--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Youth is rather to be pitied than envied…" description: "\"Youth is rather to be pitied than envied by people in years since it is doomed to toil through the rugged road of life which the others have passed thr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06b/samuel-richardson-1695_age_youth-is-rather-to-be-pitied-than-envied_1462779.png" --- # Youth is rather to be pitied than envied by people in… ![“Youth is rather to be pitied than envied by people in years since it is doomed to toil through the rugged road of life which the others have passed through, in search of happiness that is not to be met with in it and that, at the highest, can be compounded for only by the blessing of a contented…” quote by Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06b/samuel-richardson-1695_age_youth-is-rather-to-be-pitied-than-envied_1462779.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06b/samuel-richardson-1695_age_youth-is-rather-to-be-pitied-than-envied_1462779.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06b/samuel-richardson-1695_age_youth-is-rather-to-be-pitied-than-envied_1462779.png) > “Youth is rather to be pitied than envied by people in years since it is doomed to toil through the rugged road of life which the others have passed through, in search of happiness that is not to be met with in it and that, at the highest, can be compounded for only by the blessing of a contented mind.” [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Youth is vulnerable and often faces hardship, seeking happiness that seems elusive without inner peace. **In simple terms:** Youth suffers, seeks happiness, needs peace. Key Takeaway Cultivate a content mind early. Themes youth hardship search for happiness inner peace Mood reflective somber Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - adolescent struggles - career challenges - mental health - family expectations Key Concepts existential psychological social critique Questions to Reflect On - How can young people find contentment amid hardship? - What role do society’s expectations play? A Different Perspective Happiness may also depend on external circumstances, not just mindset. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Old age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-age/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Road of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/road-of-life/) [Toil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toil/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [If our inward griefs were seen written on our brow, how many would be pitied who are now envied! \[It., Se a ciascun l'interno…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-our-inward-griefs-were-seen-written-on-our-brow-how-many-would-be/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [“You have no knowledge of me. You are to be pitied.' 'Envied, more like,' said his undutiful son.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/you-have-no-knowledge-of-me-you-are-to-be-pitied-envied-more-like/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [He often envied people who hadn't read his favourite books. They had such happiness before them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-finch/he-often-envied-people-who-hadn-t-read-his-favourite-books-they-had/) [Charles Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-finch/) > [Skateboarders are envied by people because they just glide so free. Any time something moves like water, they’ll make a dam. 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Their brains must be cleaner, the floorboards of the skull well swept, all the little monsters closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-benioff/i-ve-always-envied-people-who-sleep-easily-their-brains-must-be/) [David Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-benioff/) > [To be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom; and he that increaseth his riches, increaseth his cares; but a contented mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhenaton/to-be-satisfied-with-a-little-is-the-greatest-wisdom-and-he-that/) [Akhenaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhenaton/) > [A reflective, contented mind is the best possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/a-reflective-contented-mind-is-the-best-possession/) [Zoroaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoroaster/) > [You traverse the world in search of happiness which is within the reach of every man. A contented mind confers it on all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/you-traverse-the-world-in-search-of-happiness-which-is-within-the/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Be confident, cheerful and contented. The mind can produce any degree of contentment and peace. To generate these, no other agency or help is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-bhoomananda-tirtha/be-confident-cheerful-and-contented-the-mind-can-produce-any-degree/) Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha > [The art of life consists in taking each event which befalls us with a contented mind, confident of good. ... With this method ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/the-art-of-life-consists-in-taking-each-event-which-befalls-us-with-a/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [That best of blessings, a contented mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/that-best-of-blessings-a-contented-mind/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [A contented mind is the best source for trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/a-contented-mind-is-the-best-source-for-trouble/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [The secret of happiness is in a cheerful, contented mind. He is poor who is dissatisfied; he is rich who is contented with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/the-secret-of-happiness-is-in-a-cheerful-contented-mind-he-is-poor/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world; and if in the present life his happiness arises from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/a-contented-mind-is-the-greatest-blessing-a-man-can-enjoy-in-this/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) ## More by Samuel Richardson > [I never knew a man who deserved to be thought well of for his morals who had a slight opinion of our Sex in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/i-never-knew-a-man-who-deserved-to-be-thought-well-of-for-his-morals/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The life of a good man was a continual warfare with his passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-life-of-a-good-man-was-a-continual-warfare-with-his-passions/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [A beautiful woman must expect to be more accountable for her steps, than one less attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/a-beautiful-woman-must-expect-to-be-more-accountable-for-her-steps/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The person who is worthiest to live, is fittest to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-person-who-is-worthiest-to-live-is-fittest-to-die/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Vast is the field of Science... the more a man knows, the more he will find he has to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/vast-is-the-field-of-science-the-more-a-man-knows-the-more-he-will/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The difference in the education of men and women must give the former great advantages over the latter, even where geniuses are equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-difference-in-the-education-of-men-and-women-must-give-the-former/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [There are men who think themselves too wise to be religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/there-are-men-who-think-themselves-too-wise-to-be-religious/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Love is a blazing, crackling, green-wood flame, as much smoke as flame; friendship, married friendship particularly, is a steady,intense, comfortable fire. 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A full meal is a great enemy both to study and industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/quantity-in-diet-is-more-to-be-regarded-than-quality-a-full-meal-is-a/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Superstitious notions propagated in infancy are hardly ever totally eradicate, not even in minds grown strong enough to despise the like credulous folly in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/superstitious-notions-propagated-in-infancy-are-hardly-ever-totally/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The eye is the casement at which the heart generally looks out. 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