What does it mean by "... Old fools are babes again ..."?

Please explain to me!!! THANKS A LOT!

2 answers

It could mean that the diminished mental capacity of old people make them vulnerable to scams and innocent about the ways of the world.

Or it could refer to some of the physical problems of aging -- loss of teeth, incontinence, difficulty walking, etc. -- that make them physically more like babies.

It's also possible that since old people are retired and don't have the responsibilities of family and earning a living, they enjoy them selves and play as though they were children. Think of the old codgers who spend a lot of their time on the golf course or at the bridge table.
I just Googled this quote and found it's from Shakespeare's King Lear. This site has an intepretation of this line in the context of the play.

http://nfs.sparknotes.com/lear/page_42.html