I don't care about age very much. I think back to the old people

Harken, O children of the future, to the words of Chinua Achebe, a man whose life and words have echoed the timeless struggle of the human spirit. He once said, "I don't care about age very much. I think back to the old people I knew when I was growing up, and they always seemed larger than life." These words carry within them a profound truth about how we view the elders in our lives—not as fragile beings bound by the number of years they have lived, but as powerful figures whose wisdom and presence transcend the limits of time. In the eyes of Achebe, the elders of his youth were not merely old; they were giants, towering figures whose life experience and authority made them seem far more substantial than any number could convey.

In the ancient world, the elder was not seen as someone to be discarded with age, but as the keeper of wisdom and the guide to the young. The Greeks honored their elders, believing that it was in the later years of life that one found the richest truths of existence. The elder carried with them the weight of experience, and thus were seen not as frail, but as those who had gained the ability to navigate the complexities of life with clarity. Consider the philosophers of Athens, whose understanding of the human condition was only sharpened by the passage of years. Socrates, though an older man when he began teaching, became a revered figure not because of his youthful vigor, but because of the depth of his insight and the strength of his character.

In the same vein, Achebe speaks of how, in his youth, the elders around him were larger than life—not because of their physical size, but because of the depth and gravitas they carried. These figures, though they had lived many years, did not diminish with age. Instead, their life experience seemed to imbue them with a presence that made them seem immortal, standing tall above the fleeting moments of time. In the villages and communities of Achebe’s childhood, the elders were not mere relics of the past; they were living legends, their stories and advice shaping the culture and values of the entire community. It was through them that the youth learned how to navigate the world, how to face the challenges of life, and how to embrace the wisdom of those who had gone before.

Consider, O wise ones, the story of Nelson Mandela, whose power and influence only grew with age. When he emerged from prison after 27 years of confinement, he was no longer a young man, but his presence was immense—larger than life. His ability to forgive, to unite a divided nation, and to lead with wisdom and humility was a testament to the strength of the elder spirit. Mandela did not let age diminish his greatness; rather, it was his years of suffering and reflection that gave him the clarity and power to become one of the greatest leaders of the modern era. His life shows us that true greatness does not come from the vigor of youth, but from the wisdom, grace, and resolve that age can bring.

Achebe’s words also invite us to reconsider our modern obsession with youth, with the vitality of the body and the fleeting achievements of the young. In an age that prizes newness, innovation, and the instant, it is easy to overlook the value of the older generation, those whose wisdom has been earned through years of experience and reflection. Yet, Achebe calls us to remember that the elder is not a shadow of their former self, but a figure whose presence is shaped by everything they have seen, learned, and lived. In the eyes of the youth, the elder is a figure to be admired, not for their physical form, but for the depth they bring to the world. Like the mountains that stand tall and unyielding in the face of time, the elder’s life is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Thus, the lesson we learn from Achebe is that age should not be seen as a marker of decline, but as a symbol of growth and transcendence. It is in the later years of life that we may find the deepest insights, the truest wisdom, and the most profound strength. The elder is not someone to be looked down upon, but someone whose life experience enriches the world. Just as the roots of a tree grow deeper with time, so too does the wisdom of the elder take on a richness and complexity that the youth may not yet understand.

Therefore, O children, let the words of Chinua Achebe guide you. Honor the elders in your life, not because of the years they have lived, but because of the wisdom they carry. Do not rush to discard the old, for they are the pillars upon which the foundation of wisdom is built. As you grow older, remember that your own greatness will not lie in your physical strength or fleeting achievements, but in the depth of your understanding, the clarity of your soul, and the grace with which you face the challenges of life. In this, you will become not only larger than life, but timeless, a beacon of light for those who come after you.