Second Innocence

"Second innocence comes later in life, when you have lived deeply.   You know the bleakness of life.   You know it's incredible capacity to disappoint and sometimes destroy.  Yet not withstanding that realistic recognition of life's negative potential, you still maintain an outlook that is wholesome and hopeful and bright.   It is innocent in it's trust in the good and the true and the beautiful."    John O' Donahue