Unfolding some old notebooks with quotes from books I have read, I found this quote by Stefan Zweig:
Nothing moves young people so much as to witness a sublime and virile gloom. Michelangelo's thinker staring down into the abyss of his own thoughts, Beethoven's poignantly drawn lips; these tragic masks of universal suffering touch the crude emotions of youth far more than Mozart's silver melodies or the crystalline light that radiates from Leonardo's figures. Being itself beauty, youth has no need of transfiguration. In the superabundance of its vital forces, it is allured by the tragic, and in its inexperience, is prone to accept the embraces of melancholy. That, too, is why youth is always ready for danger, and ever willing to extend a brotherly hand towards mental pain.
In my opinion, the quote reflects how young people are profoundly affected by expressions of deep sorrow and existential contemplation, suggesting that the intensity and authenticity of such emotions resonate strongly with them.
The author draws examples from art and music to illustrate its points.
I think the essence of the quote is that youth, with its inherent beauty and vigor, is drawn to the tragic and the melancholic, as forms of deeper emotional and existential exploration. It suggests that young people feel a kinship with expressions of sorrow and pain, perhaps because these emotions provide a counterpoint to their own experiences and feelings, offering a sense of depth and authenticity. The allure of danger and the readiness to confront mental anguish are seen as characteristics of the youthful disposition toward growth, learning, and emotional depth.
How do you read this quote?