The most aggravating thing about the younger generation is that I
no longer belong to it.

The most aggravating thing about the younger generation is that I
no longer belong to it.

People grow old only by deserting their ideals, Macarthur had written. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up read more

People grow old only by deserting their ideals, Macarthur had written. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope as old as your despair. In the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber. So long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer and courage, so long are you young. When your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then, and then only, are you grown old. And then, indeed as the ballad says, you just fade away.

I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, read more

I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint.

Youth is the period in which a man can be hopeless. The end of every episode is the end of read more

Youth is the period in which a man can be hopeless. The end of every episode is the end of the world. But the power of hoping through everything, the knowledge that the soul survives its adventures, that great inspiration comes to the middle-aged.

Ah! happy years! once more who would not be a boy!

Ah! happy years! once more who would not be a boy!

I was between
A man and a boy, A hobble-de-hoy,
A fat, little, punchy concern of sixteen.

I was between
A man and a boy, A hobble-de-hoy,
A fat, little, punchy concern of sixteen.

It is not possible for civilization to flow backwards while there is youth in the world. Youth may be headstrong, read more

It is not possible for civilization to flow backwards while there is youth in the world. Youth may be headstrong, but it will advance it allotted length.

Don't let young people tell you their aspirations; when they drop them they will drop you.

Don't let young people tell you their aspirations; when they drop them they will drop you.

Youth is the first victim of war; the first fruit of peace. It takes 20 years or more of peace read more

Youth is the first victim of war; the first fruit of peace. It takes 20 years or more of peace to make a man; it takes only 20 seconds of war to destroy him.