“A young man’s ambition — to get along in the world and make a place for himself — half your life goes that way, till you’re 45 or 50. Then, if you’re lucky, you make terms with life, you get released.”

The New York Times (2 June 1981)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "A young man’s ambition — to get along in the world and make a place for himself — half your life goes that way, till yo…" by Robert Penn Warren?

Robert Penn Warren49

American poet, novelist, and literary critic 1905–1989

Related quotes

“The first half of your life is spent getting over yourself. You think you’re amazing, unique. Young people walk around going, "You know the funny thing is I was just in the kitchen but now I’m here in the bedroom, get a load of me! I just go on and on!" And that’s around the age when you meet somebody else – when you’re totally unbearable. Two young, fit, healthy attractive people in love? There’s nothing worse to look at in the world! Going around going, "I can’t believe I met you cause you’re amazing and I’m amazing and we’re surrounded by shitheads, it’s just amazing! Hey, I know this really good bar, let’s go and make it better."”

Dylan Moran (1971) Irish actor and comedian

In the second half of your life you realise how like every other hump who drew breath you really are. Except you’re MORE boring.
On young people.
What It Is (2009)

“Don’t try to make life a mathematics problem with yourself in the center and everything coming out equal. When you’re good, bad things can still happen. And if you’re bad, you can still be lucky.”

Barbara Kingsolver The Poisonwood Bible

Source: The Poisonwood Bible

“You try your damnedest, but something always goes wrong. That’s life. If you’re smart, you plan for it.”

Glen Cook book Shadows Linger

Source: Shadows Linger (1984), Chapter 6, “Tally Mix-Up” (p. 232)

“You gotta have people supporting it because it’s entertainment so if you’re not entertaining anyone or making sure that you’re growing that grassroots fanbase or you’re not going to get anywhere.”

Allisyn Ashley Arm (1996) American actress

CHATTING WITH ALLISYN & DYLAN SNYDER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWi8H6t3jCQ (September 16, 2020)

“If you care about something you have to protect it – If you’re lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.”

John Irving book A Prayer for Owen Meany

Source: A Prayer for Owen Meany

““What’s more, you’re loads better than you think you are.” “So why is it I get to thinking that way?” I puzzled. “That’s because you’re only half-living.” she said briskly. “The other half is still untapped somewhere.””

Haruki Murakami (1949) Japanese author, novelist

Source: A Wild Sheep Chase: A Novel (1982), Chapter 4: The Whale's Penis and the Woman with Three Occupations

“A conclusion is the place you get to when you’re tired of thinking.”

Jill Shalvis (1963) American writer

Source: The Sweetest Thing

“Even in terms of the beginning stage of the career, obstacles are something that you get so used to. The uncertainty of your life. You’ll always exist in a weird balance because you’re going for a career that’s somewhat unrealistic and not all success. There’s always challenges and you’ve gotta get through it or you’re beaten by it. It creates this kind of discipline, in a sense.”

John Boyega (1992) British Nigerian actor

On being an actor in “John Boyega, Star Wars Hero, Stays Up Too Late Watching The Affair” https://www.wmagazine.com/story/john-boyega-star-wars-moncler-favorite-tv-music in W Magazine (2018 Jul 12)

“Censorship has an advantage of making you express yourself in very inventive ways and to think in symbols…those are the only weapons you have against censorship. It also helps by filling your desk drawers with mountains of rejected scripts you can use later in life, if you’re as lucky as I am.”

Jan Švankmajer (1934) Czech animator, photographer and director

Surrealism’s Not Dead: Interview with Jan Svankmajer https://beautifulbizarre.net/2016/06/29/surrealisms-not-dead-interview-with-jan-svankmajer/ (June 29, 2016)

“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 of having more.”

Michael Shea book Nifft the Lean

Part 1, “Come Then, Mortal. We Will Seek Her Soul,” Chapter 2 (p. 20)
Nifft the Lean (1982)

“A young man’s ambition — to get along in the world and make a place for himself — half your life goes that way, till you’re 45 or 50. Then, if you’re lucky, you make terms with life, you get released.”

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Robert Penn Warren49

Related quotes

Related topics