According to this site, it’s a quote of Mark Twain. But it doesn’t say that he made the comment in a novel he wrote. It seems to imply that he didn’t.
What does this have to do with the OP? Are you testing our google skills?
You’re younger if you’re 75, compared to someone that is 76.
In the context of the average human lifespan, I would consider young to be less than half the average lifespan.
The quote seemed pertinent to the OP. I’m not testing anyone’s google skills, I’ve already spend a few hours trying to google relevant information on the quote. I’m just curious if anyone can actually point me to the origin.
According to online sources, the quote and attribution appeared in Reader’s Digest in 1939,* but Twain scholars have been unable to find it in any of his writings. They also note that Samuel Clemens’ father died when the future writer was only 11.
- Some say 1937. Sigh.
That pretty much agrees with the OP. Neither of those will ever get any younger.
Look at Sophia Loren. She tries to look younger I guess, and still looks okay, but never the less she is 75. I hear she’s okay with it.
The hell you are.
It’s like the meaning of “cheap”, and many other words.
It’s all a matter of personal opinion from one’s perspective. There is no define answer.
No it’s not. It’s not like “cheap”, and it’s not a matter of opinion. One doesn’t stay young, and “feeling young” doesn’t reverse aging. Nor should it.
As the years go by we all get older. And eventually, sooner or later, we all die. Denying that won’t change it. We should be able to embrace it, that natural progression, and not hide from it.
Well, at 81.75 years old, “youth” to me is anybody under 70.
Ah, to be 75 again. 
Hmmm, Klondike and High Sonoran Desert = longevity.
There’s gotta be a connection there. 
I’ve known some young 75 year olds. Look around Congress and you will see some that shock you when you learn how much older they are than their languorous cohorts.
No, you’ve known some 75 year olds who appear to be in good health. But it has been 75 years since their births, so they are that age. Good health, surgery, makeup, none can change that fact. They are old.
My point is that old is okay. It has to be because it’s one those things you have no control over. You’re aging as you read this. Its not even an issue.
So, then where is this line that you clearly define as between young and old? Compared to my kids I’m old and to my parents I’m young.
I do get what you are saying, but I would argue that it can depend on your definition of young and old. An average 75 year old might have certain characteristics for the state their body is in- someone whose health is better might be considered a young 75 year old, whereas a 30 year old with severe problems might be considered old for their age.
I think this is a distinction without a need.
I didn’t define or even claim a line. A year after you’re born you’re one year old. 74 years later, you’re 75 years old. Not young, old. What lies between we try to define, but we’re always ( n ) years old.
I hate quoting from m-w, but:
Now if you want to qualify by adding -er, that’s different. There are still problems though.
“He looks younger than 75”. Whose 75? How old does he look, 67? Whose 67?
Your 75 yr/old is 75 and healthy, your 30 yr/old is 30 and sick. State of one’s health does not alter the progression of time. Ask Stephen Hawking if you don’t accept what I say.
Ok, then I guess you’re saying that everyone is getting old. Fine. I really don’t think the people who say they feel young really think they are stopping time. When I say she’s young for 50 I don’t think she’s defied physics. It’s just relative to a subjective stereotypical convention she seems younger. I think that’s ok, too.
IMO age and health are directly related. A person ages because his cells cannot repair as fast as they break down. Numerical age is an arbitrary categorization made up by humans. A person’s overt age isn’t necessarily indicative of their level of breakdown vs. repair (and therefore effective age). Someone in good health can be chronologically 60 and have a younger system than an unhealthy 50 year old. Therefore, I would call that 60 year old a younger person, overall.
If you are talking purely about how long someone has physically existed on this planet in their current form, then young is only in your definition.
Alright, then say seems young for 50. But then how is she, in your or her estimation, supposed to seem at 50? What’s wrong with being 50 that makes her want people to think she’s not really that old? She is that old. Nothing can change that.
See what I mean? It’s not some kind of failure, or awfulness, to be 50. It’s just your age. That’s all. You (or her) were born 50 years ago.
If society (and more likely cosmetic sellers, etc) try to tell you’re too old at a certain age, you can tell them to fuck off.
Me? I’d rather say “I feel good!” I don’t remember ever “feeling 50” :rolleyes:.
Did I mention that I’m 64? I’ve said it a lot on these forums.
Numerical age is a measuring tool invented by humans to keep track of planetary cycles. We use that tool to measure our age, for one thing.
Health is variable and generally inversly proportionally to age.
There’s an old addage, “Wish in one hand and shit in the other, and see which gets full faster”. Which means, here, that one can wish all one wants to, but one is still going to get old. Unless, of course, one dies first.
Your 60 year old is just that. No adjectives needed. He/she has a healthier system, not younger.
I thought I was overstating the obvious in the OP. It seems I was not.
I never said being 50 (or whatever) in and of itself is wrong- but if someone looks or feels better than some “average” or “idea” of 50, I don’t think it’s disingenuous to say they feel young.
However- I actually agree with your basic point- that getting older is not a bad thing and too much emphasis on keeping youth is ultimately harmful. But, I think it’s the wrong argument to challenge the wording (“don’t say you feel young for 50- you’re 50, that’s your age, you’re 50 years old”) than challenging the idea that underlies the phraseology.
You start getting reconciled to being old when your heart/spirit says “Go for it,” and your body says, “Just a damn minute, now.”