In an active life is sown the seed of wisdom; but he who reflects not, never reaps; has no harvest from it, but carries the burden of age without the wages of experience; nor knows himself old, but from his infirmities, the parish register, and the contempt of mankind. And age, if it has not esteem, has nothing.
在积极的生活中播下了智慧的种子;惟有不省察的，永远不收割。没有收获，却背负着年龄的重担，却没有经验的报酬;他既不知道自己老了，也不知道教区的人都知道他有病，不知道他为人所不齿。年龄如果没有尊严，就什么也没有。