Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the nearer we approach to our journey's end.
The quote "Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the nearer we approach to our journey's end" by Marcus Tullius Cicero presents a reflection on the nature of aging and the futility of certain efforts as we approach the end of life. Cicero, a Roman philosopher, statesman, and orator, suggests that giving advice in old age can be seen as irrational, because it involves preparing or planning for things that are no longer as relevant or important with the limited time left in life. In his view, it is absurd to focus on accumulating resources or making extensive preparations when one is nearing the end of their journey.
Cicero’s statement points to the idea that as we grow older, the goalposts of life change. At a certain point, preparing for the future by gathering wisdom, material wealth, or resources may no longer be necessary. Since death is inevitable, the effort to further accumulate or plan feels unnecessary. This perspective suggests that older individuals should instead focus on living and enjoying the present rather than focusing on future plans that are not relevant for the remainder of their lives.
The reference to "provisions for the road" symbolizes the various preparations people make throughout life—whether for financial security, knowledge, or physical health. As Cicero implies, these efforts become less important as one nears the end of life because the journey itself is nearly finished. The idea of increasing provisions at the end of the journey serves as a metaphor for the futility of trying to control or prepare for things that are beyond one’s control.
Ultimately, Cicero's quote is a call for acceptance and reflection in old age. Instead of constantly planning or accumulating more, we should focus on appreciating the present moment and accepting that life’s journey is finite. It encourages a more philosophical view of aging, where the focus shifts from preparation to living fully in the time we have left.
TTTra Tran thi
I’m curious how this sentiment lands with people who found renewal late in life—second careers, grandparenting, activism. If the journey can unexpectedly lengthen or change direction, then adding resources (skills, funds, relationships) in advanced years may be wise, not foolish. Perhaps the real issue is *purpose alignment*: are we accumulating for imagined emergencies, status, or genuinely meaningful late-life projects? I’d love to hear examples of each.
GKChau Gia Kiet
Is Cicero being practical, philosophical, or a bit snarky? Context matters: in eras of scarcity, securing provisions made sense at every stage. Today, longevity risk complicates things; we don’t always know how long the ‘road’ is. Does his warning still hold when people routinely live decades past retirement? How do we plan responsibly under uncertainty without lapsing into the very absurdity he mocks?
YNPhan Tran Yen nhi
I read Cicero here as challenging our obsession with control. The closer we get to life’s finish line, the less control we actually have—yet we often respond by tightening our grip on assets, routines, even opinions. Does that impulse create suffering? What practices help older adults shift from accumulation to release—gratitude rituals, legacy letters, recorded stories, living trusts, advance directives? Maybe the wiser path is editing life, not expanding it.
KLnguyen thi khanh linh
This line makes me think about intergenerational transfer. Many retirees keep building portfolios out of anxiety, then die with large estates they never enjoyed or deployed. Wouldn’t it be better to give strategically while alive—education funds, charitable gifts, mentoring time—rather than pile up unused security blankets? What psychological factors (loss aversion, identity, fear of dependence) keep people clutching resources long after they’ve ‘won the game’?
DHDuc Huy
If accumulating resources near the end is absurd, what about accumulating *wisdom*? Is intellectual, moral, or relational investment ever wasted, even late? Maybe Cicero is talking about material provisions, yet older people often provide the most distilled guidance precisely because they’ve lived the consequences. Should elders redirect energy from saving things to sharing lessons? I’d love a framework for converting surplus wealth into community benefit before it’s too late.