There is a trade off - as you grow older you gain wisdom but you lose spontaneity.

Any attempts at autobiography before the age of eighty seem pretty self-involved to me. There are a lot of smart middle aged people but not many wise ones.

I am reminded of a lady of about my age who was asked by an earnest, little granddaughter the other day 'Granny, can you remember the Stone Age?' Whilst that may be going a bit far, the older generation are able to give a sense of context as well as the wisdom of experience which can be invaluable.

You take all the experience and judgment of men over 50 out of the world and there wouldn't be enough left to run it.

Usually youth is for freedom and reform, maturity for judicious compromise, and old age for stability and repose.

Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones; my own is no exception.