Paul Tournier - Learning To Grow Old (Quotes)

From Paul Tournier 'Learning To Grow Old' (SCM Press:1972)

We have to give up all sorts of things, and accept with serenity the prospect of death, while remaining as active, as sociable and friendly as we can, despite an unavoidable measure of loneliness. We must learn to use leisure profitably, take up new interests, interest ourselves in young people and new ideas. pp 1-2

What each of us needs is a 'reconversion' from earning our living to cultural activity. ... To acquire culture ... is to develop oneself, to progress, to contribute to the progress of the human race, to find a meaning in life which can survive the cessation of professional activity. p. 5

The active person allows many of his talents to lie fallow in order to develop a few which are indispensable to his professional and social success. The integration to which Jung calls him in the second part of his life, this new advance towards a more complete human fulfilment, involves the reawakening of everything that he has for a long time had to sacrifice to his career. p. 11

... lots of retired people are bored because they do not know what to do with their enforced liberty! p. 20

Moreover, when one grows old, as Mauriac remarks, I believe one finds special pleasure in re-reading old books one has read in the past. p. 33 *[As I am doing now with this book.] 

.. moral injustices. One of the gravest is the fact that the retired and the aged do not feel that they are looked upon as of equal value with the other members of society, as members with a 'full share', as General de Gaulle remarked in another context. p. 37

We have given things a priority over persons, we have built up a civilization based on things rather than on person. p. 40

... those in the autumn of their lives, are reaching the summer of their wisdom. p. 123

We must change in order to stay the same. To live is to grow old. p. 182

"Super Patriot meme from 1968" from Mad Magazine #129 1969

The Super Patriot meme that is doing the rounds on Facebook is actually from Mad Magazine #129 September 69.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry PERSPECTIVE

And there I stayed a bit, ruminating and telling myself that a man was able to adapt himself to anything. The notion that he is to die in thirty years has probably never spoiled any man's fun. Thirty years ... or thirty days: It's all a matter of perspective. - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - (Wind, Sand and Stars p. 124)

MORONS FINALLY HAVE A VOICE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

In the past, morons could only write a letter to a newspaper and the editor would read it and decide that morons should not get a priority in their newspaper and throw the letter in the 'round file'. Now any idiot can post anything on social media. The morons finally have voice!

WHAT TO SAY TO ANNOYING TELEMARKETERS

Pretend to be an old age pensioner with a low IQ.

"Oh, you're giving me a free computer! I've always wanted a computer. Do you give pensioners like me free lessons because I can't afford to pay for anything. I'm just about to cook my only meal of the day. It's a can of dog food that I put in the microwave. I've gotten used to microwaved dog food. It's better than cat food. I've tried both. Ow! My arthritis is playing up at the moment. And I think I've got to change my incontinence pad soon cause its leaking all over the place. There's a huge puddle on the floor. How do you clean urine from shag pile carpet? Who are you again? I've got problems with remembering who I'm talking to. .. etc etc etc"

DR BRETT TINDALL - AIDS RESEARCHER

FROM https://www.instagram.com/p/BrpoorJhy7u/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=knril3hf0fbx&fbclid=IwAR0QDOtGTkbMzHZu7S-UguktfU7F1Jblgr-DmyUWvcyU_9GTO-JKO3nF6Og

“Doctor #BrettTindall devoted his short life to researching a cure for HIV/AIDS. He was the first patient in the world identified by Dr David Cooper (now sadly the late Professor David Cooper) to convert from HIV- to HIV+.
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His tireless research has played a vital role in helping medical science progress to the medications we now have available. Brett died from AIDS shortly before the life saving medications became available.
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The proudest moment of Brett’s life was to obtain his Doctorate shortly before his death. His contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS was enormous. He was a wonderfully loyal and dear friend to so many throughout the world. He is fondly remembered by us all!
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Although not positive herself, Kathleen devoted her life caring for people with HIV/AIDS. She nursed Brett in his final battle against HIV/AIDS. When Brett died she joined the WHO to set up the HIV centre in Indonesia. She then transferred to India to set up a clinic there. Because of the high rate of homeless HIV+ woman in India, rejected for being HIV+, Kathleen set up a shelter for positive women.
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Tragically Kathleen died from an unknown cause 12 years ago. Kathleen was another devoted and loyal friend loved by all who knew her. Both Brett and Kathleen are still very much missed!” — by David Polson

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FROM http://www.oocities.org/thetropics/7449/brett.html?fbclid=IwAR1kdjT1R4xirCOjbqigWxkvg6vUnrrdbVG5OssRGEi4uObOYtaYrpvTOBE
My dearest friend contracted AIDS and died. ...

A career in mainstream medicine was cut short when his HIV + status was discovered. Many people would have, many have, given up all hope. Now Brett, had found a new goal and as with everything he did, he approached this unknown disease with skill and determination.

Brett was a brilliant researcher, writing many articles for publication in medical journals. His articles and conference presentations were respected world wide. As Senior Scientist and later as Doctor Brett Tindall, he was Head of the Clinical Research Unit of NCHECR. ...

This is from The Wind In The Willows, a favourite piece of Brett's.

"Who can tell?" said the Badger. "People come - they stay for awhile, they flourish, they build - and they go. It is there way. But we remain. There were badgers here, I've been told, long before that same city ever came to be. And there now there are badgers here again. We are an enduring lot, and we may move out for a time, but we wait, and we are patient, and back we come. And so it will ever be."

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The Brett Tindall Memorial Lecture is an annual lecture awarded by the Kirby Institute to a world leader in infectious disease research.

It is awarded in memory of Dr Brett Tindall, who was one of the Kirby Institute’s first researchers in the 1980s and died of AIDS in 1994. Brett's research focussed on the process of seroconversion and the body's responses to the entry of HIV.