Dudley Henriques writes:

Terry is another matter, but as for your analogy, you are incorrect.
There most certainly are old bold pilots.
The trick in flying isn't the avoidance of bold action, in fact the
reverse is true.
The trick is in knowing when to be bold and when not to be. Those who
know the difference are the ones who become "old, bold pilots".

I didn't invent the saying.