Johann Wolfgang von Goethe on Ageing

“Das Alter macht nicht kindisch, wie man spricht, Es findet uns nur noch als wahre Kinder. Age childish makes, they say, but 'tis not true; We're only genuine children still in Age's season.”

“Old age is courteous—no one more: For time after time he knocks at the door, But nobody says, "Walk in, sir, pray!" Yet turns he not from the door away, But lifts the latch, and enters with speed, And then they cry, "A cool one, indeed."”

“One often says to oneself … that one ought to avoid having too many different businesses, to avoid becoming a jack-of-all-trades, and that the older one gets, the more one ought to avoid entering into new business. But … the very fact of growing older means taking up a new business; all our circumstances change, and we must either stop doing anything at all or else willing and consciously take on the new role we have to play on life’s stage.”