Belief like any other moving body follows the path of least resistance.
Young people have a marvelous faculty of either dying or adapting themselves to circumstances.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Young people can either succumb to challenges or learn to adjust and thrive in different situations.
This quote by Samuel Butler highlights the remarkable ability of young individuals to either face significant challenges head-on, potentially leading to overwhelming circumstances, or to adapt and modify their behavior and attitudes in response to the ever-changing environment around them. This adaptability is a crucial trait that enables growth and resilience, emphasizing the power of flexibility in the face of adversity.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of adaptability in education, this quote can illustrate how young students can thrive in new learning environments.
More from Samuel Butler
All quotes βTo know God better is only to realize how impossible it is that we should ever know him at all. I know not which is more childish to deny him, or define him.
Academic and aristocratic people live in such an uncommon atmosphere that common sense can rarely reach them.
An apology for the devil: it must be remembered that we have heard one side of the case. God has written all the books.
People care more about being thought to have taste than about being thought either good, clever or amiable.
A friend who cannot at a pinch remember a thing or two that never happened is as bad as one who does not know how to forget.
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People who want a cure, provided they can have it without pain, are like those who favour progress, provided they can have it without change.
The revolution occurs when the victims cease to cooperate.