In youth alone, unhappy mortals live; But, ah! the mighty…
“In youth alone, unhappy mortals live; But, ah! the mighty bliss is fugitive: Discolour'd sickness, anxious labour, come, And age, and death's inexorable doom.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Youth is marked by unhappiness, while age brings inevitable suffering and death, yet fleeting joy exists amidst toil.
In simple terms: Youth suffers, age brings doom, but brief bliss appears.
Seek meaning despite life's transience.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal loss
- career burnout
- health crises
- elder care
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What moments of joy sustain you?
- How do you confront inevitable decline?
Joy is temporary and often overlooked in hardship.