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About this quote

What does it mean?
Women’s roles shift over a lifetime, from lovers of young men to companions in middle age, and caretakers for old men.
In plain terms
Women change their relationships as they age.
What can you take from it?
Expect relationships to evolve with age.

Where it applies

  • marriage
  • long‑term partnership
  • elder care

Putting it to work

  • plan for changing support needs
  • value companionship at each stage

Questions to consider

  • How do these stages reflect societal expectations?
  • Can individuals break this pattern?

Another view

It reduces women to functional roles, ignoring individuality.

More from Francis Bacon

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  3. The joys of parents are secret; and so are their griefs and fears. They cannot utter the one; nor they will not utter the other.

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