Orson Welles directed Citizen Kane at the age of 25. I think it takes a certain single-mindedness and courage, or obliviousness, to achieve greatness at such a young age. I think I lack a little of both, and it's depressing me.
I was reminded of it after watching the Seattle Symphony Night at the Oscars show, when they played clips from various classic films while projecting the film on a screen up above.