Bigs Quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“Youth is like having a big plate of candy. Sentimentalists think they want to be in the pure, simple state they were in before they ate the candy. They don't. They just want the fun of eating it all over again.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: "The Great Gatsby" (1925)
Youth is likened to candy: tempting and fleeting; people romanticize past innocence but truly crave the excitement of indulgence.
In simple terms: Youthful excitement is addictive, not pure.
Key Takeaway
Seek joy without clinging to idealized past.
Themes
youth
nostalgia
desire
indulgence
memory
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- marketing
- personal growth
- relationship dynamics
Key Concepts
psychology
literature
culture
Questions to Reflect On
- What "candy" are you chasing now?
- How does nostalgia shape your choices?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing the past can hinder present enjoyment.
![“Very often, those who express concern about (or even interest in) the conditions in which farmed animals are raised are disregarded as sentimentalists. But it’s worth taking a step back to ask who is the sentimentalist and who is the realist. […] Two friends are ordering lunch. One says, “I’m in…” quote by Jonathon Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/61d/jonathon-safran-foer-63650_sentimentalism_very-often-those-who-express-concern-abo_202760.jpg)
![“An oxymoronic combination of the tough and tender, [Of Mice and Men] will appeal to sentimental cynics, cynical sentimentalists...Readers less easily thrown off their trolley will still prefer Hans Andersen. [Time 1937]” quote by Time-Life Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ba8/time-life-books-283358_bad-reviews_an-oxymoronic-combination-of-the-tough-a_1199332.jpg)
![“The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before going in with [Larry] Holmes. That would have made all the difference.” quote by Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d63/gerry-cooney-20863_bigs_the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-m_1534.jpg)
