"It is the evening of the day, I sit and watch the children
play, Doing things I used to do, They think are new
I sit and watch, As tears go by".
--- by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Loog Oldham ---
I've Liked this song ever since I first heard it. I had to grow old to appreciate it fully. It was written by young men, who wrote wisely, but without an old man's lived understanding of the wisdom they wrote about.
As the tears and years go by, life relentlessly unfolds the inevitable tragedy the simple words so poetically telegraphed. The writers, now old, have lived what their young selves only thought. Sadly, it takes a lifetime for most of us to recognize the difference.
Preternatural wisdom in a young person can convince that person they know it all. They don't. Only the bumps and bruises of the years will allow schooled wisdom to penetrate to the bone.
Young heroes rush to battles their grandfathers would prefer to avoid. Grandfathers have lived through what their grandkids have only heard about. The information gathered by young and old alike is the same.
The effect isn't.
Devils tempt the young to reckless adventures of daring-do; sometimes for no more than the fun of it. Devils dare what angels would rather not be done at all. Grandpa knows all about that, and he has the scars to prove it.
Old men don't start revolutions, though they might have said something in their younger years that gave an excuse for revolution.
Youth is drawn to the dares of devils. "Why shouldn't we all run as thoughtlessly as the devils dare? Why shouldn't we chase our dreams, our passions, our ambitions - isn't that what life is all about? Isn't it only natural"?
Good and natural have nothing in common. Nature is "red in tooth and claw". So too, will be those who "follow their heart". The heart is an animal, it want's what it wants. Hearts aren’t responsible for consequences.
We are.
Humans are blessed with Free Will. Humans can choose between right and wrong. Humans are also imprinted with knowledge of good and evil. When humans make a mistake, they know it’s a mistake while committing the error.
The World is full of sad tales, most the result of pretended ignorence.
Knowing can't prevent error when known knowledge is ignored.
Tears wash away the sins of the soul.