Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favor. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure, but of obtaining those rewards which the accomplishment may deserve. She is not easily persuaded to believe that the force of merit can be resisted by obstinacy and avarice, or its luster darkened by envy and malignity.
Interpretation
Youth often has an optimistic view of life, believing that success will naturally follow their efforts, unaware of the obstacles posed by negativity.
This quote by Samuel Johnson highlights the idealism and optimism of youth, suggesting that young individuals tend to approach life with a sense of certainty and entitlement to success. They perceive their adventures as assured and believe that their merits will be recognized, often overlooking the harsh realities of life, such as envy, greed, and the resistance of others. This naiveté can lead to valuable experiences, but it may also set them up for disappointment when faced with the less virtuous aspects of human nature.
In practice
During a graduation speech to inspire students about their future endeavors.
To be of no church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.
Whatever final judgment awaits 'Bush v. Gore' in the annals of history, I am certain that the good work and good faith of the U.S. federal judiciary as a whole will continue to sustain public confidence at a level never beyond repair.
There are hunters and there are victims. By your discipline...you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.
Instead of imposing your will on every situation...focus on including everyone else, and just that little adjustment of attitude gives you the space to understand where and who you are.
Without giving up hope—that there’s somewhere better to be, that there’s someone better to be—we will never relax with where we are or who we are.
Sometimes crazy just isn't enough.
It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.
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