“Youth is wasted on the young”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase suggests that young people often fail to fully appreciate or make the most of the advantages of youth, such as energy, physical health, and time, due to a lack of experience and wisdom.
Tone Reflective
Where it comes from
The phrase is commonly attributed to George Bernard Shaw, although it is also linked with other thinkers like Oscar Wilde. It captures the irony that wisdom and experience typically come with age, when the advantages of youth are no longer present.
Examples
- As he watched his teenage son laze about all summer long, John couldn’t help but mutter to himself, ‘Youth is wasted on the young.’
- She often lamented that youth is wasted on the young, wishing she had the energy she once did to pursue new adventures.
- Reflecting back on his younger days, he agreed with the adage that youth is wasted on the young, as he realized how much more he could have accomplished if he had his current knowledge back then.
Spotted a mistake in this article? Tell us