”We already have one foot in the grave yet our tastes and our pursuits are always just being born.” When true, this is good. There is nothing more toxic to any culture than old men stuck in old ideas. Older people with vigorous minds and endless curiosity are some of the most valuable humans. They have seen enough to not care if their passions match with the world and have as much desire to explore freely as someone brand new to a craft.
Some of them even invent new art forms, like a late Renaissance writer who thought he was gliding towards death. Let us find a place for the energy of the mature and the wisdom of the young. We can find hope for humanity even among those who have been with us long.
Yes, there is a season for everything in life, but we will need to harness every generation in the future and not set people out to pasture. Let them nurture the next generation for leadership instead of focusing on their rewards and legacy.