Quote by Robertson Davies

The world is burdened with young fogies. Old men with ossified minds are easily dealt with. But men who look young, act young and everlastingly harp on the fact that they are young, but who nevertheless think and act with a degree of caution that would be excessive in their grandfathers, are the curse of the world. Their very conservatism is secondhand, and they don't know what they are conserving.


The world is burdened with young fogies. Old men with ossifi

Summary

This quote criticizes a specific type of individual known as "young fogies." These individuals may have a youthful appearance and behavior, and constantly highlight their youthfulness, but paradoxically possess a cautious and conservative mindset that surpasses their elder counterparts. The quote suggests that these young fogies are a burden on the world because their conservativeness is not based on original thought or understanding, making it difficult to determine what they are actually trying to preserve.

By Robertson Davies
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