--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is not written for the young or the…" description: "\"“This is not written for the young or the light of heart, not for the tranquil species of men whose souls are content with the simple pleasures of fami..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/b-e-scully-73872_family_this-is-not-written-for-the-young-or-the_1180953.jpg" --- # This is not written for the young or the light of heart… ![“This is not written for the young or the light of heart, not for the tranquil species of men whose souls are content with the simple pleasures of family, church, or profession. Rather, I write to those beings like myself whose existence is compounded by a lurid intermingling of the dark and the…” quote by B.E. Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/b-e-scully-73872_family_this-is-not-written-for-the-young-or-the_1180953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/b-e-scully-73872_family_this-is-not-written-for-the-young-or-the_1180953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/b-e-scully-73872_family_this-is-not-written-for-the-young-or-the_1180953.jpg) > ““This is not written for the young or the light of heart, not for the tranquil species of men whose souls are content with the simple pleasures of family, church, or profession. Rather, I write to those beings like myself whose existence is compounded by a lurid intermingling of the dark and the light; who can judge rationally and think with reason, yet who feel too keenly and churn with too great a passion; who have an incessant longing for happiness and yet are shadowed by a deep and persistent melancholy—those who grasp gratification where they may, but find no lasting comfort for the soul.”” [B.E. Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-e-scully/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer addresses those who feel both intense passion and deep melancholy, noting that intellectual rationality coexists with emotional turbulence, leading to a restless search for lasting happiness. **In simple terms:** Intelligent people can feel deep sadness and intense longing despite rational minds. Key Takeaway Embrace both light and dark aspects of self. Themes existential melancholy intellectual passion search for meaning Mood contemplative somber inspirational Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - creative writing - therapy - personal journaling - artistic expression Key Concepts dualism emotional complexity philosophical inquiry Questions to Reflect On - What practices help integrate intellect and emotion? - Can embracing melancholy foster deeper creativity? A Different Perspective Rational thought doesn’t shield against emotional pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Shadowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-shadowed-3463050/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Longing Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing-happiness-828880/) [Men Souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-souls/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Simple pleasures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-pleasures/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Write Beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-beings-3463049/) ## Related quotes > [The longing for happiness and freedom from suffering expresses the great natural potential of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzigar-kongtrul-rinpoche/the-longing-for-happiness-and-freedom-from-suffering-expresses-the/) [Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzigar-kongtrul-rinpoche/) > [ “\[…\] we humans, as long as we live, are generally incapable of freeing ourselves from a certain ardent searching and longing, and should not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-walser/we-humans-as-long-as-we-live-are-generally-incapable-of-freeing/) [Robert Walser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-walser/) > [“He undressed, lay down, put out the light. Two names he whispered into his pillow, the few chaste northern syllables that meant for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/he-undressed-lay-down-put-out-the-light-two-names-he-whispered-into/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [Our restlessness in this world seems to indicate that we are intended for a better. We have all of us a longing after happiness;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/our-restlessness-in-this-world-seems-to-indicate-that-we-are-intended/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [All your desires, whatever they may be, are expressions of your longing for happiness. Basically, you wish yourself well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/all-your-desires-whatever-they-may-be-are-expressions-of-your-longing/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [“Never feel ashamed of your longing for happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/never-feel-ashamed-of-your-longing-for-happiness/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“What are gods for if not to sit in judgment over men? The Many-Faced God does not weigh men’s souls, however. He gives his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-are-gods-for-if-not-to-sit-in-judgment-over-men-the-many-faced/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Kind words produce their own image in men's souls; and a beautiful image it is. They soothe and quiet and comfort the hearer. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/kind-words-produce-their-own-image-in-men-s-souls-and-a-beautiful/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [These are the times that try men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/these-are-the-times-that-try-men-s-souls/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Make no small plans. They have no magic to stir men's souls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/make-no-small-plans-they-have-no-magic-to-stir-men-s-souls/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Wealth and poverty do not lie in a man's estate, but in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antisthenes/wealth-and-poverty-do-not-lie-in-a-man-s-estate-but-in-men-s-souls/) [Antisthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antisthenes/) > [Men's souls are crooked and unsound things, not good materials out of which to build friendships, families, households, cities, civilizations. But good or no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-wright/men-s-souls-are-crooked-and-unsound-things-not-good-materials-out-of/) [John C. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-wright/) > [By the cigars they smoke, and the composers they love, ye shall know the texture of men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/by-the-cigars-they-smoke-and-the-composers-they-love-ye-shall-know/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [I would not open windows into men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-would-not-open-windows-into-men-s-souls/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [I have no desire to make windows into men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-have-no-desire-to-make-windows-into-men-s-souls/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) ## More by B.E. Scully > [“Our very existence refuses your laws and your science, your religions and your philosophies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-e-scully/our-very-existence-refuses-your-laws-and-your-science-your-religions/) [B.E. Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-e-scully/) > [“remember that even though the dream may be an illusion, the dreaming is always real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-e-scully/remember-that-even-though-the-dream-may-be-an-illusion-the-dreaming/) [B.E. Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-e-scully/) > [“I asked why this had impressed him so much, and he said, “You see, those stubborn, long-obscured images are like the layers of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-e-scully/i-asked-why-this-had-impressed-him-so-much-and-he-said-you-see-those/) [B.E. Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-e-scully/) [Explore all 4 B.E. Scully quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-e-scully/) ## More Family quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) [Maureen Andeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-andeson/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. The people have always been very, very kind to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/the-people-have-always-been-family-to-me-here-in-las-vegas-the-people/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 36,913 Family quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This is not written for the young or the light of heart, not for the tranquil species of men whose souls are content with the simple pleasures of family, church, or profession. 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