“Few people know how to be old.”François de La Rochefoucauld · Maxime · 1665 · Maxime, Maxima 71
The maxim suggests that being old requires an art: accepting limits, letting go of pride, and adapting to a new social role. Many cling to youth or fall into bitterness. For example, an elderly person who refuses to learn new things or constantly complains about change does not 'know how to be old.'
Why it matters It challenges us to prepare for old age as an active stage, not merely a decline.