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
When I was young I was amazed at Plutarch's statement that the elder Cato began at the age of eighty to learn Greek. I am amazed no longer. Old age is ready to undertake tasks that youth shirked because they would take too long.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Old age is often more willing to embrace learning and challenges than youth, which often avoids them due to time constraints.
In this quote, W. Somerset Maugham reflects on the relationship between age and the willingness to learn new things. He suggests that while youth may shy away from difficult tasks because they seem daunting or time-consuming, older individuals like the elder Cato have the courage and patience to take them on, demonstrating that the desire for knowledge and growth can flourish at any age.
Themes
AgeLearningWisdomCourageGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about lifelong learning.
More from W. Somerset Maugham
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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.
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I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
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The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willing avoids the sight of distress.
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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.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
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