Mark Twain Quote

"When I was  boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years."   Attributed

This quote on page 15 particularly caught my attention.  Twain illustrated the typical progression of teenage thinking and development.  In an early adolescents years, a boy can not stand to have their parents around.  He thinks he knows it all and believes the whole world revolves around him. During those few years, the last place he wants to be is with his parents, better yet actually listen to what they have to say.  However, once the young boy matures into his twenties, he gains insight into life and the true wisdom of his father.

I found this quote insightful and humorous.  I like how Twain illustrated teenage years through the scope of a teenager and their typical thoughts.  It is ironic how the young boy believes that his father gained knowledge, when in fact he was the one that matured.  This quote is extremely relatable to the class and the stage of life we are in right now.  Generally speaking, college kids are in the midst of those transitioning years.  We are transforming from naive and self- centered teens into well informed and responsible young adults.  While we may all go through a different path, or have small parts of our lives that distinguish us from others, we can all relate to this idea of learning to appreciate our parents as we grow older.