Saying: Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children
Info
- Title: Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children
- Type: Sayings
- Category: { Humor and Wit }
- Print: Download as PDF for printing
George Bernard Shaw delivered with the line “Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children.” a pointed life-wise insight. The Irish playwright and Nobel laureate reflects on life stages with irony. This quote ranks among Shaw’s most cited and appears often in reflections on youth and aging.
Origin and Use of the Quote
The quote clearly originates from George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950), the Irish writer and dramatist. The original English wording is: “Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children.” Reportedly stated in 1931 at a social gathering, it has since appeared in collections of quotes on life philosophy, humour and intergenerational perspective.
Meaning and Interpretation of the Quote
Shaw’s statement conveys the ironic idea that the vitality and carefree energy of youth is bestowed upon those least able to appreciate it fully.
The phrase “wasted on children” points to a disparity between youthful enthusiasm and lack of awareness among the young generation that experiences it.
The quote also invites reflection on intergenerational perspectives – older observers perceive qualities in youth that may remain unused by the young themselves.
Furthermore, the statement implies a critique of societal nearsightedness: youth is not purposefully harnessed but lost through ignorance and immaturity.
This pointed remark has been established in literary anthologies, discussions of life phases and rhetorical use by speakers and public figures referencing spirit and wit.