Chapter 18

62 “But throughout this discourse remember that I praise the old age built upon foundations laid in youth. Hence follows what I once said to great general approval: miserable is the old age that must defend itself by words. Neither gray hair nor wrinkles can suddenly seize authority; an earlier life honorably lived gathers authority as its final fruit.”

63 “For those very attentions that seem slight and commonplace are honorable: to be greeted, sought out, given the way, risen for, escorted out and home, and consulted. Among us and in other states, the better their customs, the more scrupulously these observances are maintained. Lysander the Spartan, whom I mentioned just now, is said to have declared that Sparta was the most honorable home for old age: nowhere was so much accorded to years, nowhere was old age more honored. Indeed, it is recorded that when an elderly man entered the theater at Athens during the games, none of his fellow citizens in the great gathering offered him a seat. But when he approached the Spartans, who as envoys sat in a designated place, they are all said to have risen together and invited the old man to sit;”

64 “and when the whole assembly gave them prolonged applause, one of them said that the Athenians knew what was right but did not wish to do it.

“Our college has many excellent customs, but foremost for our purpose is this: the eldest takes precedence in giving his opinion. Older augurs rank not only before those who surpass them in honors, but even before men holding supreme command. What bodily pleasures can compare with the rewards of authority? Those who have enjoyed them nobly seem to me to have played the drama of life to its close, not collapsed in its final act like unpracticed actors.”

65 “But old men are peevish, anxious, irritable, and difficult. If we look for it, they are greedy too. These, however, are faults of character, not of old age. Still, peevishness and the other faults I named have some excuse—not a just one, certainly, but one that may seem plausible. Old men think themselves slighted, despised, and mocked; besides, every affront is painful to a frail body. Yet good character and cultivation soften all these things. We may see this in life and on the stage in the brothers in The Brothers. How harsh one is, and how kindly the other! So it is: not every nature sours with age, any more than every wine. I approve of sternness in old age, but, as with other things, in moderation; bitterness I cannot approve at all. As for an old man’s greed, I cannot understand what it means.”

62 “But throughout this discussion, remember that I am praising an old age built on foundations laid in youth. This leads to something I once said with everyone’s strong approval: an old age that has to defend itself with words is a miserable one. Gray hair and wrinkles cannot suddenly win respect. Rather, an earlier life lived honorably earns respect as its final reward.”

63 “The very things that seem minor and ordinary are marks of honor: being greeted, having people seek your company, being given the right of way, having others stand up for you, being escorted when you leave and when you return, and being asked for advice. These customs are observed both among us and in other states. The better a community’s standards, the more carefully it observes them. Lysander of Sparta, whom I just mentioned, is said to have often remarked that Sparta was the most honorable home for old age. Nowhere is so much importance given to age, and nowhere is old age more respected. There is even a story that an elderly man came into the theater during the games at Athens. Among the large audience, none of his fellow citizens gave him a seat. But he approached the Spartans, who were there as ambassadors and were sitting in a reserved area. They all stood up, we are told, and made room for the old man to sit down;”

64 “and the whole audience responded with loud, repeated clapping. At that, one of the Spartans remarked, ‘The Athenians understand right conduct, but will not act on it.’

“Our college of augurs has many excellent customs. One of the best concerns the very matter we are discussing: the oldest member has the first right to give his opinion. Older augurs take precedence not only over those above them in official rank, but even over those who hold the power of command. How could any physical pleasure match the benefits that come with such authority? Men who have enjoyed these rewards with distinction seem to me to have played life’s drama through to the end, rather than collapsing in the final act like untrained actors.”

65 “‘But old men are cranky, anxious, quick-tempered, and difficult.’ If we look into it, they are greedy too. But these are faults of character, not of old age. Still, irritability and the other faults I mentioned have some excuse—not a fair excuse, but one that may seem plausible. Old people think they are treated with contempt, looked down on, and made fun of. Besides, when the body is frail, every hurt is hard to bear. Yet good habits and education soften all these things. We can see this both in life and on the stage, in the brothers in Adelphi. How harsh one is, and how friendly the other! This is how things stand: just as not every wine turns sour with age, neither does every character. I approve of strictness in old age, but, as with other things, it should be moderate. I do not approve of bitterness at all. As for greed in old age, I cannot understand what purpose it serves.”