--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps, in the extravagance of youth, we…" description: "\"Perhaps, in the extravagance of youth, we give away our devotions easily and all but arbitrarily, on the mistaken assumption that we’ll always have mor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/michael-cunningham-1120_assumption_perhaps-in-the-extravagance-of-youth-we_387908.png" --- # Perhaps, in the extravagance of youth, we give away our… ![“Perhaps, in the extravagance of youth, we give away our devotions easily and all but arbitrarily, on the mistaken assumption that we’ll always have more to give.” quote by Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/michael-cunningham-1120_assumption_perhaps-in-the-extravagance-of-youth-we_387908.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/michael-cunningham-1120_assumption_perhaps-in-the-extravagance-of-youth-we_387908.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/michael-cunningham-1120_assumption_perhaps-in-the-extravagance-of-youth-we_387908.png) > “Perhaps, in the extravagance of youth, we give away our devotions easily and all but arbitrarily, on the mistaken assumption that we’ll always have more to give.” [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Youth’s excess leads to careless giving, assuming endless resources. **In simple terms:** Youthful excess leads to careless giving. Key Takeaway Cultivate mindful generosity. Themes youth generosity excess self‑awareness Mood reflective introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - budget planning - relationship building - volunteering - career planning Key Concepts Existentialism psychology resource management Questions to Reflect On - What does “giving” truly mean to you? - How can you balance generosity with sustainability? A Different Perspective May cause guilt if resources are truly limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Away Devotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away-devotions-3505647/) [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Devotions Easily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotions-easily-3505645/) [Easily Arbitrarily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easily-arbitrarily-3505646/) [Extravagance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extravagance/) [Extravagance Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extravagance-youth-3505644/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [I adore extravagance but I abhor waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/i-adore-extravagance-but-i-abhor-waste/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [Hobbies should be wives, not mistresses. 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I believe a man should have a simple lifestyle - even if he can afford more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaru-ibuka/we-japanese-enjoy-the-small-pleasures-not-extravagance-i-believe-a/) [Masaru Ibuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaru-ibuka/) > [One defining symptom of decadence is a fondness for vast and nonsensical extravagance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-silverberg/one-defining-symptom-of-decadence-is-a-fondness-for-vast-and/) [Robert Silverberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-silverberg/) > [“Poverty is apt to strike suddenly like influenza, it is well to have a few memories of extravagance in store for bad times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/poverty-is-apt-to-strike-suddenly-like-influenza-it-is-well-to-have-a/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) ## More by Michael Cunningham > [“Mizzy has wandered into the garden. Carole looks contemplatively at him, says, "Lovely boy." 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