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We have done with Hope and Honour. we are lost to Love and Truth, We are dropping down the ladder rung by rung; And the measure of our torment is the measure of our youth. God help us, for we knew the worst too young!
Rudyard Kipling
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects the loss of youthful ideals and the heavy burdens that come with growing up too quickly.

Rudyard Kipling's quote speaks to the disillusionment often experienced in youth as one confronts the harsh realities of life. It articulates a poignant sense of loss regarding the virtues of hope, honor, love, and truth, suggesting that as we mature, our innocence is overshadowed by our experiences and the associated torments. The phrase 'measure of our torment is the measure of our youth' emphasizes that the pains we feel in our formative years can define our life perspective, leaving us yearning for the simplicity and purity of earlier days.

Themes

YouthDisillusionmentLossHopeHonorTruth

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a classroom discussion about the challenges young people face in today's world.

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Often and often afterwards, the beloved Aunt would ask me why I had never told anyone how I was being treated. Children tell little more than animals, for what comes to them they accept as eternally established.
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