If we … capitalize on the very real strengths of older people, then added years of life can dramatically improve quality of life at all ages.

Laura L. Carstensen is a Stanford psychologist and founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, known for research on socioemotional selectivity theory and the “longevity dividend”—the idea that longer lives can be a societal asset if institutions adapt. This quotation reflects her public-facing work arguing that population aging should not be framed only as a crisis of dependency and cost. In talks and essays aimed at policymakers and the general public, she emphasizes that older adults often show strengths in emotional regulation, experience-based judgment, and social motivation. The line is typically used to advocate redesigning workplaces, health systems, and communities to leverage these strengths across the life course.

The quote argues that longevity is not inherently a burden; its value depends on how societies respond. Carstensen suggests that older adulthood brings “real strengths” that can be cultivated—such as perspective, emotional stability, and expertise—and that recognizing these can raise well-being not only for older people but for everyone. The phrase “capitalize” signals a shift from viewing aging as decline to treating it as human capital. “Quality of life at all ages” implies intergenerational benefits: policies that support healthy aging (flexible work, prevention, social connection, age-inclusive design) can improve midlife and youth outcomes too, because they reshape norms and institutions across the entire lifespan.