That quote ("Prodigies [inevitably] become ex-prodigies.") reminds of something I read earlier this week that goes something like this: "The problem of being too young lessens over time."

The quote aneesh's professor gave reminds me of the "This too shall pass" parable. That story is as powerful as any I've ever read. I bet that there's not a day goes by that I don't find myself saying "This too shall pass": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_too_shall_pass