William Shakespeare on Youth
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“The spirit of a youth That means to be of note, begins betimes.”
“Is in the very May-morn of his youth, Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises.”
“He that is more than a youth, is not for me, and he that is less than man, I am not for him.”
“For youth no less becomes The light and careless livery that it wears, Than settled age his sables, and his weeds Importing health and graveness.”
“Thou art thy mother's glass, and she in thee Calls back the lovely April of her prime: So thou through windows of thine age shall see, Despite of wrinkles this thy golden time.”
“The chariest maid is prodigal enough, If she unmask her beauty to the moon; Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes. The canker galls the infants of the spring, Too oft before their buttons be disclosed; And in the morn and liquid dew of youth, Contagious blastments are most imminent.”