They keep telling you, when youre older, youll have experienceand thats supposed to be so great. What would you say about that, sir? Is it really any use, would you say?""What kind of experience?Wellplaces youve been to, people youve met. Situations youve been through already, so you know how to handle them when they come up again. All that stuff thats supposed to make you wise, in your later years.Let me tell you something, Kenny. For other people, I cant speakbut, personally, I havent gotten wise on anything. Certainly, Ive been through this and that; and when it happens again, I say to myself, Here it is again. But that doesnt seem to help me. In my opinion, I, personally, have gotten steadily sillier and sillier and sillierand thats a fact.No kidding, sir? You cant mean that! You mean, sillier than when you were young?Much, much sillier.Ill be darned. Then experience is no use at all? Youre saying it might just as well not have happened?No. Im not saying that. I only mean, you cant use it. But if you dont try toif you just realize its there and youve got itthen it can be kind of marvelous.
About This Quote
About Christopher Isherwood
Christopher Isherwood.
Themes
- Experience — Learning through living, doing, and facing the world
- Life — Reflections on the meaning, challenges, and beauty of life