Few people remember having been young, and how hard they found it to be chaste and sober.
[Peu de gens se souviennent d’avoir été jeunes, et combien il leur était difficile d’être chastes et tempérants.]
Jean de La Bruyère (1645-1696) French essayist, moralist
The Characters [Les Caractères], ch. 11 “Of Mankind [De l’Homme],” § 112 (11.112) (1688) [tr. Stewart (1970)]
(Source)
(Source (French)). Alternate translations:
Few people remember that they have been young, and how hard it was then to live chaste and temperate.
[Bullord ed. (1696)]
Few People remember they have been Young, and how hard it was then to live Chaste and Temperate.
[Curll ed. (1713)]
Few remember that they have been young, and how hard it was then to live chaste and temperate.
[Browne ed. (1752)]
Few men remember that they have been young, and how hard it was then to live chaste and temperate.
[tr. Van Laun (1885)]
Quotations about:
chastity
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
But nowadays men can not love seven night but they must have all their desires: that love may not endure by reason; for where they be soon accorded and hasty, heat soon it cooleth. Right so fareth love nowadays, soon hot soon cold: this is no stability. But the old love was not so; men and women could love together seven years, and no lycours lusts were between them, and then was love, truth, and faithfulness: and lo, in likewise was used love in King Arthur’s days.
But I wretched, most wretched, in the very commencement of my early youth, had begged chastity of Thee, and said, “Give me chastity and continency, only not yet.”
[At ego adulescens miser ualde, miser in exordio ipsius adulescentiae, etiam petieram a te castitatem et dixeram, ‘Da mihi castitatem et continentiam, sed noli modo.’]
Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Christian church father, philosopher, saint [b. Aurelius Augustinus]
Confessions, Book 8, ch. 7 / ¶ 17 (8.7.17) (c. AD 398) [tr. Pusey (1838)]
(Source)
Augustine describing his youth when he wanted God to remove his sinful sexual desires -- but not before he could satisfy them.
(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:
But I, miserable young man, supremely miserable even in the very outset of my youth, had entreated chastity of Thee, and said, “Grant me chastity and continency, but not yet.”
[tr. Pilkington (1876)]
But I, miserable youth, most miserable, in the very beginning of my youth had sought from Thee chastity, and said, “Give me chastity and continency, but not now.”
[tr. Hutchings (1890)]
Yea, wretched, O wretched youth that I had been, on the very threshold of my youth, I had even begged of Thee the gift of chastity; but I had said “Give me chastity and self- control, but not just yet.”
[tr. Bigg (1897), 8.7.2]
But I in my great worthlessness -- for it was greater thus early -- had begged You for chastity, saying: “Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.”
[tr. Sheed (1943)]
But, wretched youth that I was -- supremely wretched even in the very outset of my youth -- I had entreated chastity of thee and had prayed, “Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.”
[tr. Outler (1955)]
But I, a most wretched youth, most wretched from the very start of my youth, had even sought chastity from you, and had said, "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet!"
[tr. Ryan (1960)]
As a youth I had been woefully at fault, particularly in early adolescence. I had prayed to you for chastity and said, "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet."
[tr. Pine-Coffin (1961)]
But I, wretched young man that I was -- even more wretched at the beginning of my youth -- had begged you for chastity and had said, "Make me chaste and continent, but not yet."
[tr. Warner (1963)]
But I, most wretched youth, and more wretched at my youth’s beginning, had even sought chastity at your hands and said: 'Give me chastity and self-control but not yet.'
[tr. Blaiklock (1983)]
