A MAN that is young in years, may be old in hours, if he have lost no time. But that happeneth rarely. Generally, youth is like the first cogitations, not so wise as the second. For there is a youth in thoughts, as well as in ages. And yet the invention of young men, is more lively than that of old; and imaginations stream into their minds better, and, as it were, more divinely. Natures that have much heat, and great and violent desires and perturbations, are not ripe for action, till they have passed the meridian of their years; as it was with Julius Caesar and Septimius Severus. Of the latter, of whom it is said, Juventutem egit erroribus, imo furoribus, plenam. And yet he was the ablest emperor, almost, of all the list. But reposed natures may do well in youth. As it is seen in Augustus Caesar, Cosmus Duke of Florence, Gaston de Foix, and others. On the other side, heat and vivacity in age, is an excellent composition for business. Young men are fitter to invent, than to judge; fitter for execution, than for counsel; and fitter for new projects, than for settled business. For the experience of age, in things that fall within the compass of it, directeth them; but in new things, abuseth them.
A man young in years may be old in experience if he has wasted no time. But this rarely happens. In general, youth is like a first thought, less wise than a second. Thoughts can be immature, just as people can. Yet young men have livelier powers of invention than old men. Ideas flow into their minds more freely and, as it were, with greater divine inspiration. People with fiery temperaments, strong desires, and violent emotions are not ready for action until past middle age. This was true of Julius Caesar and Septimius Severus. Of Severus it was said, “He spent his youth full of errors, indeed, of acts of madness.” Yet he was nearly the most capable emperor of them all. But people with calm temperaments may do well in youth. Examples include Augustus Caesar, Cosimo, Duke of Florence, Gaston de Foix, and others. On the other hand, passion and energy combined with old age make an excellent temperament for practical affairs. Young men are better suited to inventing than judging, to carrying out plans than giving advice. They are also better suited to new projects than established business. The experience of older people guides them in matters it covers. But in new matters, it misleads them.
The errors of young men, are the ruin of business; but the errors of aged men, amount but to this, that more might have been done, or sooner. Young men, in the conduct and manage of actions, embrace more than they can hold; stir more than they can quiet; fly to the end, without consideration of the means and degrees; pursue some few principles, which they have chanced upon absurdly; care not to innovate, which draws unknown inconveniences; use extreme remedies at first; and, that which doubleth all errors, will not acknowledge or retract them; like an unready horse, that will neither stop nor turn. 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. Certainly it is good to compound employments of both; for that will be good for the present, because the virtues of either age, may correct the defects of both; and good for succession, that young men may be learners, while men in age are actors; and, lastly, good for extern accidents, because authority followeth old men, and favor and popularity, youth. But for the moral part, perhaps youth will have the pre-eminence, as age hath for the politic. A certain rabbin, upon the text, Your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams, inferreth that young men, are admitted nearer to God than old, because vision, is a clearer revelation, than a dream. And certainly, the more a man drinketh of the world, the more it intoxicateth; and age doth profit rather in the powers of understanding, than in the virtues of the will and affections. There be some, have an over-early ripeness in their years, which fadeth betimes. These are, first, such as have brittle wits, the edge whereof is soon turned; such as was Hermogenes the rhetorician, whose books are exceeding subtle; who afterwards waxed stupid. A second sort, is of those that have some natural dispositions which have better grace in youth, than in age; such as is a fluent and luxuriant speech; which becomes youth well, but not age: so Tully saith of Hortensius, Idem manebat, neque idem decebat. The third is of such, as take too high a strain at the first, and are magnanimous, more than tract of years can uphold. As was Scipio Africanus, of whom Livy saith in effect, Ultima primis cedebant.
Young men’s mistakes ruin business. Older men’s mistakes amount only to this: more could have been done, or done sooner. In managing affairs, young men take on more than they can handle. They stir up more than they can settle. They rush toward the goal without considering the means or the steps needed. They follow a few principles they have stumbled upon without sound judgment. They innovate without caution, bringing unforeseen difficulties. They begin with extreme remedies. And, doubling all their errors, they refuse to admit or correct them. They are like an untrained horse that will neither stop nor turn. Older men raise too many objections, deliberate too long, risk too little, and regret their decisions too soon. They seldom carry business through to its full conclusion, but settle for moderate success. Certainly, it is good to give responsibilities to a mixture of both ages. This benefits the present, because the strengths of each age can correct the weaknesses of both. It also prepares successors, allowing young men to learn while older men take action. Finally, it helps in dealing with outside circumstances. Authority follows older men, while favor and popularity follow the young. But in moral matters, perhaps youth has the advantage, as age does in political judgment. A certain rabbi considered the passage, “Your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” He concluded that young men are admitted nearer to God than old men. A vision, he reasoned, is a clearer revelation than a dream. Certainly, the more a man drinks of the world, the more it intoxicates him. Age improves the powers of understanding more than the moral strength of the will and feelings. Some people mature too early, and their gifts fade early too. First are those with brilliant but fragile minds, whose sharpness soon grows dull. Such was Hermogenes the rhetorician, whose books show exceptional subtlety, but who later became dull-minded. A second group has natural qualities that are more attractive in youth than in age. Fluent, richly flowing speech, for example, suits youth well, but not age. As Cicero said of Hortensius, “He remained the same, but the same style no longer suited him.” The third group begins at too high a pitch. Their greatness of spirit exceeds what advancing years can sustain. Such was Scipio Africanus, of whom Livy said, in effect, “His later achievements fell short of his earlier ones.”