麒き麟りんも老おいぬれば駑ど馬ばに劣おとる

expression, godan verb (-ru)

even a great person declines with age

Proverb meaning that even the most talented or outstanding individual becomes inferior when they grow old, just as a mythical kirin becomes worse than a slow horse.

• 「麒き麟りんも老おいぬれば駑ど馬ばに劣おとる」と言いうように、かつての名めい選せん手しゅも年としには勝かてない。

  As the saying goes, 'Even a kirin, when old, is inferior to a nag,' even a once-great athlete cannot beat age.