When we look back at history, we often speak of "the old wise men" who shaped nations, led armies, or wrote the words that defined generations. But dig deeper, and you'll find something remarkable: many of those wise men weren't old at all.
Because wisdom, it turns out, doesn’t wear a watch.
It doesn’t follow birthdays or wait for retirement.
It comes to those willing to seek it, to shoulder its burden, and to speak its truth.... even if their voice shakes, or cracks, or hasn’t broken yet.
Wisdom isn’t born with age: it’s forged through experience, reflection, conviction, and humility. And passion.
“Wisdom is knowing what matters, having the courage to act on it, and the humility to know you might still be wrong.”
It begins when we face challenges, but deepens when we pause to learn from them. Belief and passion, like Homer Hickam’s dream to reach the stars, give wisdom its direction ... but it’s humility that gives it depth, and action that gives it strength. True wisdom isn’t about how long you’ve lived, but how deeply you’ve listened, how bravely you’ve believed, and how honestly you’ve grown. It belongs not to the old or the young, but to those willing to seek the truth and carry its weight.
Some of the wisest words I’ve ever heard came not from a philosopher, politician, or priest, but from my then 8-year-old great-grandson. I asked him one day, “Who do you think is the most important person in the world?”
Without missing a beat, he said,
“Me. That’s what Mum says.”
It wasn’t arrogance. It was truth. He had been taught that he matters - and when a child knows that, they stand taller. They listen better. They believe more deeply.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.” – 1 Timothy 4:12
Wisdom often begins not with knowledge, but with love .. and the quiet confidence that your voice, your life, your choices matter. That might just be the most important thing anyone can learn.
Let’s be real: age doesn’t guarantee wisdom. Some young people say the dumbest things you’ve ever heard - but so do some old people, and plenty of them are in charge. Just look at some older statesmen and women, mumbling through sentences while the world holds its breath and hopes they don't have a " senior's moment. "
Meanwhile, Australia’s new social media laws act like something magical happens at midnight when a teenager turns 16 - suddenly, wisdom descends like fairy dust. It’s the same kind of logic that told us COVID would stop spreading at exactly 1.5 metres. Wisdom isn’t granted by government decree or age limits - it’s something earned, lived, and proven.
In 1776, a group of men - young and old - from the thirteen American colonies put their names to an idea so bold it still shakes the world:
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress, is a cornerstone of American history and a brilliant document that is revered. Crafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, with input from John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston, the Declaration was a bold assertion of the thirteen American colonies' desire for sovereignty and their intention to sever political ties with Great Britain. Its enduring relevance lies not only in its immediate impact but also in the principles it enshrines, which continue to speak volumes to us today.
What amazes me is the age of the men who wrote it. Thomas Jefferson (principal author) - Born on April 13, 1743, Jefferson was 33 years old. John Adams - Born on October 30, 1735, Adams was 40 years old. Benjamin Franklin - Born on January 17, 1706, Franklin was 70 years old. Roger Sherman - Born on April 19, 1721, Sherman was 55 years old. Robert R. Livingston - Born on November 27, 1746, Livingston was 29 years old.
These ages reflect a range of experience and perspectives, with Franklin being the eldest and one of the most seasoned statesmen, while Livingston was the youngest among the key contributors.
Which got me thinking that age is not the issue: it is the WISDOM that matters. And wisdom is what we need at this time in the world.
In fact, the " Founding Fathers " of America were:
- George Washington - Born on February 22, 1732, Washington was 44 years old.
- John Adams - Born on October 30, 1735, Adams was 40 years old.
- Thomas Jefferson - Born on April 13, 1743, Jefferson was 33 years old.
- Benjamin Franklin - Born on January 17, 1706, Franklin was 70 years old.
- James Madison - Born on March 16, 1751, Madison was 25 years old.
- Alexander Hamilton - Born on January 11, 1755 (or 1757, as some records indicate), Hamilton was around 21 or 19 years old.
- John Jay - Born on December 23, 1745, Jay was 30 years old.
These ages highlight the contributions to the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, with figures like Franklin providing senior leadership and younger individuals like Madison and Hamilton bringing fresh perspectives.
It struck me, when I learned this, that it took a group of LIKE MINDED people who shared a common goal to come up with one of the greatest pieces of writing ever recorded, outside of certain Bible passages. And some speeches by Martin Luther King and Sir Winston Churchill.
Maybe wisdom doesn’t belong to any one generation at all. Maybe it happens when like-minded people ... young or old ... come together with clear eyes and steady hearts. That’s when age blows out the window, and common sense blows in. When people drop the labels, stop measuring worth by years, and start listening to one another, something rare takes place: we remember what it means to be human. We remember what it means to care, to speak plainly, to build something worth handing on. It’s not age that saves us ... it’s unity in truth.
Perhaps we need to encourage our young to be more confident than fearful? More hopeful than hopeless? More resilient and more reliant? If we do not, will we have a future generation that are perpetually offended, needy and no hopers?
Let children climb trees, fall over, eat mud and meat instead of bugs and bullshit , and find their feet , while they still have someone to catch them. Because if the government becomes the parent, it won’t raise free citizens. It will raise obedient subjects.
If 21-year-old Hamilton could help found a nation, surely our young people today can help save one - if we give them the tools, the trust, and the truth. And maybe free speech. Oh that's right. E Karen doesn't like that.
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