
LadiesandGentlemen:
Goodafternoon!I’mverygladtostandhereandgiveyouashortspeech.todaymytopicis“youth”.Ihopeyouwilllikeit,andfoundtheimportanceinyouryouthsothatmorecherishit.Doyouknowwhatisyouth?Howdoyoumasteryouryouth?
Youthisnotatimeoflife,itisastateofmind;itisnotrosycheeks,redlipsandsuppleknees,itisamatteroftheemotions:itisthefreshness;itisthefreshnessofthedeepspringsoflife.
Youthmeansatemperamentalpredominanceofcourageovertimidityoftheappetite,foradventureovertheloveofease.Thisoftenexistsinamanof60morethanaboyof20.Nobodygrowsoldmerelybyanumberofyears.Wegrowoldbydesertingourideals.
Yearswrinkletheskin,buttogiveupenthusiasmwrinklesthesoul.Worry,fear,self–distrustbowstheheartandturnsthespiritbacktodust.
Whether60of16,thereisineveryhumanbeing‘sheartthelureofwonders,theunfailingchildlikeappetiteofwhat’snextandthejoyofthegameofliving.Inthecenterofyourheartandmyheartthere’sawirelessstation:solongasitreceivesmessagesofbeauty,hope,cheer,courageandpowerfrommenandfromtheinfinite,solongasyouareyoung.
Whentheaerialsaredown,andyourspiritiscoveredwithsnowsofcynicismandtheiceofpessimism,thenyouaregrownold,evenat20,butaslongasyouraerialsareup,tocatchwavesofoptimism,thereishopeyoumaydieyoungat80.
Thankyou!