Waylon Jennings? P.J. O’Rourke? David Mamet? Johnny Rutherford? Luke Kaiser? Jerry Schofield? Fausto Coppi? Anonymous?
Question for Quote Investigator: Physical abilities decline with age, but experience accumulates. The following adage is popular with feisty seniors:
Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.
This saying has been attributed to singer-songwriter Waylon Jennings, playwright David Mamet, political commentator P. J. O’Rourke, race car driver Johnny Rutherford, and others. Would you please explore the provenance of this expression?
Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest close match known to QI appeared in the “Houston Chronicle” of Texas on December 11, 1974. A columnist wrote about an organization that specialized in creating and popularizing mottos. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:1
Although it has been operating for more than 25 years, maybe you never heard of the “Let’s Have Better Mottos Assn” headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. I never did until Luke Kaiser of Premier Printing and Letter Service, 2120 McKinney, told me about it. Kaiser is chairman of the association’s Board of Selections, and he sent me a whole raft of dandy mottos, including one he had just coined himself:
OLD AGE AND TREACHERY
WILL ALWAYS DEFEAT YOUTH AND SKILL
Luke Kaiser is currently the top candidate creator for this motto based on the citation above.
The genesis of this saying was lengthy. Phrases of this general type have occurred often during the past one hundred years. Yet, these precursors were not presented in proverbial form. Also, they did not achieve precise wide repetition. Some statements used interrogative form. Here is an overview with dates and ascriptions:
1910: Will experience and brains defeat youth and energy? (Sports journalist Dick Jemison)
1915: Experienced fighters … utilize vast knowledge to overcome youth and strength (Anonymous)
1922: The warfare of youth and love and honor and courage against age and treachery and hypocrisy and mystery (Book reviewer John Clair Minot)
1923: Proved the superiority … of age and intellect over youth and skill (Anonymous)
1925: The ability of age and experience to defeat youth and endurance (Sports journalist Robert Edgren)
1929: How to defeat youth with experience (Anonymous)
1938: The splendid victory of youth and love over age and treachery (Author Louis Arthur Cunningham)
1964: Can age and experience beat youth and enthusiasm? (Anonymous)
Below is an overview of the adage under examination. These entries include dates and attributions for close matches in proverbial form:
1974 Dec 11: Old age and treachery will always defeat youth and skill (Ascribed to Luke Kaiser)
1975 Jul 21: Old age and treachery will always defeat youth and skill (Motto displayed in the office of Jerry Schofield)
1975 Jul 22: Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (Spoken by Wayne Dollick)
1977: Old age and treachery will triumph over youth and skill (Sign displayed in the office of Joseph Mastroianni)
1978: Age and treachery will win over youth and skill (Credited to a friend of NASCAR driver Hershel McGriff)
1979: Age, cunning, deceit and treachery can defeat youth and skill (Message on a T-shirt sold by John George)
1979: Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (Bohor’s Bromide in the book “1,001 Logical Laws”)
1982: Old age and trickery will overcome youth and skill (Motto for cross-stitch pattern)
1984: Experience and treachery will beat youth and enthusiasm (Labeled an “old saying” by race car driver Johnny Rutherford)
1986: Age and guile beats youth and talent every time (Announcer Don Davis)
1988: Age and treachery overcomes youth and exuberance (Curler Lil Werenka)
1991: Old age and treachery always overcomes youth and skill (Lyric in a song by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson)
1995: Age and Guile Beat Youth, Innocence, and a Bad Haircut (Book title by P. J. O’Rourke)
2009: Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (Attributed to Fausto Coppi)
2015: Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance (Attributed to David Mamet)
Below are details for selected citations in chronological order.
In 1910 “The Atlanta Constitution” of Georgia printed a piece about baseball by sports columnist Dick Jemison which contained the following question:2
Again, will experience and brains defeat youth and energy? That’s the point. In this instance, I think not, for the youth and energy have the brains of a wise mogul to back them up.
In 1915 the “Buffalo Evening News” of New York printed an article with the following headline and subhead:3
EXPERIENCED FIGHTERS ALWAYS HAVE BIG EDGE
Utilize Vast Knowledge to Overcome Youth and Strength
In 1922 “The Boston Herald” of Massachusetts published a book review by John Clair Minot containing the following line:4
“Conflict” is true to its title. There is warfare from the first page clear through—the warfare of youth and love and honor and courage against age and treachery and hypocrisy and mystery.
In 1923 “The Observatory: A Monthly Review of Astronomy” in London printed a humorous piece about a cricket match:5
… the astrologers have been fain to seek the help of nine others (associated with the Foundation) on the occasion of these contests, which have so far proved the superiority (though by a hair’s breadth) of age and intellect over youth and skill.
In 1925 ” The Grand Rapids Press” in Michigan published a piece by syndicated sports journalist Robert Edgren which discussed a tennis match:6
Fans to a man applauded vigorously when he won, even those who were the most skeptical over the ability of age and experience to defeat youth and endurance.
In 1929 “The Evening Star” in Washington DC published an article containing the following passage about a tennis tournament:7
As a result, the gallery missed a lot of anticipated thrills, but those of them who had their eyes open learned a lesson in court strategy which might have been entitled, “How to Defeat Youth With Experience.”
