Eminence Grise-or "Grey is the new White"

[Mister Underhill]

This thread makes me think of a couple of Proverbs:

"The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." (16:31)

"The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head." (20:29)

These are both King James versions; in modern English bibles, "hoary head" is typically translated as "grey hair" or "grey head".

And there's also the Elder Eddas:

I rede thee, Loddfafnir! | and hear thou my rede,--
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
Scorn not ever | the gray-haired singer,
Oft do the old speak good;
(Oft from shrivelled skin | come skillful counsels,
Though it hang with the hides,
And flap with the pelts,
And is blown with the bellies.)

The association of grey with wisdom fits comfortably with Gandalf, and extends without too much trouble to the Elves and the Dunedain.