To have striven to have made the effort to have been true to certain ideals - this alone is worth the struggle.

One ever feels his twoness - an American a Negro two souls two thoughts two unreconciled strivings two warring ideals in one dark body whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.

Of course the ideal scenario for parenting is obviously two parents of a mature age.

Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.