Old men delight in giving good advice is one of the many popular maxims by Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld.
The full line is:
Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad examples.
If directly translated from his original French maxim, it means old men love to give good precepts or rules, to console themselves for no longer being able to set bad examples.
It is a satirical swipe at old folks, or rather the so-called wise old men.
People usually associate wisdom with aging.
Talking about giving advice…
Sometimes, your friends or even your own siblings seek your advice on some personal matters.
Make sure that the person is sincerely soliciting advice.
At times, probably they just want to vent out their bottled-up problems.
They just want you to listen to their grouses, that’s all.
The very first thing is listen attentively.
Make sure that person is actually looking for your advice, before you dish out your opinion.
Try to imagine yourself in the other person’s situation, so you can empathize with him or her.
Never judge and never promise.
A point to remember here.
Just because someone seeks for your advice, it doesn’t mean they are not obligated to accept you have to say.
Old men delight in giving good advice
Now, let’s check out these famous advice quotes:
“What the world wants is good examples, not so much advice; advice may be wrong, but examples prove themselves.” – Josh Billings
“Advice iz like kastol-ile, eazy enuff to give but dreadful uneasy tew take.” – Josh Billings
NOTE: The above quote is written in old English. Presently, the quote is:
“Advice is like castor oil, easy enough to give but dreadful uneasy to take”.
“Advice iz like kissing – it don’t kost nothing and iz a pleazant thing to do.” – Josh Billings
NOTE: The above quote is written in old English. Presently, the quote is:
“Advice is like kissing; it costs nothing and is a pleasant thing to do.”
“It iz a safer thing enny time to follow a man’s advice than hiz example.” – Josh Billings
NOTE: The above quote is written in old English. Presently, the quote is:
“It is a safer thing any time to follow a man’s advice than his example.”
“Advice iz a drug in the market; the supply alwus exceeds the demand.” – Josh Billings
NOTE: The above quote is written in old English. Presently, the quote is:
“Advice is a drug in the market; the supply always exceeds the demand.”
“It is a good divine that follows his own instructions.” – William Shakespeare
“Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad examples.” – François De La Rochefoucauld
“Les vieillards aiment à donner de bons préceptes, pour se consoler de n’être plus en état de donner de mauvais exemples.” (French)
“Nothing is given so profusely as advice.” – François De La Rochefoucauld
“On ne donne rien si libéralement que ses conseils.” (French)
“We give advice, but we cannot give the wisdom to profit by it.” – François De La Rochefoucauld
“On donne des conseils, mais on ne donne point la sagesse d’en profiter.” (French)
“…giving Advice, was properly, taking an occasion to show our own Wisdom, at another’s expense.” – Anthony Ashley Cooper Of Shaftesbury
“What a senior says all take for advice.” – Publilius Syrus
“Quod senior loquitur, omnes consilium putant.” (Latin)
“No one wants advice – only corroboration.” – John Steinbeck
“We ask advice, but we mean approbation.” – Charles Caleb Colton
“Fools need advice most, but wise men only are the better for it.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Advice is seldom welcome; and those who want it the most always like it the least.” – The Earl Of Chesterfield
“We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.” – Benjamin Franklin
Note: There is a very similar or rather same quote by Francois De La Rochefoucault.
“We may bestow advice, but we cannot inspire the conduct.” – Francois De La Rochefoucault
“On donne des conseils mais on n’inspire point de conduite.” (French)
“There is nothing which we receive with so much reluctance as advice.” – Joseph Addison
“There is nobody who can give sounder advice than yourself.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
“Nemo est qui tibi sapientius suadere possit te ipso.” (Latin)
“I always pass on good advice. It’s the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself.” – Oscar Wilde
“There are two things which a man should scrupulously avoid: giving advice that he would not follow, and asking advice when he is determined to pursue his own opinion.” – Norman Macdonald
“We advise others better than ourselves.” – Norman Macdonald
“People are always willing to follow advice when it accords with their own wishes.” – Countess Of Blessington
“…it is with advice as with taxation: we can endure very little of either, if they come to us in the direct way.” – Sir Arthur Helps
“Advice is sure of a hearing when it coincides with our previous conclusions, and therefore comes in the shape of praise, or of encouragement.” – Sir Arthur Helps
“We’re all mighty unselfish when it comes t’ handin’ out advice we could use ourselves.” – Kin Hubbard
“There are few men who do not love better to give advice than to give assistance.” – Henry David Thoreau