proverb · Words worth keeping
It is shameful for a young man to question an old one. –Homer
It is shameful for a young man to question an old one. –Homer
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A young man questioning an old one called shameful gives age-based deference priority over inquiry. The supplied wording attributes the statement to Homer.
Example
Someone asks an experienced person for reasons without treating a difference in age as permission for humiliation.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The anthology attribution is unverified here. A critical reading rejects age or gender as a guarantee of correctness or a reason to silence questions. Experience can be valuable, and respectful inquiry can also reveal errors. People of different ages retain equal dignity and the right to raise concerns.
When to use it
Use it critically to examine deference and the right to question.
Keep in mind
No verified attribution or correctness guaranteed by age is established.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
Greece
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.- Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- Greece