Age Quote by Tom Wolfe
“In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, old people in America had prayed, "Please God, don't let me look poor." In the year 2000, they prayed, "Please God, don't let me look old." Sexiness was equated with youth, and youth ruled. The most widespread age-related disease was not senility but juvenility.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Age and Society, Tom Wolfe, 1990
The passage critiques how society equates youth with desirability, causing older individuals to fear appearing old and to wish for youthful appearance.
In simple terms: Youth is prized, aging feared.
Key Takeaway
Challenge ageist standards and value experience.
Themes
ageism
beauty standards
social pressure
Mood
critical
hopeful
Type
social
cultural
When to use this quote
- advertising
- healthcare
- intergenerational dialogue
Key Concepts
cultural norms
media influence
self-image
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we shift cultural values toward age?
- What role does media play in age perception?
A Different Perspective
It may generalize experiences across demographics.
![“!Cabron!" [Mariposa] stomped her foot. "Hijo de puta." Hard to believe that she was two centuries old and not the young girl she looked and acted. Like Peter Pan, she'd never grown up.” quote by Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4db/patricia-briggs-571_hard-to-believe_cabron-mariposa-stomped-her-foot-hijo-de_1309994.jpg)
