Old Men Delight In Giving Good Advice

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 authentic advice quotes:

“What the world wants is good examples, not so much advice; advice may be wrong, but examples prove themselves.” – Josh Billings

(The Complete Works Of Josh Billings (Henry W. Shaw), New York: G. W. Dillingham, 1876, Puddin And Milk, P. 216)

(The quote is also found here.)

“Advice iz like kastol-ile, eazy enuff to give but dreadful uneasy tew take.” – Josh Billings

(The Complete Works Of Josh Billings, Henry W. Shaw, New York: G. W. Dillingham, 1876, Ink Brats, P. 270) source

(The quote is also found in: The Complete Works Of Josh Billings (Henry W. Shaw), Russia: Litres, 2017, Ink Brats) source

(The quote is also found here.)

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

(The Complete Works Of Josh Billings (Henry W. Shaw), New York: G. W. Dillingham, 1876, Plum Pits, P. 221) source

(The quote is also found in: The Complete Works Of Josh Billings (Henry W. Shaw), Russia: Litres, 2017, Plum Pits) source

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

(The Complete Works Of Josh Billings (Henry W. Shaw), New York: G. W. Dillingham, 1876, Ramrods, P. 207) source

(The quote is also found in: The Complete Works Of Josh Billings (Henry W. Shaw), Russia: Litres, 2017, Ramrods) source

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

(The Complete Works Of Josh Billings (Henry W. Shaw), New York: G. W. Dillingham, 1876, Lobstir Sallad, P. 211) source

(The quote is also found in: The Complete Works Of Josh Billings (Henry W. Shaw), Russia: Litres, 2017, Lobstir Sallad) source

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

(The Complete Works Of Shakespere: With A Memoir By William Shakespeare, London: John Dicks, 1868, Merchant Of Venice, Act I, Sc. II, P. 682) source

(The quote is also found in: Shakespeare’s Merchant Of Venice, With Association By O. J. Stevenson, Orlando: The Copp, Clark Company Limited, 1917, P. 7) source

“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)

(Reflections: Or Sentences And Moral Maxims By Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Prince De Marsillac, Translated From The Editions Of 1678 And 1827 With Introduction, Notes, And Some Account Of The Author And His Times By J. W. Willis Bund, M.A. LL.B And J. Hain Friswell, London: Simpson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd., 1898, 93, P. 13)

(The quote is also found in: Reflections: Or, Sentences and Moral Maxims By François Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Edited by John William Willis Bund, James Hain Friswell, New York: Brentano’s, 1871, 93, P. 13)

(The quote in French is found .)

“Nothing is given so profusely as advice.” – François De La Rochefoucauld

“On ne donne rien si libéralement que ses conseils.” (French)

(The quote in French is found .)

“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)

(The quote is also found in: Reflections & and Moral Maxims Of François Duc De La Rochefoucauld, San Francisco: D.P. Elder and M. Shepard, 1902, CXVII, P. 174) source

(The quote in French is found .)

“…giving Advice, was properly, taking an occasion to show our own Wisdom, at another’s expense.” – Anthony Ashley Cooper Of Shaftesbury

(Characteristicks Of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times By Anthony, Third Earl Of Shaftesbury, Vol. 1, Foreword: Douglas Den Uyl, 1737, Treatise III Viz, Soliloquy: Or Advice To An Author, A Letter, Advice &c, Part I, Sect I) source

(The quote is also found in: Characteristics Of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times With A Collection Of Letters, By The Right Honorable Anthony Earl Of Shaftesbury, Vol. I, Basil: Printed For J. J. Tourneisen And J. L. Legrand, 1790, Soliloquy, Or Advice To An Author, A Letter, Advice &c, Part I, Sect I, P. 133) source

“What a senior says all take for advice.” – Publilius Syrus

“Quod senior loquitur, omnes consilium putant.” (Latin)

(Minor Latin Poets, With Introduction And English Translation By J. Wight Duff & Arnold M. Duff, London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1934, Publilius Syrus Sententiae, 606, P. 95) source

(The quote is also found in: Minor Latin Poets: In Two Volumes, Volume 1, With Introduction And English Translation By J. Wight Duff & Arnold M. Duff, Harvard University Press, 1982, Publilius Syrus Sententiae, 606, P. 95) source

