One of the few graces of getting old - and God knows there are few graces - is that if you've worked hard and kept your nose to the grindstone, something happens: The body gets old but the creative mechanism is refreshed, smoothed and oiled and honed. That is the grace. That is the splendid grace. And I think that is what's happening to me.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Aging can refresh creativity even as the body declines, provided one has worked consistently. This renewal is a rare grace in later life.
- In plain terms
- Even if your body gets old, working hard keeps your creative mind sharp.
- What can you take from it?
- Consistent effort sustains creativity through aging.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What keeps your creativity alive?
- How do you define grace?
Another view
Not everyone experiences creative renewal with age.
More from Maurice Sendak
I don't believe in things literally for children. That's a reduction.
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