Who said “Old age realizes the dreams of youth: look at Dean Swift; in his youth he built an…”?

Verified

Soren Kierkegaard. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceEither/Or (1843), Swenson, 1959, p. 21

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“Old age realizes the dreams of youth: look at Dean Swift; in his youth he built an asylum for the insane, in his old age he was himself an inmate.”
VerifiedEither/Or (1843), Swenson, 1959, p. 21 · evidenceAge and Aging

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Either/Or (1843), Swenson, 1959, p. 21.

APA

Kierkegaard, S. (n.d.). Old age realizes the dreams of youth: look at Dean Swift; in his youth he built an asylum for the insane, in his old age he was himself an inmate. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5850-old-age-realizes-the-dreams-of-youth-look/

MLA

Kierkegaard, Soren. “Old age realizes the dreams of youth: look at Dean Swift; in his youth he built an asylum for the insane, in his old age he was himself an inmate.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5850-old-age-realizes-the-dreams-of-youth-look/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Kierkegaard, Soren. “Old age realizes the dreams of youth: look at Dean Swift; in his youth he built an asylum for the insane, in his old age he was himself an inmate.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5850-old-age-realizes-the-dreams-of-youth-look/.