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    The Last Word

    Words of Wisdom About Aging

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    “That is one good thing about this world- there are always sure to be more springs.”

    — L.M. Montgomery, 20th Century, Canadian-born novelist, essayist, and poet, perhaps best known for her work, Anne of Green Gables

    “Old age is no joke, but it can feel like one.”

    — Calvin Tomkins, renowned writer for The New Yorker, covering art and artists for the magazine. In December of 2025, he wrote a piece for The New Yorker entitled, Becoming a Centenarian. Tomkins died last week at the age of 100.

    “I have such fond memories of growing up—even when it was hard or painful or ugly. I want fond memories of growing old, too.”

    — Writer Corey Buhay, in her essay for Outside magazine, explaining why she chooses growing old rather than pushing the boundaries of longevity.

    “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”

    — Babe Ruth, Legendary early 20th-century American baseball player

    “Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.”

    — Samuel Butler, A Victorian- era English novelist, essayist, and critic, and author of such enduring works as Erewhon and The Way of All Flesh

    “It annoys me when people say, ‘Even if you’re old, you can be young at heart!’ Hiding inside this well-meaning phrase is a deep cultural assumption that old is bad and young is good. What’s wrong with being old at heart, I’d like to know? Wouldn’t you like to be…

    — Susan Moon, an American writer, editor, and teacher of Zen Buddhism. Her books include This Is Getting Old: Zen Thoughts on Aging with Humor and Dignity and Alive Until You’re Dead: Notes on the Home Stretch