The wine of youth does not always clear with advancing years; sometimes it grows turbid.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
That we may live to see England once more possess a free Monarchy and a privileged and prosperous People, is my Prayer; that these great consequences can only be brought about by the energy and devotion of our Youth is my persuasion. We live in an age when to be young and to be indifferent can be no longer synonymous. We must prepare for the coming hour. The claims of the Future are represented by suffering millions; and the Youth of a Nation are the trustees of Posterity.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
People have this obsession. They want you to be like you were in 1969. They want you to because otherwise their youth goes with you. It’s very selfish but it’s understandable.
—Mick Jagger (b.1943) English Rock Singer, Songwriter
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 not like a new garment, which we can keep fresh and fair by wearing sparingly. Youth, while we have it, we must wear daily, and it will fast wear away.
—John Foster Dulles (1888–1959) American Republican Public Official, Lawyer
Youth holds no society with grief.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
If youth did not matter so much to itself it would never have the heart to go on
—Willa Cather (1873–1947) American Novelist, Writer
Youth is like a long weekend on Friday night. Middle age is like a long weekend on Monday afternoon.
—Indian Proverb
To be young is all there is in the world. They talk so beautifully about work and having a family and a home (and I do, too, sometimes)—but it’s all worry and head-aches and respectable poverty and forced gushing. Telling people how nice it is, when, in reality, you would give all of your last thirty years for one of your first thirty. Old people are tremendous frauds.
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) American Poet
They mustn’t know my despair, I can’t let them see the wounds which they have caused, I couldn’t bear their sympathy and their kind-hearted jokes, it would only make me want to scream all the more. If I talk, everyone thinks I’m showing off; when I’m silent they think I’m ridiculous; rude if I answer, sly if I get a good idea, lazy if I’m tired, selfish if I eat a mouthful more than I should, stupid, cowardly, crafty, etc. etc.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
Don’t waste your youth growing up.
—Indian Proverb
The morning of life is like the dawn of day, full of purity, of imagery, and harmony.
—Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand (1768–1848) French Writer, Academician, Statesman
Youth covets; let not this covetousness seduce you.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Youth is not rich in time, it may be poor; part with it as with money, sparing; pay no moment, but in purchase of its worth; and what it’s worth, ask death-beds; they can tell.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Youth, large, lusty, loving—Youth, full of grace, force, fascination. Do you know that Old Age may come after you with equal grace, force, fascination?
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Do not commit the error, common among the young, of assuming that if you cannot save the whole of mankind you have failed.
—Jan de Hartog (1914–2002) Dutch-American Novelist, Playwright
Age is honorable and youth is noble.
—Irish Proverb
All lovely things will have an ending, All lovely things will fade and die; And youth, that’s now so bravely spending, Will beg a penny by and by.
—Conrad Aiken (1889–1973) American Poet, Novelist
Youth is a continual intoxication; it is the fever of reason.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.
—Franz Kafka (1883–1924) Austrian Novelist, Short Story Writer
You are only young once, but you can be immature forever.
—Unknown
I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint.
—Hesiod (f.700 BCE) Greek Poet
All natural goods perish. Riches take wings; fame is a breath; love is a cheat; youth and health and pleasure vanish.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
What might be taken for a precocious genius is the genius of childhood. When the child grows up, it disappears without a trace. It may happen that this boy will become a real painter some day, or even a great painter. But then he will have to begin everything again, from zero.
—Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Spanish Painter, Sculptor, Artist
Every generation needs a new revolution.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Age is not an accomplishment, and youth is not a sin.
—Robert A. Heinlein (1907–88) American Science Fiction Writer
If youth be a defect, it is one that we outgrow only too soon.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Youth is such a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright