The Faces of Our Youth
Many older people seem to take an unmerited pride in the mere fact they are adults.
When youth comes crashing in on them with
enthusiasm and ideals, they put on their
most patronizing smiles and send them out with what they call their blessings.
But you and I know that they have not given their blessings but a cold shower.
They pat the young man or young woman on the back and say:
“You’re young. Enjoy your enthusiasm and your ideals while you can.
For when you grow up and grow out into the world you’ll see how foolish your ideas actually were.”
And, the trouble is, young people do grow up and grow away from their ideals.
And that is one reason why the world into which they go gets better so slowly.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
32nd President of The United States of America