Young men, hear an old man to whom old men hearkened when he was

Hear now, O sons of time, the words of Augustus, first emperor of Rome, who declared: “Young men, hear an old man to whom old men hearkened when he was young.” In this utterance is woven both humility and authority, both memory and command. For Augustus, who rose from fragile beginnings to rule the vast dominion of Rome, speaks here not as tyrant, but as teacher—reminding the fiery youth that wisdom is not to be despised, for it is the very foundation upon which empires and lives endure.

The origin of these words belongs to the life of Augustus himself. Born Gaius Octavius, he was but a youth when fate drew him into the storms of Rome. At nineteen, with the death of Julius Caesar, he found himself at the crossroads of history. Though young, his mind was tempered by counsel, and old men—senators, generals, and statesmen—marveled at his prudence and lent him their ears. It was not the strength of age, but the wisdom of restraint, patience, and vision that made even the experienced heed his words. Thus, when Augustus later spoke to the young, he spoke from the authority of one who had already lived the paradox: the youth who bore wisdom beyond his years, the elder who had known the burden of early responsibility.

The message is clear: wisdom is not bound by age, but by listening. The young man who scorns the voice of the elder is like a ship that ignores the lighthouse—he sails with vigor, but into ruin. Yet the youth who bends his ear to counsel gains strength not only from his own vigor but from the accumulated experience of generations. Augustus reminds us that even he, the master of Rome, once sat humbly and heard the voices of the aged. Only by listening did he learn how to rule.

Consider the tale of Alexander the Great. Though his conquests dazzled the world, his path was guided in part by the wisdom of Aristotle, whose teachings on philosophy, ethics, and governance shaped the young conqueror’s vision. Alexander’s armies marched with youthful fire, but his mind carried the imprint of ancient wisdom. So too did Augustus embody this union of youth and age—the restless energy of the new bound together with the steady counsel of the old.

And yet, there is warning here as well. For in every age, youth is tempted by arrogance. The strong arm, the quick mind, the hunger for glory—these whisper that advice is weakness, that to hearken is to bow. But Augustus reveals the folly of such pride. Those who refuse to listen stumble quickly, burning brightly but briefly. History is filled with kings, generals, and leaders who perished young, not by fate, but by deafness to the wisdom of their elders.

Therefore, O listener, the lesson is clear: if you are young, seek out the counsel of those who have walked before you. Their words may seem slow, their pace measured, but their eyes have seen storms that your own have not. And if you are old, do not cease to speak, for your voice may yet guide the steps of the strong and the fiery. The chain of wisdom must never be broken: the young must listen, and the old must teach.

Practical action lies before you. In your youth, cultivate humility; listen more than you speak. When you find an elder whose life has borne fruit, ask questions, and store their words as treasure. In your age, do not hoard wisdom in silence; share it boldly with the young, for in them your memory will live on. In this way, each generation becomes not an island, but a bridge, carrying the light of the past into the dawn of the future.

So remember the words of Augustus: “Young men, hear an old man to whom old men hearkened when he was young.” In this saying lies the eternal rhythm of life—that the wisdom of the elder becomes the strength of the youth, and the strength of the youth, when tempered by wisdom, becomes the glory of the world.