“Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”
- July 3, 1883 – June 3, 1924
- Born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Writer, lawyer
- Had a major influence on 20th century literature with works such as “The Metamorphosis,” “The Trial,” and “The Castle”
Quote
“Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”
Explanation
In this quote, Franz Kafka explores the relationship between youth, beauty, and the passage of time. He suggests that youth is inherently happy not simply because of its freedom or lack of responsibility, but because of its innocence and its untainted ability to see and appreciate the beauty in the world. This ability, according to Kafka, is what preserves a sense of joy and wonder that is often lost with age. Beauty, in Kafka’s eyes, is not just something aesthetic but is tied to the capacity to appreciate the world in all its purity and potential.
Kafka also implies that the experience of growing older is often associated with a loss of this sense of beauty. As people age, they may become more cynical, jaded, or preoccupied with the practicalities of life, causing them to miss the beauty in the everyday. The suggestion that “anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old” implies that youthfulness is not just a matter of age, but of outlook—the ability to remain open, curious, and receptive to the world around us. Kafka here emphasizes that internal vitality and emotional openness are as much a part of staying “young” as any physical attribute.
In a modern context, Kafka’s quote speaks to the importance of maintaining wonder and appreciation in a world that can often become routine or mundane. In contemporary society, where stress, responsibilities, and the pressures of adulthood can cause people to lose sight of the small joys that make life beautiful, Kafka reminds us that the true key to youthfulness is not in escaping time or aging but in preserving the ability to see beauty in the world, no matter how old we are. Whether through the arts, nature, or human connection, the capacity to appreciate beauty can be a source of enduring joy and vitality, making the world feel fresh and new, no matter the years that pass.
