Tristan Yerkes

Professor H. Salsich

English 02

16 September, 2008

You Are So Young

A Comparison Between Two Quotes

These two quotes are, at the same time, very different, and very similar. In fact, if these two quotes are compared, the reader may be astounded how both quotes can have such different and similar meanings at the same time. This difference, and similarity comes from the subject of both quotes, the “best and beautiful things in life”, and the “answers”. These two things are easily confused, because to some, the best and beautiful things in life can be the same things as their answers, for some, the best things in life have nothing to do with their answers, and yet for some, life’s best things and their own answers are sometimes the same, and sometimes completely different. Life's best things and life's answers can be obtained, but perhaps not at the same time.

Even though answers and life’s best things are obtained, both aren’t always obtainable at a young age. In Rainer Maria Rilke’s quote, answers are easily interpretable as personal answers to personal questions. However, in Helen Keller’s quote, “the best and beautiful things in life” are a little harder to interpret. From Keller's quote, one could interpret the best things in life as the most basic and most enjoyable, non-physical things: love, security, acceptance, and some sort of home. Many of us are born with the best things in life, and some of us are not. For those born without life’s best things, it becomes a priority to achieve them. However, no one is born with the answers to life’s questions, or everyone’s first words would be, “Now what?” The most human things about life’s questions and answers is that we figure them out in time, and get to live with the questions until we live them, and find the answers

Helen Keller’s “best things” and Rainer Maria Rilke’s “answers” may be completely different in some aspects, but in others, they are very much the same. Both the best things in life and life’s answers are acquired somehow. One obtains them in different ways and at different times. Other than that, they are similar: both are important to one’s life, both are, in a way, reasons to live, and both can be related (e.g. you need love to figure out why people love.) Answers and best things in life can even sometimes be the same thing.

Even though the answers to life and life’s best things are sometimes the same, they should never be grouped together due to their irregular differences. It can be said, however different life’s best things and life’s answers are, both are somehow found during a lifetime. In conclusion, these different but similar quotes are thought-provoking and could spark many good essays about them.

The best and beautiful things in life cannot be seen, not touched, but are felt in the heart.

- Helen Keller