Classics Quote by Oscar Wilde
““I tought how tragic it would be if you were wasted. For there is such a little time that your youth will last - such a little time. The common hill-flowers wither, but they blossom again. The laburnum will be as yellow next June as it is now. In a month there will be purple stars on the clematis, and year after year the green night of its leaves will hold its purple stars. But we never get back our youth. The pulse of joy that beats in us at twenty becomes sluggish. Our limbs fail, our senses rot. We degenerate into hideous puppets, haunted by the memory of the passions of which we were too much afraid, and the exquisite temptations that we had not the courage to yield to. Youth! Youth! There is absolutely nothing in the world but youth.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Soul of Youth", 1890
Youth is fleeting; its loss brings regret, urging us to seize joy before decay.
In simple terms: Youth passes quickly; cherish it now.
Key Takeaway
Live passionately before time erodes you.
Themes
youth
regret
impermanence
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career choices
- relationships
- creative pursuits
- health decisions
Key Concepts
Existentialism
nostalgia
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you pursue if fear vanished?
- How can you honor past passions today?
A Different Perspective
Youth is not the only source of meaning; wisdom also matters.
