You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.

The line is a comic marker of aging: birthdays, once centered on celebration, become a reminder of accumulating years. By exaggerating the number of candles needed—so many that they outprice the cake—Bob Hope (or the tradition attributing the joke to him) turns a potentially anxious topic into a light, self-deprecating observation. The humor depends on everyday consumer logic (comparing costs) applied to an absurd situation, highlighting how age can feel like it “adds up.” It also reflects a classic show-business approach to mortality and time: defuse discomfort through wit and shared recognition.