Have you every heard this one, if so?

Question

How do you interpret the old saying, “Youth is wasted on the young?”

Answer 1

Youth spend all of their time wanting to be older and have freedom and support themselves, bu then they realize they missed out on having fun and lose the pleasureof not having to work yet.

Answer 2

George Bernard Shaw is credited with the quote.

The following is quoted from Answer Bag and Pointeman1

interprets very well indeed.

"It means that young people have everything going for them physically; they're in the best health they will ever be in; their minds are sharp and clear BUT they lack patience, understanding and wisdom which results in so much wasted effort. Whereas someone who's lived and learn now knows what to do with all that ability of the body but now doesn't have the body to do it with! Another way of putting that saying is; "If I could go back to (whatever age you like) and if I knew then what I know now, life would be wonderful"  http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/38699

Answer 3

the young don't know what to do with their youth so it's wasted on them.

Answer 4

I've heard it.

I interpret it as though children and teenagers can't appreciate what they have (i.e. lots of energy, no mortgage, being supported by their own parents). I think it's generally true, although I have to say that, as I'm a teenager, I take a small offense to it.