--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The young man walks by himself, fast but…" description: "\"“The young man walks by himself, fast but not fast enough, far but not far enough (faces slide out of sight, talk trails into tattered scraps, footstep..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/john-dos-passos-3598_young-man_the-young-man-walks-by-himself-fast-but_628690.jpg" --- # The young man walks by himself, fast but not fast enough… ![“The young man walks by himself, fast but not fast enough, far but not far enough (faces slide out of sight, talk trails into tattered scraps, footsteps tap fainter in alleys); he must catch the last subway, the streetcar, the bus, run up the gangplanks of all the steamboats, register at all the…” quote by John Dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/john-dos-passos-3598_young-man_the-young-man-walks-by-himself-fast-but_628690.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/john-dos-passos-3598_young-man_the-young-man-walks-by-himself-fast-but_628690.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/john-dos-passos-3598_young-man_the-young-man-walks-by-himself-fast-but_628690.jpg) > ““The young man walks by himself, fast but not fast enough, far but not far enough (faces slide out of sight, talk trails into tattered scraps, footsteps tap fainter in alleys); he must catch the last subway, the streetcar, the bus, run up the gangplanks of all the steamboats, register at all the hotels, work in the cities, answer the wantads, learn the trades, take up the jobs, live in all the boardinghouses, sleep in all the beds. One bed is not enough, one job is not enough, one life is not enough. At night, head swimming with wants, he walks by himself alone.”” [John Dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dos-passos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote captures the restless, fragmented pursuit of fulfillment in modern urban life. **In simple terms:** Too many goals overwhelm us. Key Takeaway Focus on what truly matters. Themes modernity restlessness overwhelm Mood melancholic introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - relationship decisions - personal growth - creative projects Key Concepts existential search urban alienation identity crisis Questions to Reflect On - Which pursuit aligns with your core values? - How can you simplify your path? A Different Perspective Too many pursuits can dilute purpose and cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boardinghouses Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boardinghouses-sleep-5071947/) [Fainter Alleys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fainter-alleys-5071948/) [Man Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-walks-241220/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Wants Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants-walks-5071946/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) ## Related quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. 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