In Penelope Fitzgerald's novel "The Bookshop," the character points out a distinction between age and historical intrigue. He suggests that simply being old does not necessarily equate to being interesting. This implies that the value of one's experiences and insights may not inherently come with the passage of time.
The idea challenges the common perception that older individuals possess deeper wisdom or captivating stories. Instead, it suggests that the quality of one’s life experiences is what truly contributes to one’s fascination, not just the number of years lived.