“Every life, including the most normal. . .”

“Every life, including the most normal of the normal, is a blend of experiences that build ego strength and those that tear it down. As one’s responsibilities widen, these forces become more powerful.

As good a definition as I know is that maturity is the capacity to withstand the ego-destroying experiences and not lose one’s perspective in the ego-building experiences: ‘If you can meet with triumph or disaster,’ to borrow a phrase from Mr. Kipling.”