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.
Nobody holds a good opinion of a man who has a low opinion of himself.
Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable.
Sufering is only intolerable when nobody cares. One continually sees that faith in God and his care is made infinitely easier by faith in someone who has shown kindness and sympathy.
When sadness comes, just sit by the side and look at it and say, "I am the watcher, I am not sadness," and see the difference. Immediately you have cut the very root of sadness. It is no more nourished. It will die of starvation. We feed these emotions by being identified with them.
I learned that good judgment comes from experience and that experience grows out of mistakes.
Something inside me clicked, like an engine shifting into higher gear. My thinking suddenly became faster and clearer. The anger and fear didn't go away, but I realized they weren't important. They weren't going to help me.
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