si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait
French edit
Etymology edit
Literally, “if [only] youth knew, if [only] old age could”.
Pronunciation edit
Proverb edit
si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait
- youth is wasted on the young, you can't put an old head on young shoulders (it's too bad that young people lack the experience and wisdom which only come with age; at the same time, it's a pity that old people lack the physical wherewithal to take full advantage of their experience and wisdom)