Old Age Quotes in Cloud Atlas

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"We—by whom I mean anyone over sixty—commit two offenses just by existing. One is Lack of Velocity. [...] Our second offense is being Everyman's memento mori. The world can only get comfy in shiny-eyed denial if we are out of sight." (8.1.40)

Timothy Cavendish's story is set up to make us all feel guilty about getting mad at the really slow elderly driver who's had his left-turn signal on for the last ten miles.

Quote #8

"Whey else do they spout that 'You're only as old as you feel!' claptrap? Really, who are they hoping to fool? Not us—themselves!" (8.1.42)

Do you agree with Veronica here? Do you get to a certain point where you feel your age, no matter what age you want to feel like?

Quote #9

It is attitude, not years, that condemns one to the ranks of the Undead. [...] In the domain of the young there dwells many an Undead soul. They rush about so, their inner putrefactions is concealed for a few decades, that is all. (8.1.326)

Some people are old, wise souls, and some people are just old fogeys in young bodies. They will be the ones who give up living years before they actually die.