It is an illusion that youth is happy.
Meaning
Youth is often romanticized, but it comes with confusion and struggle. This quote challenges common perceptions and highlights the complexity of early life stages.
Share image
Preview of the image used when this quote is shared on social networks.
About the author
(1874–1965) was a British writer known for his novels, short stories, and plays. His works, including "Of Human Bondage" and "The Razor’s Edge," explore human nature, ambition, and morality. Maugham’s writing is clear, direct, and often infused with irony. He drew from his experiences as a doctor and traveler, giving his stories realism and depth. W. Somerset Maugham’s legacy continues to influence modern storytelling with his sharp observations of human behavior and society.
Why This Quote Matters
Between stress and ambition, W. Somerset Maugham points to Life as a stabilizing idea. It reminds us that Youth is often romanticized, but it comes with confusion and struggle.
This quote challenges common perceptions and highlights the complexity of early life stages. The idea ages well because it tracks experience, not trends. The rest is just repetition, done honestly.
How to Apply This Quote in Life
You can apply this quote in daily life by focusing on Life, Wisdom, Reality and practicing what it implies. Ask “what would W.
Somerset Maugham notice here?” and adjust one detail. If it feels abstract, pick a single scenario this week and run it end-to-end. Small, repeatable, and honest beats big and occasional.
Related quotes
-
“Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.”
Meaning: True freedom lies in how individuals respond to circumstances. Even when situations are imposed, one still has the power to choose their reaction. -
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”
Meaning: It highlights influence of behavior. -
“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”
Meaning: This highlights the true cost of things in terms of time and effort. -
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
Meaning: Le Guin highlights that experiences along the way are more important than the destination itself. Growth happens during the process. -
“Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.”
Meaning: Purpose gives strength to endure suffering. Having meaning in life helps individuals overcome even the toughest challenges. -
“The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty.”
Meaning: Le Guin suggests that uncertainty is not a flaw but a fundamental part of existence. It creates possibilities, growth, and change, making life dynamic and meaningful. -
“The place in which I'll fit will not exist until I make it.”
Meaning: This emphasizes self-creation. -
“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without.”
Meaning: It highlights vulnerability in love. -
“The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.”
Meaning: Reality is complex and not always aligned with human expectations.