(The quote in Latin is found in: Publii Syri Sententiae Cum F. I. Desbillonii Emendationibus Nunc Primum Editis Dionysii Catonis Disticha De Moribus, Ad Filium, Caelii Symposii Aenigmata: Accedunt D. Laberii Et Cn. Mattii Fragmenta, Sententiae Veterum Poetarum Per Georgium Fabricium Collectae, Alii Similis Argumenti Versus Antiqui; Ad Optimorum Librorum Fidem Cum Variarum Lectionum Delectu, Edidit Carolus Zell, Stuttgartiae: Sumtibus Caroli Hoffmann, 1892, Publii Syri Sententiae, Senarii Iambici, 772, P. 26) source

(The quote in Latin is also found here.)

“No one wants advice – only corroboration.” – John Steinbeck

(The Winter Of Our Discontent By John Steinbeck, New York: The Viking Press, 1961, Ch. VI, P. 106) source

(The quote is also found in: The Winter Of Our Discontent By John Steinbeck, Introduction And Notes By Susan Shillinglaw, Penguin, 2008, Part One, Ch. Six) source

(Another source of the quote is also found here.)

“We ask advice, but we mean approbation.” – Charles Caleb Colton

(Lacon: Or, Many Things In Few Words; Addressed To Those Who Think By The Rev. C. C. Colton, Complete in One Volume, London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green & Longmans, 1837, Reflections CXC, P. 103) source

(The quote is also found in: Lacon: Or, Many Things In Few Words; Addressed to Those Who Think By The Rev. C. C. Colton, New York: William Gowans, 1849, P. 116) source

“Fools need advice most, but wise men only are the better for it.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanack By Benjamin Franklin,Selection From The Apothegms And Proverbs, With A Brief Sketch Of The Life Of Benjamin Franklin, Waterloo, Iowa: The U.S.C. Publishing Co., 1914, 148, P. 21) source

(The quote is also found here.)

(Another source of the quote is found in: The Autobiography, And Other Writings Of Benjamin Franklin: With Selections From Poor Richard’s Almanac And Papers Relating To The Junto, New York : Dodd, Mead, 1963, P. 199) source

“Advice is seldom welcome; and those who want it the most always like it the least.” – The Earl Of Chesterfield

(Chesterfield’s Letters to His Son By The Earl Of Chesterfield, Letter XXVI, London, January 29, O. S. 1748) source

(The quote is also found in: The Works Of Lord Chesterfield: Including His Letters To His Son, Etc : To Which Is Prefixed An Original Life Of The Author By Philip Dormer Stanhope Earl of Chesterfield, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1838 Letter CXXXVIII, London, January 29. O. S. 1748, P. 172)

(Another source of the quote is found in: Letters Written By Earl Of Chesterfield To His Son, In Three Volumes, Vol. I, London: Thomas Tegg, 1827, Letter CVI, London, January 29th, O. S. 1748, P. 245) source

“We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanack By Benjamin Franklin,Selection From The Apothegms And Proverbs, With A brief Sketch Of The Life Of Benjamin Franklin, Waterloo, Iowa: The U.S.C. Publishing Co., 1914, 611, P. 57) source

(The quote is also found here.)

(Another source of the quote is found in: Autobiography, Poor Richard, And Later Writings: Letters From London, 1757-1775, Paris, 1776-1785, Philadelphia, 1785-1790, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1733-1758, The Autobiography, Edited By Joseph A. Leo Lemay, New York: Library of America, 1997, P. 523)

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)

(Reflections: Or Sentences And Moral Maxims by Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Prince De Marsillac, Translated From The Editions Of 1678 And 1827 With Introduction, Notes, And Some Account Of The Author And His Times By J. W. Willis Bund, M.A. LL.B and J. Hain Friswell, London: Simpson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd., 1898, 378, P. 44) source

(The quote is also found in: Reflections: Reflections & Moral Maxims of Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld by François duc de La Rochefoucauld, San Francisco: D.P. Elder and M. Shepard, 1902, 378, P. 101) source

(The quote in French is found here.)

