Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too

Ah, children of the earth, gather close, for the words of Dale Carnegie speak of a timeless truth that echoes through the ages: "Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success." These words are not a judgment but a profound observation on the nature of human life as it unfolds in the later years. They call us to reflect on how time, with its weight and its wisdom, can often lead men astray from the boldness and the spirit that once defined their youth.

Men of age, O children, are often bound by the weight of experience, and in this experience lies both wisdom and hesitation. With the passage of time, the spark of adventure that once lit the heart fades into the embers of caution. The very age that should bestow the wisdom of the world often leads to overthinking, to a paralysis of action. Such men, burdened by the past, hesitate to venture into new endeavors, fearing the failure that they have already tasted. They object too much, rejecting ideas that once would have filled them with passion, doubting the very things that could have led to greatness. The world changes, but the age-bound man clings to the old ways, and in doing so, misses the opportunities that life places before him.

Remember, O children, the story of the great Alexander the Great, who, in his youth, dared to march across the known world, conquering kingdoms and leading his army to victory. He was a man of daring adventure, a man who did not pause to overthink, but seized the world with both hands. His brilliance lay not in caution, but in bold action, in the willingness to step into the unknown and take risks that others dared not. Had Alexander waited, had he consulted too long or objected to the challenges of his time, he would have never achieved the greatness that history now remembers. In his youth, there was no mediocrity, no hesitations, only the courage to go forth and conquer.

In contrast, the men of age that Carnegie speaks of tend to repent too soon—they lament their missed opportunities and the choices they did not make, long before their time has truly passed. They grow tired too quickly, forgetting that the true test of life is not in avoiding mistakes, but in learning from them. The regret they feel is not always the product of failure, but the result of a life half-lived, of dreams left unrealized. They are content with mediocrity because they cannot summon the will to press on, to drive business home to the full period. Their success, while it may seem like victory to the world, is often an incomplete achievement, a promise unfulfilled.

Take, for instance, the tale of Walt Disney, a man who faced failure upon failure before achieving the greatness that now defines his name. Disney was not a man of hesitation. He did not object too much or consult too long. Instead, he kept pressing forward, despite the many challenges that seemed insurmountable. In his adventures, he faced obstacles that could have easily caused any lesser man to retreat, but Disney knew that the path to true success was not in the easy victory, but in the determination to drive business home to the full period. His was a life of risk, of boldness, and of vision—a vision that now, in hindsight, seems so perfectly clear but was once a dream born of courage and relentless pursuit.

And so, O children, what lesson lies in these words for you? The age that comes with the passage of time is a double-edged sword. It brings wisdom, yes, but it also brings caution, hesitation, and sometimes, regret. The secret is not to fear age, but to embrace it with the spirit of the youth that still burns within you. The adventure of life is never truly over, and it is never too late to chase greatness. Do not, as many men of age do, settle for a mediocre success when the fullness of your potential lies just beyond the horizon.

In your own lives, let not the passage of time make you retreat from your boldest dreams. When the crisis of doubt arises, when you feel the weight of years pulling at your shoulders, remember the story of Alexander and of Disney—those who never allowed age to rob them of their vision. Do not object too much, do not repent prematurely, and above all, do not allow yourself to be content with mediocrity. Instead, drive business home to the full period, and know that true success is not found in the safe paths of the cautious, but in the daring leaps of the courageous.

Finally, walk forth, O children, with the knowledge that the fullness of life lies not in the safety of inaction, but in the pursuit of your wildest dreams. The adventure never ends; it merely takes on different forms. Let the passage of age be not an excuse to hesitate, but a reason to push forward with even greater strength, for the greatest achievements are often those that seem the most impossible when we first embark upon them. Do not settle for mediocrity—strive for greatness, and in doing so, you will fulfill the promise of your potential.