Ambitious forays do not rest where they rested once: hitherto the
balance of youth has given you, in all that you have dreamed of
accomplishment, a strong vantage against age; hitherto in all your
estimates you have been able to multiply them by that access of thought
and of strength which manhood would bring to you. Now this is forever
ended.
There is a great meaning in that word--manhood. It covers all human
growth. It supposes no extensions or increase; it is integral, fixed,
perfect,--the whole. There is no getting beyond manhood; it is much to
live up to it; but once reached, you are all that a man was made to be
in this world.
It is a strong thought--that a man is perfected, so far as strength
goes; that he will never be abler to do his work than under the very sun
which is now shining on him. There is a seriousness that few call to
mind in the reflection that whatever you do in this age of manhood is an
unalterable type of your whole bigness. You may qualify particulars of
your character by refinements, by special studies, and practice; but,
once a man, and there is no more manliness to be lived for!
This thought kindles your soul to new and swifter dreams of ambition
than belonged to youth.
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