Were I to deduce any system from my feelings on leaving Eton, it might be called The Theory of Permanent Adolescence. It is the theory that the experiences undergone by boys at the great public schools, their glories and disappointments, are so intense as to dominate their lives and to arrest their development. From these it results that the greater part of the ruling class remains adolescent, school-minded, self-conscious, cowardly, sentimental, and in the last analysis homosexual.

Summary

In this quote, the speaker reflects on their departure from Eton, a prestigious public school, and introduces the concept of "The Theory of Permanent Adolescence." They suggest that the intense experiences, both positive and negative, endured by boys in such schools have a profound impact that continues to shape their lives and prevent their personal growth. They argue that this phenomenon leads to a ruling class that remains immature, self-conscious, cowardly, sentimental, and ultimately suggests a hidden homoerotic dimension.

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