An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.
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Philosophy is perfectly right in saying that life must be understood backward. But then one forgets the other clause - that it must be lived forward. The more one thinks through this clause, the more one concludes that life in temporality never becomes properly understandable, simply because never at any time does one get perfect repose to take the stance - backward.
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The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or, perchance, a palace or temple on the earth, and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed with them.
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An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.
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The boy gathers materials for a temple, and then when he is thirty, concludes to build a woodshed.
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