Recalling that far more assertive and influential time in their lives, the
elderly insist on their right to age gracefully, usefully, and so far as they
possibly can, their way. Rather than merely riding off into the sunset,
older adults choose to brighten the horizons of their minds and lives
through continued involvement in family, schools, work place, and
community. Most elderly reject the diminution of their abilities and
interests, although as they age into the seventh and eighth decades they
may be compelled to restrict their direct involvement somewhat. Their
capabilities, reduced by time and the tides, are nevertheless firmly based
on direct on-the-job experience in managing households, family affairs,
and professional and technical careers. With such knowledge and
experience the elderly will remain a vital resource.
(From Surviving The Future, by Arnold Toynbee, Oxford University
Press, 1971)
Man is a social being, and therefore, among all the objects for his love
that there are in the universe and beyond it, he ought, I suppose, love his
fellow human beings first and foremost. But he should also love all
non-human living creatures, animals, and plants as well because they are
all akin to man; they too are branches of the great tree of life. This tree
has a common root; we do not know where the root comes from, but we
do know that we all spring from it. Man should also love inanimate
nature, because this, too, is part of the universe which is man's habitat.
(Our grandchildren) are not responsible for the existing state of the
world. The reality is that the middle-aged generation (the parents of the
rising generation) brought them into the world and is educating or
miseducating them, or just ignoring their educational needs. If the
middle-years or older generations are indignant at the rising generation,
who is really at fault? Who shirked their responsibilities to their
children and grandchildren? And with whom lies the initiative to resolve
these inadequacies? In effect, it is up to the older generation to take the
initiative to bring about reconciliation between itself and the generations
that are to follow them.