Dream like a child. Reason like an elder. Play like a youth. Work like an adult.
Older people sometimes talk about the good old days when life was better. In fact, they talk nostalgically about their own youth that was irretrievably gone. The past century has made enormous progress in all fields. The standard of living, work environment, health care quality and mobility, and the availability of cultural programs, recreational activities and information – all that clearly speaks in favor of nowadays.
In my youth I had three teachers: friends, enemies, and books. In my adulthood I had three professors: God, nature, and life.
A man in his early prime contemplates on life, shattered by the distortions of society he gazes ahead in time. There were vows of happiness and fairy tale beginnings. Now there is nothing of that sort; now there is nothing that started the tales so bright. It's after all this while that he understands why fairy tales begin with 'once upon a time'...
A flower has no choice in where it is planted, but does have a choice in the direction it grows.