What do these lines mean: "And certainly, the more a man drinketh of the world, the more it intoxicateth; and age doth profit rather in the powers of understanding than in the virtues of the will and affections. There be some have an over-early ripeness in their years, which fadeth betimes. These are, first, such as have brittle wits, the edge whereof is soon turned; such as was Hermogenes the rhetorician, whose books are exceeding subtle, who afterward waxed stupid." (Of Youth And Age by Francis Bacon) HELP!! D;

Question

What do these lines mean: "And certainly, the more a man drinketh of the world, the more it intoxicateth; and age doth profit rather in the powers of understanding than in the virtues of the will and affections. There be some have an over-early ripeness in their years, which fadeth betimes. These are, first, such as have brittle wits, the edge whereof is soon turned; such as was Hermogenes the rhetorician, whose books are exceeding subtle, who afterward waxed stupid." (Of Youth And Age by Francis Bacon) HELP!!  D;

anonymous · Answer

The more a person sees of the world, the more the world drags him down; 

The older a person gets, the more they see that simply understanding 
something is better than trying to change it.  

Youth doesn't last.  

Youth is stupid. As was said by Hermogenes the rhetori-whatever.