Youth, what man's age is like to be doth show, We may our ends by our beginnings know.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Denham claims that a person's character and future are visible from their early youth.
- In plain terms
- You can predict a person's future by watching their youth.
- What can you take from it?
- Early traits often persist; watch beginnings to foresee endings.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does your youth say about your present?
- Are habits formed early permanent?
Another view
People can change significantly over a lifetime.
More from John Denham
Books should to one of these four ends conduce, For wisdom, piety, delight, or use.
Permalink to quote #5 Search not to find what lies too deeply hid, Nor to know things, whose knowledge is forbid.
Permalink to quote #7 Nor ought a genius less than his that writ Attempt translation.
Permalink to quote #4
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