--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is an illusion that youth is happy, an…" description: "\"“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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/christopher-nuttall-28371_illusion_it-is-an-illusion-that-youth-is-happy-an_782311.jpg" --- # It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of… ![“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. -W. Somerset Maugham” quote by Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/christopher-nuttall-28371_illusion_it-is-an-illusion-that-youth-is-happy-an_782311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/christopher-nuttall-28371_illusion_it-is-an-illusion-that-youth-is-happy-an_782311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/christopher-nuttall-28371_illusion_it-is-an-illusion-that-youth-is-happy-an_782311.jpg) > ““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. -W. Somerset Maugham”” [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) ## 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 often idealized, but young people confront harsh realities that shatter naive hopes. **In simple terms:** Youth faces harsh reality. Key Takeaway Recognize and accept reality early. Themes youth illusion reality Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - career planning - mental health - relationship expectations Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What truths have you learned that changed your view? - How can you balance hope with realism? A Different Perspective Idealism can protect hope but may delay growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Illusion Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion-lost-1824898/) [Illusion Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion-youth-1824896/) [Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somerset-maugham/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) [Youth Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth-happy-3653890/) ## Related quotes > [It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/it-is-an-illusion-that-youth-is-happy-an-illusion-of-those-who-have-4/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it; but the young know they are wretched for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-an-illusion-that-youth-is-happy-an-illusion-of-those-who-have-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it; but the young know they are wretched for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/it-is-an-illusion-that-youth-is-happy-an-illusion-of-those-who-have/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“It is an illusion that youth is happy: an illusion of those who have lost it; but the young know they are wretched, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/it-is-an-illusion-that-youth-is-happy-an-illusion-of-those-who-have-5/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“He did not know how wide a country, arid and precipitous, must be crossed before the traveller through life comes to an acceptance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/he-did-not-know-how-wide-a-country-arid-and-precipitous-must-be/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“Sometimes you start focusing on the strings rather than the marionettes, and suddenly the entire illusion is lost for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hartford/sometimes-you-start-focusing-on-the-strings-rather-than-the/) [Paul Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hartford/) > [Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/youth-is-happy-because-it-has-the-ability-to-see-beauty-anyone-who/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/youth-is-happy-because-it-has-the-capacity-to-see-beauty/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/youth-is-happy-because-it-has-the-capacity-to-see-beauty-anyone-who/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [It's a very obsessive profession that you need to stay obsessed to get anywhere, and it's very easy for us to get obsessed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/it-s-a-very-obsessive-profession-that-you-need-to-stay-obsessed-to/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [“But like a boat with a twisted rudder, I kept coming back to the same place. I wasn't going anywhere. I was myself, waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/but-like-a-boat-with-a-twisted-rudder-i-kept-coming-back-to-the-same/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“To write simply is as difficult as to be good.” Somerset Maugham.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/to-write-simply-is-as-difficult-as-to-be-good-somerset-maugham/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [“The whole experience reminded me of my own 'old lady' phase that I went through in high school while I was reading Somerset Maugham...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ware/the-whole-experience-reminded-me-of-my-own-old-lady-phase-that-i-went/) [Chris Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-ware/) > [Discovered W. Somerset Maugham in about 5th grade. Didn't understand the plots, but loved the descriptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-p-kinsella/discovered-w-somerset-maugham-in-about-5th-grade-didn-t-understand/) [W. P. Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-p-kinsella/) > [“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. —W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wax/there-are-three-rules-for-writing-a-novel-unfortunately-no-one-knows/) [Wendy Wax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wax/) ## More by Christopher Nuttall > [“His more cynical side suspected that humans had never really needed an excuse to pick on other humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/his-more-cynical-side-suspected-that-humans-had-never-really-needed/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“Do not confuse "duty" with what other people expect of you; they are utterly different. Duty is a debt you owe to yourself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/do-not-confuse-duty-with-what-other-people-expect-of-you-they-are/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“Right,” Chong said sarcastically.  “Next time perhaps we could surrender and call it a tactical strike without arms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/right-chong-said-sarcastically-next-time-perhaps-we-could-surrender/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“I The moving sun-shapes on the spray, The sparkles where the brook was flowing, Pink faces, plightings, moonlit May, These were the things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/i-the-moving-sun-shapes-on-the-spray-the-sparkles-where-the-brook-was/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“War was a democracy, he knew.  The enemy got a vote too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/war-was-a-democracy-he-knew-the-enemy-got-a-vote-too/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“Well,” Jasmine said.  “Did you miss them?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/well-jasmine-said-did-you-miss-them/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“Admiral,” he said.  He couldn't resist.  “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/admiral-he-said-he-couldn-t-resist-reports-of-my-death-have-been/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“In the long, fierce struggle for freedom of opinion, the press, like the Church, counted its martyrs by thousands. -James A. Garfield”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/in-the-long-fierce-struggle-for-freedom-of-opinion-the-press-like-the-2/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“One of the most dangerous signs of decline is the sudden reluctance to tolerate different points of view in political debate.  Questions and issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/one-of-the-most-dangerous-signs-of-decline-is-the-sudden-reluctance/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“It was astonishing just how smart the old man had become in the years between Kurt reaching his teenage years and growing out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-old-man-had-become-in-the-years/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“delight in putting colonies everywhere.  The Tadpoles noted the terraforming project on the fourth world with bemusement.  There was no shortage of habitable worlds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/delight-in-putting-colonies-everywhere-the-tadpoles-noted-the/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“This may seem absurd – after all, the motives are good.  But you may also wish to remember the parable of the cooked frog. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/this-may-seem-absurd-after-all-the-motives-are-good-but-you-may-also/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“The federal government hated it when people tried to move outside its sphere of control, no matter the reason.  It was incapable of leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/the-federal-government-hated-it-when-people-tried-to-move-outside-its/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“there would always be incompetent assholes in the world ... and many of them would be in places of power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/there-would-always-be-incompetent-assholes-in-the-world-and-many-of/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“Fairness is a foolish concept,” the man said dryly.  The line of Russian infantrymen seemed never-ending.  “The world is full of people who would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/fairness-is-a-foolish-concept-the-man-said-dryly-the-line-of-russian/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) [Explore all 19 Christopher Nuttall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) ## More Illusion quotes > [A garden has a curious innocent way of consuming cash while all the time you are under the illusion that you are spending nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-meynell/a-garden-has-a-curious-innocent-way-of-consuming-cash-while-all-the/) [Esther Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-meynell/) > [Even mud gives the illusion of depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/even-mud-gives-the-illusion-of-depth/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The fog of illusion, the fog of confusion is hanging all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/the-fog-of-illusion-the-fog-of-confusion-is-hanging-all-over-the-world/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [Knowing does not always allow us to prevent, but at least the things that we know, we hold them, if not in our hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/knowing-does-not-always-allow-us-to-prevent-but-at-least-the-things/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [We are eternal. All this pain is an illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/we-are-eternal-all-this-pain-is-an-illusion/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [How could they say that they truly loved each other? They had simply grown up together, been children together, and the proximity of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/how-could-they-say-that-they-truly-loved-each-other-they-had-simply/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/life-and-death-are-illusions-we-are-in-a-constant-state-of/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Fortunately, the mind is restless; when it uncovers a layer of its own deception, gives up an illusion, exposes a lie, it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-chernin/fortunately-the-mind-is-restless-when-it-uncovers-a-layer-of-its-own/) [Kim Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-chernin/) > [I've always said that I benefit, as an actor, from not having the illusion of security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-ve-always-said-that-i-benefit-as-an-actor-from-not-having-the/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [Things aren't always as they appear. I've been believing things to be a certain way because I want them to be that way. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/things-aren-t-always-as-they-appear-i-ve-been-believing-things-to-be/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Your problem is how you are going to spend this one odd and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/your-problem-is-how-you-are-going-to-spend-this-one-odd-and-precious/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) [Browse all 3,604 Illusion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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. -W. 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