Most writers tend to get worse rather than better. I'm determined to be one that gets better.
Edmund WhiteRead
When we are young... we often experience things in the present with a nostalgia-in-advance, but we seldom guess what we will truly prize years from now.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights how our youthful experiences are often viewed with a premature sense of nostalgia, making it difficult to recognize what will truly hold value in the future.
Edmund White's quote reflects on the tendency of young people to experience life with a sense of nostalgia even while they are actively living it, suggesting a longing for moments that may not hold as much importance later on. It emphasizes the idea that what we treasure in our future selves may be different from our current perceptions, prompting a reconsideration of how we value our experiences.
Themes
NostalgiaYouthValueExperienceFuture
In practice
Example use cases
During a graduation speech, to emphasize the importance of appreciating youth while also preparing for the future.
More from Edmund White
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In a memoir, your main contract with the reader is to tell the truth, no matter how bizarre.
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If bigots oppose gay marriage so vehemently, it must be because marriage is a defining institution for them; gays will never be fully accepted until they can marry and adopt, like anyone else.
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I was never an assimilationist. I always thought gays had some special mission.
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The Stonewall riots were a key moment for gay people. Throughout modern history, gays had thought of themselves as something like a mental illness or maybe a sin or a crime. Gay liberation allowed us to make the leap to being a 'minority group,' which made life much easier.
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