Yesterday I heard an old Italian adage that in English would be "if youth knew; if age could."
It took me a while to track its source back to the 16th century when a French printer and classical scholar named Henri Estienne wrote "Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait, rien ne se perdrait."
If only youth knew; if only age could, nothing would be lost.
The meaning is pretty straightforward. Young people do not have the wisdom or experience to make the best choices, while elders lack the energy and the strength to do what they want.
I think it is used to suggest to young people to listen and follow the advice of the older ones. And sure, there is probably some wisdom in it.
But when I heard it, I can help but think that it reflects a limiting belief. One that can hold you back from starting anything because you're either too young or too old.
Who said that you always need to know before you do something? Not knowing can be a gift sometimes. It allows you to see things with a fresh and innocent perspective.
And who said you're too old to start anything?
Colonel Harland Sanders began franchising his chicken business when he was 62. Henry Ford was 45 when he created the revolutionary Model T car in 1908. And the are countless examples.