Every age has its pleasures, its style of wit, and its own ways.

No, youth is not the age of pleasure; we then expect too much, and are therefore exposed to daily disappointments and mortification. When we are a little older, and have brought down our wishes to our experience, then we become calm and begin to enjoy ourselves.

Chaque âge a ses plaisirs, son esprit et ses mœurs.

Un jeune homme, toujours bouillant dans ses caprices,
Est prompt à recevoir l'impression des vices ;
Est vain dans ses discours, volage en ses désirs,
Rétif à la censure et fou dans les plaisirs.

L'âge viril, plus mûr, inspire un air plus sage,
Se pousse auprès des grands, s'intrigue, se ménage,
Contre les coups du sort songe à se maintenir,
Et loin dans le présent regarde l'avenir.

La vieillesse chagrine incessamment amasse ;
Garde, non pas pour soi, les trésors qu'elle entasse ;
Marche en tous ses desseins d'un pas lent et glacé ;
Toujours plaint le présent et vante le passé ;
Inhabile aux plaisirs, dont la jeunesse abuse,
Blâme en eux les douceurs que l'âge lui refuse.

It is sometimes said that this is a pleasure-seeking age. Whether it be a pleasure-seeking age or not, I doubt whether it is a pleasure-finding age. We are supposed to have great advantages in many ways over our predecessors. There is, on the whole, less poverty and more wealth. There are supposed to be more opportunities for enjoyment: there are moving pictures, motor-cars, and many other things which are now considered means of enjoyment and which our ancestors did not possess, but I do not judge from what I read in the newspapers that there is more content. Indeed, we seem to be living in an age of discontent. It seems to be rather on the increase than otherwise and is a subject of general complaint. If so it is worth while considering what it is that makes people happy, what they can do to make themselves happy, and it is from that point of view that I wish to speak on recreation.

To be happy in old age it is necessary that we accustom ourselves to objects that can accompany the mind all the way through life, and that we take the rest as good in their day. The mere man of pleasure is miserable in old age; and the mere drudge in business is but little better: whereas, natural philosophy, mathematical and mechanical science, are a continual source of tranquil pleasure,

How can palsied age, which is but a terrifying object to youth, expect the indulgence, the love, of the young and gay, if it does not study to promote those pleasures which itself was fond of in youth? Enjoy innocently your season, girls, once said she, setting half a score of us into country dances. I watch for the failure of my memory; and shall never give it over for quite lost, till I forget what were my own innocent wishes and delights in the days of my youth.

Chaque âge a ses plaisirs, son esprit et ses mœurs.

feel that old age and aging is a time of great gathering, a time of sifting and a time of reaping the rewards of forgotten and neglected experience.

One does not get better but different and older and that is always a pleasure.

It is impossible to derive happiness from the company of those whom we deprive of happiness.

To be happy in old age it is necessary that we accustom ourselves to objects than can accompany the mind all the way through life, and that we take the rest as good in their day. The mere man of pleasure is miserable in old age; and the mere drudge in business is but little better: whereas, natural philosophy, mathematical and mechanical science, are a continual source of tranquil pleasure, and in spite of the gloomy study of the true theology; it teaches man to know and to admire the Creator, for the principles of science are in the creation, and are unchangeable, and of divine origin.

Remembering the pleasures I enjoyed, I renew them, and I laugh at the pains which I have endured and which I no longer feel.

Being old is great. There's so many things that you're done with. Like running really fast. I was single until I was 45, and I liked that, but then I couldn't take it anymore. So when you're old, you get to relax a little bit. And you can see much more clearly of what's going on in the world. When you're young, everything is really confusing, and when you're old you can see through people and events really clearly, and I like that a lot.

254. 若い時の信心は、老いての楽しみである。

Childhood itself is scarcely more lovely than a cheerful, kind, sunshiny old age.