The quote reflects the understanding that as one grows older, they become more aware of the fragility of what they hold dear. At nineteen, the speaker recognizes that when something is especially valuable or meaningful, it is often at risk of being lost. This realization is not exclusive to age; even at sixteen, one can grasp the uncertainty that comes with attachment to significant aspects of life.

This perspective conveys a sense of caution and perhaps even resignation about the nature of possession and loss. It highlights a universal truth about the human experience: as we cherish certain things or relationships, we also live with the looming possibility of their absence. This complex dynamic is essential to understanding the deeper themes in Cormac McCarthy's "No Country for Old Men."