In 1938 “The Boston Globe” of Massachusetts serialized a sea story by Louis Arthur Cunningham which contained the following:8
He was strong, hard, unrelenting, even in defeat, but he could understand Hugh’s victory and bow to it—the splendid victory of youth and love over age and treachery. And in his defeat was his bitterness.
In 1964 “The Sunday Herald” of Provo, Utah printed an article which began with a question about an upcoming football match:9
Can age and experience beat youth and enthusiasm?
This classic question in sports may find an answer Saturday afternoon on the football field at Provo High School …
On December 11, 1974, a close match to the adage under examination appeared in the “Houston Chronicle” of Texas as mentioned at the beginning of this article:10
Kaiser is chairman of the association’s Board of Selections, and he sent me a whole raft of dandy mottos, including one he had just coined himself:
OLD AGE AND TREACHERY
WILL ALWAYS DEFEAT YOUTH AND SKILL
On July 21, 1975, a close match appeared in the “Beaumont Journal” of Texas. The adage appeared on a sign in the office of Jerry Schofield who was the newspaper’s national advertising manager:11
Jerry doesn’t look his 65 years. But as he grew older he came more and more to treasure this motto prominently displayed in his office:
“Old age and treachery will always defeat youth and skill.”
On July 22, 1975, the adage appeared within a column published in the “Las Vegas Sun” of Nevada:12
An aside from WAYNE DOLLICK … old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.
In 1977 the “Reno Evening Gazette” of Nevada mention the adage:13
“Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.”
In front of that sign which hangs on the wall of a cubbyhole office sits the 65-year-old and perhaps not so treacherous Joseph Mastroianni, chief building inspector for the City of Reno.
In 1978 “The Oregonian” of Portland, Oregon reported that NASCAR driver Hershel McGriff heard the saying from a friend:14
“I have a saying that a friend mailed to me that says, ‘Age and treachery will win over youth and skill,’ McGriff said. “I think it’s true.”
In 1979 “The Daily Oklahoman” reported that Professor of Political Science John George sold T-shirts with a pertinent slogan:15
… he quickly sold a supply imprinted with another phrase:
“Age, cunning, deceit and treachery can defeat youth and skill.”
Also, in 1979 the book “1,001 Logical Laws” compiled by John Peers included the following entry:16
Bohor’s Bromide: Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.
In 1982 the “Fort Worth Star-Telegram” of Texas printed the following:17
Members of the Tuesday Bridge Club plan to eventually retire to a “Catholic-Presbyterian Home for the Aged” to cross-stitch mottos such as “Old Age and Trickery Will Overcome Youth and Skill.”
In 1984 prominent race car driver Johnny Rutherford used the expression which he called an “old saying”:18
“There’s an old saying that experience and treachery will beat youth and enthusiasm,” Rutherford said. “I know what it takes here because I’ve been around. So I’ll be using every trick I know to move up the best I can.”
In 1986 a newspaper in Hamilton, Montana printed an article about a stunt-filled baseball game:19
“Age and guile beats youth and talent every time,” remarked Don (I’m not Drysdale) Davis, who alternated between playing in the field and announcing in the stands with Marshall Bloom.
In 1988 “The Edmonton Journal” of Alberta, Canada published an article about a women’s curling championship game which included a comment from curler Lil Werenka:20
“We have a motto,” Werenka said. “Age and treachery overcomes youth and exuberance.”
In 1991 musicians Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson released the album “Clean Shirt” which featured the song “Old Age and Treachery” containing the following line:21
Old age and treachery always overcomes youth and skill
In 1995 political commentator P. J. O’Rourke published a book with the following title:22
Age and Guile Beat Youth, Innocence, and a Bad Haircut
In 2009 a tweet implausibly attributed the saying to Italian cyclist who died in 1960:23
“Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.” – Fausto Coppi
In 2015 a journalist writing in “The Advocate” of Baton Rouge, Louisiana attributed the saying to a prominent playwright:24
Brees may be getting up there as superstar athletes go, but the 36-year-old proved David Mamet’s line true once again: Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance.
In conclusion, the earliest citation in 1974 indicated that Luke Kaiser crafted this adage. Hence, he is the most likely originator. Numerous precursors occurred in the decades before 1974 indicating that the saying evolved over a long period.
Image Notes: Illustration of a checkmate from stevepb at Pixabay. The image has been cropped and resized.
Acknowledgements: Great thanks to Gary White, Jonathan Lighter, Marcas, Eric Lerner, David Strip, Stephen, and Bill Mullins whose inquiries and comments led QI to formulate this question and perform this exploration. Lighter found the important citation dated July 21, 1975. Mullins found the crucial citation dated December 11, 1974. Mullins also mentioned the linkage to P. J. O’Rourke.
In Memoriam: For my brother Stephen who owned a shirt with this saying, and he wondered about its origin.
Update History: On June 13, 2025 the citation dated December 11, 1974 was added to the article, and the conclusion was revised.
