John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
1988 Franis Baon 1561-1626 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 1988 |
| AUTHOR: | Francis Bacon (1561–1626) |
| QUOTATION: | Alonso of Aragon was wont to say in commendation of age, that age appears to be best in four things,—old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Apothegms. No. 97. |
| Note 1. Is not old wine wholesomest, old pippins toothsomest, old wood burns brightest, old linen wash whitest? Old soldiers, sweetheart, are surest, and old lovers are soundest.—John Webster: Westward Hoe, act ii. sc. 2. Old friends are best. King James used to call for his old shoes; they were easiest for his feet.—Selden: Table Talk. Friends. Old wood to burn! Old wine to drink! Old friends to trust! Old authors to read!—Alonso of Aragon was wont to say in commendation of age, that age appeared to be best in these four things.—Melchior: Floresta Española de Apothegmas o sentencias, etc., ii. 1, 20. What find you better or more honourable than age? Take the preheminence of it in everything,—in an old friend, in old wine, in an old pedigree.—Shakerley Marmion (1602–1639): The Antiquary. I love everything that ’s old,—old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine.—Oliver Goldsmith: She Stoops to Conquer, act i. [back] |