Old Age and Accomplishment

The world seems to worship youth and is terrified of aging. But there was a time when getting older was associated with wisdom and experience. In fact, some of the greatest accomplishments in history came very late in life. Immanuel Kant wrote one of his best philosophical works at the age of 74. Verdi penned his classic "Ave Maria" at 85. … Michelangelo was 87 when he completed The Pietá, his greatest work of art. … And Ronald Reagan was the most powerful man in the world at 75. … This notion that life should be winding down at 50 or 60 years of age is crazy.

Source: —James Dobson, Coming Home (Tyndale, 1998); submitted by Brad Estep, Kenneth City, Florida

(Quoted in Leadership Weekly email 08-21-07)