health/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Dry August and warm, Doth harvest no harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/dry-august-and-warm-doth-harvest-no-harm/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Look ere thou leap, see ere thou go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/look-ere-thou-leap-see-ere-thou-go/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [February, fill the dyke with what thou dost like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/february-fill-the-dyke-with-what-thou-dost-like/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [In harvest time, harvest folk, servants and all Should make, all together, good cheer in the hall Once ended the harvest, let none be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/in-harvest-time-harvest-folk-servants-and-all-should-make-all/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Tide flowing is feared, for many a thing, Great danger to such as be sick, it doth bring; Sea ebb, by long ebbing, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/tide-flowing-is-feared-for-many-a-thing-great-danger-to-such-as-be/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/at-christmas-play-and-make-good-cheer-for-christmas-comes-but-once-a/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. 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