“The secret of a good old age is simply an honorable pact with solitude.”

“Animals are born and bred in litters. Solitude grows blessed and peaceful only in old age.”

“Honorable things, not secretive things, are sought by good men.”
Honesta enim bonis viris, non occulta quaeruntur.

“He was very religious; he believed that he had a secret pact with God which exempted him from doing good in exchange for prayers and piety.”

“The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.”

“From 'What Happened to Auden'
His later manner leaves your neck-hair flat,
Not standing up as Housman said it should
When poetry has been achieved. For that,
In old age Auden simply grew too good.”

“Friends are admiring my age and health, and asking me the secret to live to such an age in good health. I usually answer them frankly: I have never paid attention to my health and age.”

“We cannot rekindle the morning beams of childhood; we cannot recall the noontide glory of youth; we cannot bring back the perfect day of maturity; we cannot fix the evening rays of age in the shadowy horizon; but we can cherish that goodness which is the sweetness of childhood, the joy of youth, the strength of maturity, the honor of old age, and the bliss of saints.”

“they simply never understand,
do they,
that sometimes solitude
is
one of the most beautiful
things
on earth?”

“Old age isn't a battle; old age is a massacre.”