We call those poets who are first to mark, Through earth's dull mist the coming of the dawn, Who see in twilight's gloom the first pale spark, While others only note that day is gone.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.Read
A person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called an old man for the first time.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Aging often catches us off guard, as we may not see ourselves as old despite societal labels.
This quote reflects the universal experience of aging, where individuals often resist the label of 'old' despite their chronological age. It suggests that our self-perception can differ significantly from how others perceive us, and the realization that we are considered 'old' can be both surprising and unsettling.
Themes
AgingSelf-PerceptionIdentityOld AgeAcceptance
In practice
Example use cases
During a retirement speech, one might reference this quote to emphasize the surprise of realizing one's age.
More from Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
All quotes βEvery real thought on every real subject knocks the wind out of somebody or other.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.Read
The very aim and end of our institutions is just this: that we may think what we like and say what we think.
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Don't you stay at home of evenings? Don't you love a cushioned seat in a corner, by the fireside, with your slippers on your feet?
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Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all.
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Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose by and by. Life is like that - one stitch at a time taken patiently and the pattern will come out all right like the embroidery.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.Read
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