The text highlights the remarkable achievements of several prominent figures in American history and literature at a very young age. For instance, Jonathan Edwards was admitted to Yale College at just thirteen, already making his mark in American literature. H. W. Longfellow also began his literary career early, writing for a newspaper at the age of fourteen. These examples illustrate the extraordinary talent and ambition of young Americans during this period.

Furthermore, the passage mentions other notable individuals such as John Quincy Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin West, and George Bancroft, who all accomplished significant feats in their teenage years. Adams served as a private secretary at fourteen; Franklin was already gaining recognition as a journalist by fifteen; West painted a major work at sixteen; and Bancroft earned a degree in history at seventeen. These instances emphasize the early maturity and contributions of these historical figures to their respective fields.