"You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake"

This quote by Bob Hope is an amusing method of mentioning the truths of aging. It indicates that as we grow older, the expense of celebrating our birthdays increases. This is because the expense of the candles used to celebrate the occasion is more than the expense of the cake. This is a humorous method of pointing out that as we age, our costs increase. It likewise implies that as we grow older, we end up being more knowledgeable about the cost of things. This quote is a lighthearted method of acknowledging the truths of aging and the increasing cost of living. It is a tip to take pleasure in life and maximize our time while we are still young.