A hundred years hence we shall all be bald.
A hundred years hence we shall all be bald.
Meaning in plain English
A long view makes present appearances seem less permanent. The shared baldness is an exaggeration about change over time, rather than a prediction of everyone’s lifespan or a criticism of losing hair.
Example
Someone steps back from a competition over appearances and gives more attention to how the group treats its members.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The hundred-year distance places everyone within the same imagined future. A feature that may distinguish people now no longer supplies the same grounds for pride. Read this as a reminder of impermanence and perspective, not as biological evidence that all people become bald or live for a particular length of time. When a present difference seems overwhelmingly important, ask how much of it depends on the moment. That question can encourage humility while leaving room to care for real needs that exist in the present.
When to use it
Use it to gain perspective on a temporary distinction or preoccupation with appearance.
Keep in mind
Do not mock baldness or make lifespan claims; a long view should not dismiss someone’s present concerns.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857)
Printed page 193; Spanish section, paragraph 4036; source wording: A cabo de cien años todos seremos calvos.
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