The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it.
Interpretation
The perception that youth is always happy is a misconception from those who have aged.
W. Somerset Maugham's quote highlights the idea that the notion of youth equating to happiness is merely an illusion, often held by those who no longer possess their youthful days. It suggests that the beauty and joy attributed to youth may be an oversimplification, as true happiness can be complex and vary significantly across different life stages.
In practice
In a motivational speech about embracing life at all ages, one might quote this to remind the audience of the complexities of happiness.
The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
Cronshaw stopped for a moment to drink. He had pondered for twenty years the problem whether he loved liquor because it made him talk or whether he loved conversation because it made him thirsty.
Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.' Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look. I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.
I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willing avoids the sight of distress.
There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
Each daughter of God is of infinite worth because of her divine mission.
The is always much to be said for not attempting more than you can do and for making a certainty of what you try. But this principle, like others in life and war, has it exceptions.
There has been a great laziness in my soul. Lots of days I could write songs, but I could also take my $400 and play the slot machines at the riverfront casino.
So I am not teaching you to be good, I am not teaching you to be bad; I am teaching you only to be whole. To be whole is to be healthy and to be healthy is to be holy.
And what is a man without energy? Nothing - nothing at all.
Every day is lost in which we do not learn something useful. Man has no nobler or more valuable possession than time.
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