"Stages of Man"

The 7 Stages of Man go back to the time of Wm. Shakespeare who wrote a piece describing them which began: "All the world’s a stage,

        And all the men and women merely players;

        They have their exits and their entrances,

        And one man in his time plays many parts,                       

        His acts being seven ages. ...."

 A lot has changed since the day  it was written and will continue to change even in the next couple generations. The eradication of many diseases, improved nutrition, etc. have extended the "working life" of many people. Economics may require their continuing to work and remain active and productive. 

I'm not sure where I fit into the above picture (or at least not willing to accept where I may be) but I like the way the stages are represented on the lower drawing better. I wonder if Walt Disney ever thought of the names of the 7 Dwarfs as representing the 7stages of man. It does take a bit of "Magic Kingdom" imagination to make them fit. In his final sermon before moving on, our Minister related an old Indian adage to the effect that: "Death is blowing out the candle ahead of the Dawn". With that kind of faith, why should an old man even be "Grumpy".