“There is nothing which we receive with so much reluctance as advice.” – Joseph Addison

(The Works Of Joseph Addison, Complete In Three Volumes, Embracing The Whole Of The “Spectator” Volume II, New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1868, The Spectator, No. 512, Friday, October 17, 1712, P. 275) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“There is nobody who can give sounder advice than yourself.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

“Nemo est qui tibi sapientius suadere possit te ipso.” (Latin)

(Cicero The Letters To His Friends, With And English Translation By W. Glynn Williams, M.A., In Three Volumes, I, London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1927, Book II, I-VII. To Gaius Scribonius Curio, VII, M. Cicero, Proconsul, To The Same, Now Tribune Of The Plebs, In The Camp At Pindenissus, Late In 51 B.C., P. 113) source

(The quote is also found in: Cicero XXV: Letters To His Friends, Translated By William Glynn Williams, Harvard University Press, 1970, Book II, P. 113) source

(The quote in Latin is found in: Cicero The Letters To His Friends, With An English Translation By W. Glynn Williams, M.A., In Three Volumes, Vol. I, London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1927, Book II, I-VII. To Gaius Scribonius Curio, VII, M. T. C. Procos. S. D. C. Curioni Trib.Pl, In Castris ad Pindenissum, A.U.C. 703, P. 112) source

(The quote in Latin is also found in: Ciceronis Selectae Quaedam Epistolae, Philadephiae: Sumptibus H. Perkins, 1836, Epistola VII, M. T. C. Proconsul C. Curioni, Tribuno Plebis, S. D., P. 19) source

Note: The quote is from the letter Cicero wrote to a Scribonius Curio, a friend who helped him during the Catiline Conspiracy (aka second Catilinarian conspiracy).

“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

(An Ideal Husband By Oscar Wilde, London: Leonard Smithers And Co., 1899, First Act, P. 49) source

(The quote is also found in: An Ideal Husband By Oscar Wilde, Dover Publications, 2000, Act I) source

“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

(Maxims And Moral Reflections By Norman Macdonald, New York: Collins & Hanna7, G. & C. Carvill And E. Bliss, 1827, Series III, 36, P. 58) source

“We advise others better than ourselves.” – Norman Macdonald

(Maxims And Moral Reflections By Norman Macdonald, New York: Collins & Hanna7, G. & C. Carvill And E. Bliss, 1827, Series VI, 34, P. 122) source

“People are always willing to follow advice when it accords with their own wishes.” – Countess Of Blessington

(The Confessions Of An Elderly Lady By Marguerite Countess of Blessington, London: Simms And M’Intyre, P. 125) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“…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

(Essays Written In The Intervals Of Business By Air Arthur Helps, London: William Pickering, 1848, The First Part, Advice, P. 69) source

(The quote is also found in: Essays Written In The Intervals Of Business By Air Arthur Helps, London: William Pickering, 1841, The First Part, Advice, P. 55) source

“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

(Essays Written In The Intervals Of Business By Air Arthur Helps, London: William Pickering, 1841, The First Part, Advice, P. 68) source

(The quote is also found in: Essays Written In The Intervals Of Business By Air Arthur Helps, London: William Pickering, 1841, The First Part, Advice, P. 54) source

“We’re all mighty unselfish when it comes t’ handin’ out advice we could use ourselves.” – Kin Hubbard

(Abe Martin’s Back Country Sayings: Compiled From The Indianapolis News And Revised And Edited By The Author, Indianapolis: Abe Martin Publishing Company, 1917) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“There are few men who do not love better to give advice than to give assistance.” – Henry David Thoreau

(I To Myself: An Annotated Selection From The Journal of Henry D. Thoreau, Edited By Jeffrey S. Cramer, Yale University Press, 2007, 1850: Age: 32-33, June 4, P. 56) source

(The quote is also found in: The Writings Of Henry David Thoreau, Journal, Edited By Bradford Torrey, II: 1850-September 15, 1851, Boston And New York: Houghton Mifflin And Company, 1906, Ch. I. 1859 (Age 32-33), A Burner of Brush, June 4, 1850, P. 28) source

(Another source of the quote is found here.)