At that age you invent extravagant compensations for bruises to your dignity. - Michael Shea

Those feats of deep cunning and brave flair—we’re all allotted a few of them, and we get no more, no matter what our longing is. And you know, you’re lucky if you even recognize when you’re having your best moments. Half the time your soul is looking the other way when they come. And you never grow wise enough to know what they were until you have passed the hope of having more.

It was more than sad, the eternal unteachability of youth.

And I make bold to say that I am not the only one of my countrymen who could profit from taking this admonition to heart.