Growing old is no more than a bad habit that a busy person has not time to form.

Maurois’s epigram treats “growing old” less as an unavoidable biological process than as a psychological and social posture—an accretion of routines, resignation, and narrowed curiosity. By calling it a “bad habit,” the line suggests that what we often label as age is partly self-reinforcing behavior: slowing down, disengaging, and accepting diminished possibilities. The “busy person” is not merely occupied but purpose-driven; sustained projects, interests, and responsibilities keep one oriented toward the future, leaving little room to rehearse the attitudes associated with old age. The wit lies in its provocation: it reframes aging as something one can resist through vitality, work, and continued engagement.