How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Chad, accordingly, who was wonderful with both of them, was a kind of link for hopeless fancy, an implication of possibilities—oh if everything had been different! (5.1.5)
As soon as he meets Chad in Paris, Strether feels totally inadequate. Seeing Chad's cool young life reminds Strether of the life he never had. And why did Strether never have this life? Well, for starters he hasn't inherited all the money Chad has. But on top of that, Strether has always been anxious and cautious, and he never would have been adventurous enough to live alone in Paris when he was young. Le sigh.
Quote #8
'All the same don't forget that you're young—blessedly young; be glad of it on the contrary and live up to it. Live all you can; it's a mistake not to.' (5.2.14)
When Strether gets a chance to sit down next to Bilham at a party, he can't help but tell Bilham to enjoy his youth while he still has it. By this point, Strether is basically bubbling over with jealousy for all of the young, charming people he's met (including Chad). When he tells Bilham to enjoy his youth, it's pretty much Strether wishing he could go back and say this to a younger version of himself.
Quote #9
'I see it now. I haven't done so enough before—and now I'm old; too old at any rate for what I see.' (5.2.14)
Strether admits that now that he's old, he can see how much he would do things differently if he were young again. His dissatisfaction keeps coming from his sense that life is something he'll never be able to get back, and it's hard to think that way without feeling a ton of regret. Read these lines well, young Shmoopers!