Maturity could be defined as the attitude of one who has suffered enough regrets to lose the childish hope characteristic of the immature, were it not for the implicit notion that successive regrets eventually bear fruit in maturity. The contrast is striking: there are natures that, like wine, are refined with time; others… how badly time does them harm! As the years go by, the ridicule of falling into childishness progressively increases; and there are those who never get over it, except by falling from the highest cliffs, and with each fall, strengthening their convictions! These are sad cases, worthy of sincere compassion, above all because life is not accustomed to show compassion to those who do not assimilate its lessons.
Regrets and Maturity
