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 a golden era, to be accomplished in his own lifetime.””
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.
Live purposefully; embrace hope.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- career planning
- mentoring youth
- personal reflection
- legacy building
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance hope with realism?
- What purpose drives your actions?
The view may be overly idealistic, ignoring practical constraints.