I am beginning with the young. We older ones are used up…
“I am beginning with the young. We older ones are used up. Yes, we are old already. We are rotten to the marrow. We have no unrestrained instincts left. We are cowardly and sentimental. We are bearing the burden of a humiliating past, and have in our blood the dull recollection of serfdom and servility. But my magnificent youngsters! Are there finer ones anywhere in the world? Look at these young men and boys! What material! With them, I can make a new world.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker praises youth as the future, disparaging the older generation as weak and burdened by history.
In simple terms: Youth are seen as the hope for a new world, while elders are dismissed.
Key Takeaway
Empower the young, reject the old.
Themes
generational conflict
youth idealization
political propaganda
Mood
critical
serious
Type
political
propaganda
When to use this quote
- political movements
- education reform
- intergenerational dialogue
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
social engineering
nostalgia for past
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do elders have to youth?
- How can societies balance youthful energy with wisdom?
A Different Perspective
Such rhetoric ignores the value of experience and can incite division.