- 1974 December 11, Houston Chronicle, In Houston by Allison Sanders “The Motorman”, Section 2, Quote Page 1, Column 4, Houston, Texas. (GenealogyBank) ↩︎
- 1910 October 10, The Atlanta Constitution, Connie Mack Must Fool Johnny Kling to Win by Dick Jemison, Quote Page 3, Column 3, Atlanta, Georgia. (Newspapers_com) ↩︎
- 1915 November 15, Buffalo Evening News, Experienced Fighters Always Have Big Edge, Quote Page 16, Column 5, Buffalo, New York. (GenealogyBank) ↩︎
- 1922 April 22, The Boston Herald, Bookish Chat and Comment by John Clair Minot, Conflict: Dorcas Remalie, Heiress, Learns Life in the Woods, Quote Page 6, Column 4, Boston, Massachusetts. (GenealogyBank) ↩︎
- 1923 August, The Observatory: A Monthly Review of Astronomy, Volume 46, Number 591, Section: Notes, Start Page 256, Quote Page 267, Taylor and Francis, London. (Google Books Full View) link ↩︎
- 1925 August 20, The Grand Rapids Press, Johnston Popular Tennis Star by Robert Edgren, Quote Page 27, Column 7, Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Newspapers_com) ↩︎
- 1929 July 15, The Evening Star, Experience Triumphs Over Youth as Charest Conquers Considine, Quote Page 26, Column 7, Washington, District of Columbia. (Newspapers_com) ↩︎
- 1938 July 3, The Boston Globe, Section: Boston Sunday Globe Magazine, The Gull’s Moon: A Sea Serial Story by Louis Arthur Cunningham, Start Page 5, Quote Page 7, Column 4, Boston, Massachusetts. (ProQuest) ↩︎
- 1964 April 26, The Sunday Herald, ‘Y’ Gridmen Eye Annual Spring Tilt, Quote Page 16, Column 1, Provo, Utah. (Newspapers_com) ↩︎
- 1974 December 11, Houston Chronicle, In Houston by Allison Sanders “The Motorman”, Section 2, Quote Page 1, Column 4, Houston, Texas. (GenealogyBank) ↩︎
- 1975 July 21, Beaumont Journal, Jody Cody’s Beaumont, Quote Page 1, Column 1, Beaumont, Texas. (GenealogyBank) ↩︎
- 1975 July 22, Las Vegas Sun, Versiellen’s Open Door, Quote Page 11, Column 1, Las Vegas, Nevada. (GenealogyBank) ↩︎
- 1977 May 2, Reno Evening Gazette, Retirement doesn’t mean rocking chair by Lenita Powers, Quote Page 1, Column 2, Reno, Nevada. (Newspapers_com) ↩︎
- 1978 July 4, The Oregonian, Veteran driver relies on age, treachery by Ken Goe (The Oregonian Staff), Quote Page E4, Column 1, Portland, Oregon. (GenealogyBank) ↩︎
- 1979 August 7, The Daily Oklahoman, Shirt Shows Communistic Opposition, Quote Page N3, Column 1, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Newspapers_com) ↩︎
- 1979, 1,001 Logical Laws, Accurate Axioms, Profound Principles, Compiled by John Peers, Edited by Gordon Bennett, Quote Page 147, Doubleday & Company, Garden City, New York. (Verified with hardcopy) ↩︎
- 1982 November 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Pair of parties and politics by Lloyd (Cissy) Stewart, Quote Page 1B, Column 5, Fort Worth, Texas. (Newspapers_com) ↩︎
- 1984 May 26, St. Petersburg Times, Rutherford’s here courtesy of Foyt by Ray Holliman (St. Petersburg Staff Writer), Quote Page 3C, Column 5, St. Petersburg, Florida. (Newspapers_com) ↩︎
- 1986 July 23, Ravalli Republic, Buc Busters fall victim to Bucs’ hoaxes by Ruth Thorning, Quote Page 7, Column 3, Hamilton, Montana. (Newspapers_com) ↩︎
- 1988 February 6, The Edmonton Journal ‘Geritol Gang’ leaves challengers on rocks by Norm Cowley (Edmonton Journal Staff Writer), Quote Page G3, Column 1, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Newspapers_com) ↩︎
- Website: Genius, Date: June 1991, Album: Clean Shirt, Track 3: Old Age and Treachery, Artists: Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson, Producer: Bob Montgomery, Website description: Music lyrics, news, and guides. (Accessed genius.com on June 3, 2025) link ↩︎
- 1995, Age and Guile Beat Youth, Innocence, and a Bad Haircut by P. J. O’Rourke, (Quotation is the title), The Atlantic Monthly Press, New York. (Verified with scans) ↩︎
- Tweet, From: Chenzy007 @chenzy007, Time: 10:41 PM, Date: May 13, 2009, Text: Age and treachery will overcome. (Accessed on x.com on June 3, 2025) link ↩︎
- 2015 November 2, The Advocate, Unforgettable wild win 49 years in the making (Continuation title: Saints) by Scott Rabalais, Start Page 1A, Quote Page 4A, Column 3, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (GenealogyBank) ↩︎