--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Next to the young, I suppose the very old…" description: "\"Next to the young, I suppose the very old are the most selfish. Alas, the heart hardens as the blood ceases to run. The cold snow strikes down from the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_age_next-to-the-young-i-suppose-the-very-old_426284.jpg" --- # Next to the young, I suppose the very old are the most… ![“Next to the young, I suppose the very old are the most selfish. Alas, the heart hardens as the blood ceases to run. The cold snow strikes down from the head, and checks the glow of feeling. Who wants to survive into old age after abdicating all his faculties one by one, and be sans teeth, sans…” quote by William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_age_next-to-the-young-i-suppose-the-very-old_426284.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_age_next-to-the-young-i-suppose-the-very-old_426284.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_age_next-to-the-young-i-suppose-the-very-old_426284.jpg) > “Next to the young, I suppose the very old are the most selfish. Alas, the heart hardens as the blood ceases to run. The cold snow strikes down from the head, and checks the glow of feeling. Who wants to survive into old age after abdicating all his faculties one by one, and be sans teeth, sans eyes, sans memory, sans hope, sans sympathy?” [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Old age can become a period of increasing selfishness and emotional coldness as physical and mental faculties decline. **In simple terms:** Old age may feel selfish and cold as abilities fade. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture empathy despite aging. Themes aging selfishness emotional decline human frailty Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - elder care - family relationships - mental health support - community engagement Key Concepts existentialism psychology gerontology Questions to Reflect On - How can we maintain compassion as we age? - What societal supports help elders retain dignity? A Different Perspective Selfishness may be a coping mechanism, not inherent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Alas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alas/) [Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood/) [Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) [Checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Faculty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faculty/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Old age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-age/) [Old Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-selfish-3744575/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish Alas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-alas-3767671/) [Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snow/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Suppose Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppose-old-3744576/) [Survive Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survive-old-3494029/) [Teeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teeth/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [Next to the young, I suppose the very old are the most selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/next-to-the-young-i-suppose-the-very-old-are-the-most-selfish/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Next to the very young, I suppose the very old are the most selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/next-to-the-very-young-i-suppose-the-very-old-are-the-most-selfish/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [The surprising thing about young fools is how many survive to become old fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/the-surprising-thing-about-young-fools-is-how-many-survive-to-become/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [“But I suppose it's part of being old to feel that way, half in one world and half in the other, all of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/but-i-suppose-it-s-part-of-being-old-to-feel-that-way-half-in-one/) [Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/) > [Well, in the sense that we do not tour or record together anymore - then I suppose not. 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