There’s a quote that says, “There is more than one path to reach the mountaintop.” I believe that’s quite true. Here’s an alternative way of thinking that leads to a similar conclusion — just through a different path.

Point 1: Standard Deviation in Life

We all know that nothing is ever perfect. In construction, a structure remains safe even when a beam is off by ±50 millimeters; a batch of goods is still acceptable within a ±5% margin.

The same principle applies to people. A few years of age difference doesn’t make someone less compatible or less capable of love.

If we can accept small variations in the things we build, why can’t we accept them in the people we meet? In this case, the “parameter of deviation” is age.

There is a parallel saying that resonates with this modern adaptation of the standard deviation. In ancient times, there was a quote stating, “The living things are flexible; the dead things are rigid.” This further reinforces the point — we must remain flexible where we can.


Point 2: Patterns Across Generations

The patterns of the present generation often reflect those of the older and younger generations — and vice versa.

If there are men of great character within my generation, there will also be women of similar quality within the same group. This reflects a polarity view — seeing what is possible, even when it’s not yet visible in our surroundings. If such qualities exist today, they must also exist among both older and younger generations. Through a cross-generational view, we can observe what is possible across the past, present, and future.

If this observation holds true (at least to me personally), then it seems premature to conclude that all men and women of the younger generation are immature.

Mature young minds do exist — perhaps fewer in number, but present nonetheless.

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Based on these two points — tolerance for age deviation and the existence of maturity across generations — the conclusion arrived:

It may be worth giving younger pursuers a fair chance.