Man’s own youth is the world’s youth; at least he feels as if it were, and imagines that the earth’s granite substance is something not yet hardened, and which he can mould into whatever shape he likes.
—Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–64) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Middle age is youth without its levity, and age without decay.
—Daniel Defoe (1659–1731) English Writer, Journalist, Pamphleteer
In youth one has tears without grief; in age, griefs without tears
—Philibert Joseph Roux (1780–1854) French Surgeon
I’ve never understood why people consider youth a time of freedom and joy. It’s probably because they have forgotten their own.
—Margaret Atwood (b.1939) Canadian Writer, Poet, Critic
All sorts of allowances are made for the illusions of youth; and none, or almost none, for the disenchantments of age.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Youth is in danger until it learns to look upon debts as furies.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
What a cunning mixture of sentiment, pity, tenderness, irony surrounds adolescence, what knowing watchfulness! Young birds on their first flight are hardly so hovered around.
—Georges Bernanos (1888–1948) French Author
I promise to keep on living as though I expected to live forever. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
If only, If only, life was as simple as it was during childhood.
—Indian Proverb
We pay when old for the excesses of youth.
—J. B. Priestley (1894–1984) English Novelist, Playwright, Critic
If a society is to preserve stability and a degree of continuity, it must know how to keep its adolescents from imposing their tastes, attitudes, values and fantasies on everyday life.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Youth is too tumultuous for felicity; old age too insecure for happiness. The period most favorable to enjoyment, in a vigorous, fortunate, and generous life, is that between forty and sixty.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Childhood is a disease—a sickness that you grow out of.
—William Golding (1911–93) English Novelist
Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall;
A mother’s secret hope outlives them all.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
There is nothing can pay one for that invaluable ignorance which is the companion of youth, those sanguine groundless hopes, and that lively vanity which makes all the happiness of life.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
The hatred of the youth culture for adult society is not a disinterested judgment but a terror-ridden refusal to be hooked into the, if you will, ecological chain of breathing, growing, and dying. It is the demand, in other words, to remain children.
—Midge Decter (b.1927) American Journalist, Activist, Author
Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favor. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure, but of obtaining those rewards which the accomplishment may deserve. She is not easily persuaded to believe that the force of merit can be resisted by obstinacy and avarice, or its luster darkened by envy and malignity.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
As I approve of a youth that has something of the old man in him, so I am no less pleased with an old man that has something of the youth. He that follows this rule may be old in body, but can never be so in mind.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
In grade school, I was a complete geek. You know, there’s always the kid who’s too short, the kid who wears glasses, the kid who’s not athletic. Well, I was all three.
—Julianne Moore (b.1960) American Actor
Every generation needs a new revolution.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Interest is the spur of the people, but glory that of great souls. Invention is the talent of youth, and judgment of age.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Youth holds no society with grief.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
In the lexicon of youth, which fate reserves for a bright manhood, there is no such word as fail.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to!
—Burton Hillis (William E. Vaughan) (1915–77) American Columnist, Author
In the morning of our days, when the senses are unworn and tender, when the whole man is awake in every part, and the gloss of novelty is fresh upon all the objects that surround us, how lively at that time are our sensations, but how false and inaccurate the judgments we form of things!
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
It is the failing of youth not to be able to restrain its own violence.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Happy is he who fears God when in the prime of life.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Like virgin parchment, capable of any inscription.
—Philip Massinger (1583–1640) English Playwright
Youth, enthusiasm, and tenderness are like the days of spring. Instead of complaining, oh, my heart, of their brief duration, try to enjoy them.
—Friedrich Ruckert (1788–1866) German Poet, Translator
My supply of Scotch caution never has been small; but I was apparently something of a daredevil now and then to the manufacturing fathers of Pittsburgh. They were old and I was young, which made all the difference.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist