There was another silence, while Marjorie considered whether or not convincing her mother was worth the trouble. People over forty can seldom be permanently convinced of anything. At eighteen our convictions are hills from which we look; at forty-five they are caves in which we hide.http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/bernice/bernice.html

Summary

This quote suggests that as people age, they become less open to being convinced or changing their beliefs. The mention of being over forty implies that at this stage in life, individuals have become set in their ways and less willing to reconsider their convictions. The contrasting imagery of hills and caves symbolizes how, as young adults, our beliefs are prominent and powerful like hills, while in middle age, they become concealed and protective like caves. Overall, it highlights the difficulty of persuading older individuals and the potential for a shift in attitudes and perspectives as we grow older.

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