"There is no man, however wise, who has not at some period of his youth said things, or lived in a way the consciousness of which is so unpleasant to him in later life that he would gladly, if he could, expunge it from his memory"

This quote by Marcel Proust talks with the axiom that every person has actually done something in their young people that they are sorry for later in life. Despite exactly how wise an individual might be, they have all made blunders in their youth that they prefer to forget. Proust is suggesting that despite just how much we might have grown and grown, all of us have minutes in our past that we prefer to not keep in mind. It is a reminder that we ought to all be kind and understanding to others, as all of us have minutes in our past that we prefer to neglect. It is likewise a tip to be kind to ourselves, as most of us have moments in our past that we would rather forget. We must all make every effort to pick up from our blunders and progress with a greater understanding of ourselves as well as the world around us.