Four Reasons

Cicero, On Old Age 5.15 (tr. William Armistead Falconer): And, indeed, when I reflect on this subject I find four reasons why old age appears to be unhappy: first, that it withdraws us from active pursuits; second, that it makes the body weaker; third, that it deprives us of almost all physical pleasures; and, fourth, that it is not far removed from death. etenim, cum complector animo, quattuor…