Geleidelijk kwam hij op een leeftijd, waarop hij oude mensen kende die hij nog gekend had toen zij zo oud waren als hij nu. Dat was een verbazende ontdekking, waardoor hij zowel oude als jonge mensen met andere ogen ging bekijken, en allereerst zichzelf.
Harry Mulish: De Aanslag
He had had many conversations during his long life. Some were fascinating and stayed with him more than a century later. Others were less so. As a younger man he had tolerated those as part of the cost of doing business — a sort of tax that all people must pay in order to take part in civilized society. When he had turned one hundred, he had decided to stop paying that tax.
Neal Stephenson: Seveneves
He was of an age where it was never possible to pursue one errand at a time. He must do many at once. He guessed that people who had lived right and arranged things properly must have it all rigged so that all of their quests ran in parallel, and reinforced and supported one another just so. They gained reputations as conjurors. Others found their errands running at cross purposes and were never able to do anything; they ended up seeming mad, or else perceived the futility of what they were doing and gave up, or turned to drink. Daniel was not yet certain which category he was in, but he suspected he’d find out soon enough.
Neal Stephenson: The System of the World
That merely glimpsing three good wooden boxes on a baggage-wain could lead to such broodings made Daniel wonder that he could get out of bed in the morning. Once, he had feared that old age would bring senility; now, he was certain it would slowly paralyze him by encumbering each tiny thing with all sorts of significations.
Neal Stephenson: The System of the World
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