Who said “Youth, which is forgiven everything, forgives itself nothing: age, which forgives itself…”?

Verified

George Bernard Shaw. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceMaxims for Revolutionists (1903)

Find Maxims for Revolutionists on Amazon · paid link

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“Youth, which is forgiven everything, forgives itself nothing: age, which forgives itself everything, is forgiven nothing.”
— George Bernard Shaw
VerifiedMaxims for Revolutionists (1903) · evidenceYouth
Report

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Maxims for Revolutionists (1903).

APA

Shaw, G. B. (n.d.). Youth, which is forgiven everything, forgives itself nothing: age, which forgives itself everything, is forgiven nothing. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/43083-youth-which-is-forgiven-everything-forgives-itself-nothing/

MLA

Shaw, George Bernard. “Youth, which is forgiven everything, forgives itself nothing: age, which forgives itself everything, is forgiven nothing.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/43083-youth-which-is-forgiven-everything-forgives-itself-nothing/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Shaw, George Bernard. “Youth, which is forgiven everything, forgives itself nothing: age, which forgives itself everything, is forgiven nothing.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/43083-youth-which-is-forgiven-everything-forgives-itself-nothing/.

Related quotes

More quotes by Shaw

All 259 George Bernard Shaw quotes →