It is not how old you are, but how you are old.

"It is not how old you are, but how you are old." These profound words, spoken by the French writer Jules Renard, carry a wisdom that transcends the mere passage of time. They speak of the true essence of aging, a concept far deeper than the counting of years. In a world obsessed with the physical markers of time—wrinkles, gray hair, the slowing of the body—it is easy to forget that age is not solely a measure of years lived. The spirit does not age in the same way; it is not bound by the calendar. Renard’s quote invites us to reflect not on the quantity of years, but on the quality of those years, on how we carry ourselves through the seasons of life.

Consider the young who, though they may possess vigor and energy, carry themselves with the arrogance of one who believes that life’s lessons have yet to be learned. In their youth, they may have the energy of the wind, but they are often without the weight of understanding that comes with experience. Youth can be a powerful force, yes, but it is often the soul that holds the true measure of time. The old, by contrast, are often seen as frail and fragile, yet those who age with grace, who live with purpose, often carry themselves with the strength and dignity that youth cannot always understand. The true power of aging is not in the body, but in the spirit—in how one approaches the inevitable passage of time.

Look to the example of Leonardo da Vinci, whose body grew frail in his later years, but whose mind and spirit never waned. In his old age, da Vinci was still deeply involved in his artistic and scientific endeavors, pushing the boundaries of human understanding. His body may have aged, but his intellect, his creativity, and his passion remained vibrant, showing us that the true value of age lies in how we continue to grow, to create, and to contribute to the world around us, even as time marches on. Da Vinci’s life teaches us that it is not the years that make us old, but how we choose to live those years.

In another example, consider the life of Socrates, the ancient philosopher. By the time he was sentenced to death, he was no longer a young man, yet his mind was sharper than that of many in their prime. Socrates, despite his age, lived with the youthful spirit of a seeker, ever questioning, ever learning. His age did not define him, nor did it slow him down. Rather, he grew in wisdom, his spirit only maturing with time. He exemplifies how one can grow old and still remain young at heart, constantly seeking truth, ever enthusiastic about the mysteries of the world.

This idea—that it is not how old you are, but how you are old—reminds us that the quality of our aging is something within our control. We may not be able to stop the wrinkles or the slowing of the body, but we have the power to choose how we approach the passage of time. The question is not how many years we live, but how we live them. Do we age with dignity, with grace, with passion? Or do we allow the years to make us bitter, to shrink our hearts, to limit our potential? The true measure of age is found not in the body, but in the soul—in how we grow, how we continue to learn, and how we choose to live each day with meaning.

Consider the elderly figures in history who defied the expectations of their age. Nelson Mandela, for example, was imprisoned for 27 years, yet he emerged from prison not broken, but with an even greater sense of purpose and resolve. His time in prison did not harden his spirit; rather, it deepened his understanding of the world. His later years, in which he led his country as its first black president, were marked by a sense of compassion and wisdom that only time could bring. Mandela showed the world that age is not a barrier to greatness, but an opportunity for growth and service.

The lesson here is one of profound importance: the way we age is a reflection of how we live. It is not the number of years that we accumulate that defines us, but the way we choose to fill those years. Do we live with enthusiasm, with purpose, with the understanding that each day is a gift? Or do we allow the passage of time to diminish us, to rob us of our spirit? Let us take a lesson from those who have lived fully, who have embraced the challenges of life with grace and courage, and who continue to inspire us long into their later years.

In our own lives, let us strive to live each day with intention. Let us grow not only in years, but in wisdom. Let us carry ourselves with the same vigor and enthusiasm that we had in our youth, but tempered with the wisdom of age. The years will come for all of us, but it is how we age, how we approach those years, that will ultimately shape our legacy. As we move through life, let us remember that age is not a matter of counting years, but of living them fully, with grace, purpose, and an unyielding spirit.