Do in after life the freshness and light-heartedness, the…
““Do in after life the freshness and light-heartedness, the craving for love and for strength of faith, ever return which we experience in our childhood’s years? What better time is there in our lives than when the two best of virtues — innocent gaiety and a boundless yearning for affection — are our sole objects of pursuit? Where now are our ardent prayers? Where now are our best gifts — the pure tears of emotion which a guardian angel dries with a smile as he sheds upon us lovely dreams of ineffable childish joy? Can it be that life has left such heavy traces upon one’s heart that those tears and ecstasies are for ever vanished? Can it be that there remains to us only the recollection of them?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote laments the loss of childlike wonder, love, and faith as we age, yearning for the pure emotions of youth.
In simple terms: Adult life often loses the simple joy and trust of childhood.
Key Takeaway
Seek to reconnect with youthful wonder.
Themes
nostalgia
faith
love
innocence
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- parenting
- mental health therapy
- creative writing
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
existential longing
spiritual yearning
Questions to Reflect On
- What childhood feeling do you miss most?
- How can you cultivate innocence today?
A Different Perspective
Childhood emotions may be idealized and not fully recoverable.