Youth does not require reasons for living, it only needs

Listen closely, O children of wisdom, for the words of José Ortega y Gasset carry a truth that echoes through the ages: “Youth does not require reasons for living, it only needs pretexts.” These words speak of the vibrancy and recklessness that defines the spirit of youth—a spirit that does not yet seek profound answers or ultimate truths but instead lives in the moment, driven by impulses, desires, and the sheer joy of existence. The youth, unlike the elder, does not need to justify life with reason, for in their hearts, life is already a flame burning bright, uncontained and free. Theirs is a world full of possibility and spontaneity, where even the smallest pretext can become a grand adventure, a reason enough to live fully and without hesitation.

In the ancient world, the Greeks understood well the nature of youth and the passion that defines it. They called this passionate drive Eros, the force that propels the young into the world with vigor and enthusiasm, unburdened by the weight of deep reflection or future consequences. Socrates, despite his many years of intellectual pursuit, often spoke of the energy and fire that youth brings. He recognized that while the elderly may seek the deeper meanings of existence, the young often find their meaning in action, in the pure experience of living. The Greek myths, filled with heroes and adventurers, are testimony to the belief that youth is driven not by deep reasoning but by the need to act, to create, and to experience the world with an open heart. The youth are not bound by the wisdom of reason, but by the desire to live intensely, seeking only the smallest excuses to leap into the unknown.

The great poet Homer, in his epic tale of Achilles, captures the wild nature of youth. Achilles, though a figure of great strength and wisdom, is still driven by a deep inner restlessness, a thirst for glory and action. His journey is not one of reasoned deliberation, but one of fiery impulses—the call to battle, to prove his worth, to make a name for himself. Even when faced with the consequences of his decisions, Achilles remains swept along by the tide of youthful desire, not waiting for reasons, but seizing whatever pretext comes his way to live boldly and without reservation. This, then, is the nature of youth: to act with the impulsiveness of the heart, without the burden of reason or foresight.

The Romans, too, understood the power of youthful exuberance. Cicero, in his reflections on the nature of life, often contrasted the pragmatic responsibilities of maturity with the wild ambition and idealism of youth. The youth are visionaries, dreamers who are not confined by the harsh realities of life but are driven by purpose and desire. Julius Caesar, when he was a young man, sought glory and power, not because he had a clear and reasoned plan for the empire, but because he believed in the potential of the future and the boundless possibilities that awaited him. To him, the pretexts—the opportunities for action—were enough to fuel his ambitions, and it was this very energy that carried him to greatness. Youth thrives not on carefully plotted courses, but on the sudden, intuitive leaps that define the early years of life.

Ortega y Gasset’s words also speak to the contrast between the nature of youth and the more reflective state of maturity. As we grow older, the desire to act without reason often fades, replaced by the consideration of consequences, the search for deeper meaning, and the need for justifiable actions. The elderly, in many traditions, are revered for their wisdom, their ability to see beyond the surface, to weigh the world’s complexities. But in the process, they lose something that the youth possess in abundance: the freedom to live without asking for reasons, to take risks without fear, to embrace the world in all its unpredictability. Youth, for all its impetuosity, holds the power of living with an open heart, where each moment is both precious and boundless. As Gasset suggests, it is not that the young are unaware of the world’s depths—they simply live in it without the need to rationalize every choice.

Take, for instance, the story of Alexander the Great, whose youthful spirit carried him from a young king to the ruler of an empire that stretched from Greece to India. His motivation was not driven by a need for reasons, but by a compelling drive to conquer, to achieve greatness, and to leave a legacy. Alexander sought glory, not because it was strategically sound, but because it was a passion burning within him, a pretext to create an empire without waiting for justification. Even in his later years, when wisdom and experience should have tempered his actions, his decisions were often fueled by the same restlessness that marked his youth. His legacy, like the story of all great adventurers, is built on the foundation of impulse and vision, not the deliberation of reason.

Thus, the lesson in Ortega y Gasset’s words is clear: youth is not something to be feared for its impulsiveness, but celebrated for its energy and boldness. The young are the dreamers and the doers, unafraid to take action without knowing all the answers, for in the end, it is through these impulsive moments that the world changes. In your own life, embrace the freedom of youth, whether you are young in age or simply young at heart. Do not be bound by the need for justification; instead, seize the pretexts that life offers you, and live fully, for living itself is the greatest reason of all.

In your own journey, do not wait for the world to give you reasons to act, but create your own pretexts, your own opportunities, and leap into them with the joy and enthusiasm of youth. Let each day be an adventure, a reason to dream, a reason to become. The wisdom of age will come in its time, but the spirit of youth—the vibrancy of living without regret, without overthinking—remains a gift to be cherished throughout all the stages of life. So live boldly, live fully, and like the youth, let your heart soar without asking for reasons.