Ageing

During our class discussion, one of my students made reference to my age, to which I replied "Ah but, the older the violin, the sweeter the music!"
My submission is twofold. Am I mistakenly attributing this to Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove?"
I then recalled, "There may be snow on the roof, but there is still a fire in the hearth!" "Wine gets better with age!"
I would appreciate any and all references/ quotes/ sayings as to the advantages of aging.
Thanks in advance!

These women could probably quote you a few -- www.redhatsociety.com/ They are followers of the sentiments expressed in this poem posted here in part:

WARNING
By Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens . . .

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Gus McRae does indeed say this in Lonesome Dove. I have done a little looking and haven't found it attributed to anyone else but I doubt it's McMurtry's. Another variation is 'the older the bottle, the sweeter the wine.' The point is, for me anyway, is he's absolutely right. :)

Camelita
A camel of a certain age.

A known humorous rejoinder (over here in the UK at least) is very similar to the alleged McMurtryism - "Ah but many a fine tune's played on a old violin/fiddle". It's almost always used with a winkingly sexual connotation.

Just remembered my personal favourite maxim regarding age which is neatly two-edged - at least once you've passed your peak, it's downhill all the way.