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Dream Quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne

“He had that sense, or inward prophecy,-- which a young man had better never have been born than not to have, and a mature man had better die at once than utterly to relinquish,-- that we are not doomed to creep on forever in the old bad way, but that, this very now, there are harbingers abroad of…” quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne
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““He had that sense, or inward prophecy,-- which a young man had better never have been born than not to have, and a mature man had better die at once than utterly to relinquish,-- that we are not doomed to creep on forever in the old bad way, but that, this very now, there are harbingers abroad of a golden era, to be accomplished in his own lifetime.””

Nathaniel Hawthorne

About This Quote

A prophetic feeling suggests that a young man should not live without purpose, while a mature man should die rather than abandon hope, heralding an imminent golden era.

In simple terms: Purpose defines life; hope drives us toward a better future.

Key Takeaway

Live purposefully; embrace hope.

Themes

purpose hope prophecy age optimism

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

  • career planning
  • mentoring youth
  • personal reflection
  • legacy building

Key Concepts

existential purpose generational duty future optimism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance hope with realism?
  • What purpose drives your actions?
A Different Perspective

The view may be overly idealistic, ignoring practical constraints.

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