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To be young is all there is in the world. The rest is…

“To be young is all there is in the world. The rest is nonsenseand cant. They talk so beautifully about work and having a family anda home (and I do, too, sometimes)Mbut it's all worryand head-aches and respectable poverty and forced gushing… Telling people how nice it is, when, in reality, you…” quote by Wallace Stevens
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“To be young is all there is in the world. The rest is nonsenseand cant. They talk so beautifully about work and having a family anda home (and I do, too, sometimes)Mbut it's all worryand 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

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Reflects on youthful vitality versus the disillusionment of adulthood, viewing older age as a betrayal of early joy.

In simple terms: Youth is pure; adulthood feels false.

Key Takeaway

Cherish youthful perspective.

Themes

nostalgia disillusionment ageism

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • career planning
  • intergenerational dialogue
  • mental health
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

existentialism philosophy time

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does youth mean to you?
  • How can you integrate youthful energy into adult life?
A Different Perspective

Older generations can offer wisdom despite cynicism.

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