Childhood Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
““He put off the faith of his childhood quite simply, like a cloak that he no longer needed. At first life seemed strange and lonely without the belief which, though he never realized it, had been an unfailing support. He felt like a man who has leaned on a stick and finds himself forced suddenly to walk without assistance. It really seemed as though the days were colder and the nights more solitary. But he was upheld by the excitement; it seemed to make life a more thrilling adventure; and in a little while the stick which he had throw aside, the cloak which had fallen from his shoulders, seemed an intolerable burden of which he had been eased.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham, 1915
Abandoning childhood faith feels like losing a familiar support, making life seem colder, but new excitement can replace that loss with adventure.
In simple terms: Leaving old beliefs feels lonely, yet new thrills can replace them.
Key Takeaway
Embrace new passions when old comforts fade.
Themes
faith
loss
transformation
adventure
identity
Mood
reflective
hopeful
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- midlife crisis
- spiritual doubt
- career change
- creative pursuits
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- What new excitement can you pursue when old comforts disappear?
- How do you balance loss and new adventure?
A Different Perspective
The new excitement may be fleeting and not fully substitute deep-rooted belief.
