"All I can say to the kids is if you've a problem in fishing or life, if you talk to an older person, you're gonna end up alright, because nine times out of 10, they've been through the same thing"
About this Quote
Rex Hunt’s line works because it smuggles a generational ethic into the plainspoken cadences of a fishing yarn. He’s not selling wisdom as some lofty credential; he’s pitching it as the most practical tackle in the box. The hook is the pairing of “fishing or life” - a deliberately mismatched couplet that collapses big existential messes into the everyday frustrations of a snagged line. That’s Hunt’s entertainer instinct: make advice feel usable, not sanctimonious.
The specific intent is almost pastoral. He’s addressing “the kids” with the relaxed authority of someone who’s spent decades in a public-facing, blokey role where mentorship is part of the performance. The phrase “talk to an older person” frames help-seeking as normal and even cool, countering the pride and isolation that often define youth culture. “You’re gonna end up alright” is reassurance, not a guarantee of success; it promises survivability.
The subtext is about continuity in a culture that often markets itself on novelty. Hunt argues for experience as a communal resource: problems aren’t unique, which means you don’t have to face them alone. The “nine times out of 10” adds a gambler’s specificity, signaling he’s not pretending elders are infallible. He’s saying the odds improve when you consult someone who’s already paid the price of learning.
Context matters: Hunt’s Australia is one where fishing doubles as social ritual, and older men often function as informal counselors. The quote defends that intergenerational pipeline at a moment when “ask Google” can replace “ask your uncle” - and quietly insists something human gets lost in the swap.
The specific intent is almost pastoral. He’s addressing “the kids” with the relaxed authority of someone who’s spent decades in a public-facing, blokey role where mentorship is part of the performance. The phrase “talk to an older person” frames help-seeking as normal and even cool, countering the pride and isolation that often define youth culture. “You’re gonna end up alright” is reassurance, not a guarantee of success; it promises survivability.
The subtext is about continuity in a culture that often markets itself on novelty. Hunt argues for experience as a communal resource: problems aren’t unique, which means you don’t have to face them alone. The “nine times out of 10” adds a gambler’s specificity, signaling he’s not pretending elders are infallible. He’s saying the odds improve when you consult someone who’s already paid the price of learning.
Context matters: Hunt’s Australia is one where fishing doubles as social ritual, and older men often function as informal counselors. The quote defends that intergenerational pipeline at a moment when “ask Google” can replace “ask your uncle” - and quietly insists something human gets lost in the swap.
Quote Details
| Topic | Wisdom |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
More Quotes by Rex
Add to List







