“A man who died at thirty-five will appear to distant generations as a young man, almost a boy, while his contemporaries who reached a ripe old age will always seem to me to have been born old.”

Simplified Meaning:

When people remember someone who died young, they always picture them as being young, no matter how much time has passed. On the other hand, those who lived a long life may be remembered as being old for most of their life, especially if they lived past normal life expectancy at the time. For instance, think of a famous singer who passed away at a young age, like Kurt Cobain from Nirvana. Fans and future generations remember him as the youthful and energetic person he was at the height of his career. In contrast, someone like Queen Elizabeth II, who lived a very long life, is mostly remembered by later generations as the elderly queen she was in their lifetime, even though she was young once too. This shows how our memories of people can be strongly influenced by the age at which they passed away. It also highlights that a person's legacy can be different depending on the stage of life they were in when they left us. So, when thinking about how you want to be remembered, it can be helpful to focus on the moments that define your life at its peak rather than worrying too much about age. This idea encourages us to live fully and make an impact, no matter our age.