A kitten is chiefly remarkable for rushing about like mad at

Agnes Repplier, essayist of wit and wisdom, once captured the essence of youthful spirit when she wrote: “A kitten is chiefly remarkable for rushing about like mad at nothing whatever, and generally stopping before it gets there.” On the surface, it is a playful remark about the antics of a kitten, darting about the room as if chasing invisible foes, then halting suddenly as though the chase were complete. Yet beneath this humor lies an allegory of life itself, for the kitten becomes a mirror of human striving—our restless energies, our sudden pursuits, and our frequent halts before the true end is reached.

The ancients often used animals as teachers of wisdom. A kitten, in its innocence, displays both the comedy and tragedy of existence. It rushes about with passion, its movements filled with purpose though no true object exists. So too do men and women often race through life, stirred by impulses they do not fully understand, chasing shadows of ambition or echoes of desire. They burn themselves in the pursuit of “something,” yet often arrive nowhere, or stop before reaching the true goal. Repplier’s words are both affectionate and piercing, for they unveil this hidden truth with the image of a playful creature.

The mad rush of the kitten also reminds us of the nature of youth. There is energy without aim, fire without form, speed without direction. This is not only folly but also beauty, for it shows the raw vitality of life itself. The ancients admired this same quality in the young warriors who sparred without purpose but learned strength through movement. The lesson is that not every rush needs a destination; sometimes the value lies in the movement itself, the joy of being alive, the laughter that comes from pure existence.

History offers us clear examples of humanity’s kitten-like behavior. Consider the gold rushes of the nineteenth century, when thousands abandoned homes, livelihoods, and safety to chase the gleam of fortune. Many ran as if driven by madness, only to find empty rivers and broken dreams, stopping “before they got there.” Yet, in this frenzy, cities were built, cultures shifted, and new worlds opened. Like the kitten, their seeming folly was also a spark of transformation. Purpose may not always be clear, yet movement shapes destiny.

And yet, Repplier’s insight carries a warning. The stopping before it gets there is a symbol of unrealized potential. How often do men, stirred by inspiration, begin a work of greatness, only to tire before its completion? How many dreams are left half-finished, not because they were impossible, but because the spirit, like the kitten, halted in distraction or weariness? The wise soul must learn from this image, must train itself not only to begin with passion but to endure with discipline.

Still, there is tenderness in her words. The kitten is not condemned for its antics; it is cherished. Its rushing is delightful, its halting forgivable. Repplier reminds us that imperfection and incompletion are part of life’s beauty. We may laugh at the kitten’s folly, yet we also see ourselves in its reflection, and in that laughter there is compassion. We are not beasts of perfect aim—we are creatures of longing, of trial, of false starts and sudden halts.

The lesson, then, is balance. Embrace the kitten’s energy, for it is the pulse of life. Run, chase, strive, even when the object is unseen, for in movement the soul grows strong. But also learn the art of completion, the discipline to finish the course. Let your passions guide you into motion, but let wisdom carry you to the end. For it is good to laugh at folly, but it is greater to transform folly into fulfillment.

Therefore, let Agnes Repplier’s words echo in your heart. Be not ashamed when you see yourself in the kitten—rushing at nothing, halting too soon. Instead, take joy in the energy of life, but marry it to patience, perseverance, and focus. For the kitten teaches us both the wonder of living and the danger of distraction. To live fully is to keep the spirit of the chase alive, yet to learn, in time, the art of carrying the pursuit to its true and worthy end.