He did not know how wide a country, arid and precipitous…
““He did not know how wide a country, arid and precipitous, must be crossed before the traveller through life comes to an acceptance of reality. It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it; but the young know they are wretched, for they are full of the truthless ideals which have been instilled into them, and each time they come in contact with the real they are bruised and wounded. It looks as if they were victims of a conspiracy; for the books they read, ideal by the necessity of selection, and the conversation of their elders, who look back upon the past through a rosy haze of forgetfulness, prepare them for an unreal life. They must discover for themselves that all they have read and all they have been told are lies, lies, lies; and each discovery is another nail driven into the body on the cross of life. The strange thing is that each one who has gone through that bitter disillusionment adds to it in his turn, unconsciously, by the power within him which is stronger than himself.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Youth confronts harsh reality, realizing that idealized beliefs are false; disillusionment is painful but essential for authentic self‑knowledge.
In simple terms: Young people learn truth through painful disillusionment.
Key Takeaway
Accept reality, question inherited ideals.
Themes
disillusionment
growth
truth
youth
illusion
Mood
reflective
somber
inspirational
Type
literary
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- Education
- personal development
- career choices
- family expectations
- cultural narratives
Key Concepts
Existentialism
psychology
coming of age
Questions to Reflect On
- What truths have you uncovered that changed your path?
- How can disillusionment become a catalyst for growth?
A Different Perspective
Idealism can provide hope and motivation despite its falsehood.