Japanese proverbs, called kotowaza (諺) can be difficult for Westerners to understand, but with a little explanation they do make sense. 

On Aging

“Fifty to sixty flowers, seventy to eighty fruits, ninety to one hundred mature”

「五十六十花盛り、七十八十実が成って、九十百歳蒸れ盛り」

This kotowaza is sometimes quoted by Kinjō Kaichō.  It compares the aging process to the development from flower to fruit to fully ripe.  It equally applies to learning the martial arts.

“60’s and 70’s runny-nosed kid; prime of manhood from one hundred”

「六十、七十は鼻たれ小僧、男ざかりは、百から」

「六十、七十は鼻たれ小僧、男ざかりは、百から百から」

“Sixty and seventy are nose-sucking boys, and men are from one hundred to one hundred.”

｢五十六十鼻たれ小僧、七十八十働き盛り、九十になって迎えが来たら、百まで待てと追い返せ」

“You are an apprentice [a runny-nosed kid] in your 40’s and 50’s and in the prime of your working life in your 60’s and 70’s.  When the heavens come for you in your 90’s tell them to come back when you reach 100.”

Fifty-six nose-sauce kid, seventy-eight working prime, when you reach ninety, wait until one hundred and turn back

本誌に馴染みの深い平澤興先生っ人生を楽しみ遊んだ人である。その言葉。

“Fifty-six nose-sauce kid, seventy-eighty working prime, when you reach ninety, wait until one hundred and turn back.”