--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I could get the ear of every young man…" description: "\"If I could get the ear of every young man but for one word, it would be this: make the most and best of yourself. There is no tragedy like a wasted lif..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/thornton-t-munger-44145_doing-your-best_if-i-could-get-the-ear-of-every-young-ma_149746.jpg" --- # If I could get the ear of every young man but for one… ![“If I could get the ear of every young man but for one word, it would be this: make the most and best of yourself. There is no tragedy like a wasted life--a life failing of its true end, and turned to a false end.” quote by Thornton T. Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/thornton-t-munger-44145_doing-your-best_if-i-could-get-the-ear-of-every-young-ma_149746.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/thornton-t-munger-44145_doing-your-best_if-i-could-get-the-ear-of-every-young-ma_149746.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/thornton-t-munger-44145_doing-your-best_if-i-could-get-the-ear-of-every-young-ma_149746.jpg) > “If I could get the ear of every young man but for one word, it would be this: make the most and best of yourself. There is no tragedy like a wasted life--a life failing of its true end, and turned to a false end.” [Thornton T. Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-t-munger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages every young man to maximize personal potential and avoid a wasted life. **In simple terms:** Live fully, avoid a wasted life. Key Takeaway Pursue your best self. Themes self‑development purpose legacy Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - education - personal coaching Key Concepts potential meaning fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What does “best self” mean to you? - How can you measure a life lived fully? A Different Perspective A single word may not capture the complexity of life choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-your-best/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Wasted life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasted-life/) ## Related quotes > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [There is no humiliation worse than the consciousness of a wasted life. 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