The lesson is one that every young person should learn.

In youth the hours are full of privileges.

They come like angels, holding in their hands rich treasures, sent to us from God, which they offer to us; and if we are laggard or indolent, or if we are too intent on our own little trifles to give welcome to these heavenly messengers with their heavenly gifts, they quickly pass on and are gone.

And they never come back again to renew the offer.
On the dial of a clock in the palace of Napoleon at Malmaison, the maker has put, the words, "_Non nescit reverti_"; "It does not know how to go backward." It is so of the great clock of Time--it never can be turned backward.

The moments come to us but once; whatever we do with them we must do as they pass, for they will never come to us again.
Then privilege makes responsibility.