The path to knowledge is lengthy and it is a lifetime project. The seeker of knowledge will continue to seek it until he meets Allaah. 

 

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The believer will never have enough of listening to good things (seeking knowledge) until he reaches Paradise.”  

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2686) who said: It is hasan ghareeb. It was classed as saheeh by al-Haakim (4/129) and al-Dhahabi agreed with him. It was classed as da’eef by al-Albaani in Da’eef al-Tirmidhi. 

The following advice will answer your questions: 

 

Firstly: 

The best time to seek knowledge is when one is young, when one is alert and has a lot of energy. It does not matter if a person misses out on knowledge  when he is young or in childhood, because when a student is young he is able to make up for what he has missed, if he works hard. 

 

Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated in his Musannaf (5/284) that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: Learn before you reach a position of prominence.  

Abu ‘Ubayd said in Ghareeb al-Hadeeth (3/369): 

He says: Acquire knowledge when you are still young, before you become leaders.