Old Age, published in 1870 in Society and Solitude, examines the experience of ageing and the changes that accompany later life. Emerson acknowledges declining physical strength and the losses associated with age, but he also considers the advantages that can come from accumulated experience, established character and a broader perspective on events.

He argues that age can reduce dependence on fashion, ambition and immediate approval, allowing greater independence of judgement. Older people may possess knowledge of human behaviour and circumstance that cannot be acquired quickly, while long experience can give proportion to difficulties that once seemed overwhelming.

The essay does not deny the hardships of ageing. Instead, Emerson presents old age as a distinct stage of life with both limitations and compensations, emphasising dignity, experience and continued intellectual and social value.