Childhood Quotes | Beyond Motive 2/4

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Childhood Quotes

"The essence of childhood, of course, is play, which my friends and I did endlessly on streets that we reluctantly shared with traffic."

"The essence of childhood, of course, is play, which my friends and I did endlessly on streets that we reluctantly shared with traffic."

Bill Cosby, American Comedian

Childhood, Friends, Play

4

"Play like a child, because you are still that beautiful child."

"Play like a child, because you are still that beautiful child."

Bryant McGill, American Poet

Childhood, Happiness, Truth, Inspirational, Power

4

"It's only in hindsight that you realize what indeed your childhood was really like."

"It's only in hindsight that you realize what indeed your childhood was really like."

Maya Lin, American Architect

Childhood, Hindsight

4

"No wonder kids grow up crazy. A cat's cradle is nothing but a bunch of X's between somebody's hands, and little kids look and look and look at all those X's . . ." "And?" "No damn cat, and no damn cradle."

"No wonder kids grow up crazy. A cat's cradle is nothing but a bunch of X's between somebody's hands, and little kids look and look and look at all those X's . . ." "And?" "No damn cat, and no damn cradle."

Kurt Vonnegut, American Author

Childhood, Reality, Perception, Confusion

4

"Today the traveller on the Nile enters a wonderland at whose gates rise the colossal pyramids of which he has had visions perhaps from earliest childhood."

"Today the traveller on the Nile enters a wonderland at whose gates rise the colossal pyramids of which he has had visions perhaps from earliest childhood."

James H. Breasted, American Archaeologist

Childhood, Today, Visions

4

"I had a kind of Dickensian childhood."

"I had a kind of Dickensian childhood."

Shaun Cassidy, American Musician

4

"Now you know how badly someone wanted you, Charley. Children forget that sometimes. They think of themselves as a burden instead of a wish granted."

"Now you know how badly someone wanted you, Charley. Children forget that sometimes. They think of themselves as a burden instead of a wish granted."

Mitch Albom, American Writer

Childhood, Desire, Love, Gratitude

4

"My Christmas was a sum total of the ministrations of adults, usually adults who wanted me to encourage my parents to buy something for me to consume and discard."

"My Christmas was a sum total of the ministrations of adults, usually adults who wanted me to encourage my parents to buy something for me to consume and discard."

Thomm Quackenbush, American Author

Childhood, Memory, Christmas, Consumption

4

"When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind."

"When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind."

Patrick Rothfuss, Australian Athlete

Childhood, Innocence, Future, Freedom

4

"As a childi supposei was not quitenormal.my happiest times werewheni was left alone inthe house on asaturday."

"As a childi supposei was not quitenormal.my happiest times werewheni was left alone inthe house on asaturday."

Charles Bukowski, American Author

Childhood, Solitude, Joy, Aloneness

4

"Children do not always appreciate their parents encouraging them to explore and grow. The selfishness of a child manifests itself in his or her intent to remain a child and never enter an adult world of distress, disappointment, and jadedly surrendering an envisioned life by making commitments that limit boundless options."

"Children do not always appreciate their parents encouraging them to explore and grow. The selfishness of a child manifests itself in his or her intent to remain a child and never enter an adult world of distress, disappointment, and jadedly surrendering an envisioned life by making commitments that limit boundless options."

Kilroy J. Oldster, American Author

Childhood, Children, Parents, Selfishness, Exploration

4

"Every child matures, which is both a blessing and a damn shame. Children can imagine worlds that never exist, worlds far more interesting and consoling than an adult knows."

"Every child matures, which is both a blessing and a damn shame. Children can imagine worlds that never exist, worlds far more interesting and consoling than an adult knows."

Kilroy J. Oldster, American Author

Childhood, Maturity, Imagination, World

4

"One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again."

"One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again."

C. S. Lewis, British Author

Childhood, Aging, Innocence, Imagination, Renewal

3

"When children are taught to be "good" and keep everyone happy, it teaches them that they have the impossible burden of being responsible for other people's happiness."

"When children are taught to be "good" and keep everyone happy, it teaches them that they have the impossible burden of being responsible for other people's happiness."

Bryant McGill, American Poet

Childhood, Responsibility, Truth, Happiness, Power

3

"Have you noticed how children never bypass a puddle of water, but jump, splash, and slosh right through it? That's because they know an important truth: Life was meant to be lived; puddles were meant to be experienced."

"Have you noticed how children never bypass a puddle of water, but jump, splash, and slosh right through it? That's because they know an important truth: Life was meant to be lived; puddles were meant to be experienced."

Richelle E. Goodrich, American Poet

Childhood, Truth, Wisdom, Life

3

"Those of us who are blamed when old for reading childish books were blamed when children for reading books too old for us."

"Those of us who are blamed when old for reading childish books were blamed when children for reading books too old for us."

C. S. Lewis, British Author

Childhood, Reading, Blame, Innocence

3

"My kitchen looks like the one from my childhood - very homey, with a little bit of Alice in Wonderland!"

"My kitchen looks like the one from my childhood - very homey, with a little bit of Alice in Wonderland!"

Paris Hilton, American Celebrity

Childhood, Kitchen

3

"I had a wonderful childhood, but I was a wanderer from year one."

"I had a wonderful childhood, but I was a wanderer from year one."

Maureen Forrester, Canadian Musician

3

"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older."

"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older."

Tom Stoppard, English Dramatist

3

"Children have one kind of silliness, as you know, and grown-ups have another kind."

"Children have one kind of silliness, as you know, and grown-ups have another kind."

C. S. Lewis, British Author

Childhood, Life, Truth, Humor

3

"The eldest and biggest of the litter was a dog cub, and when he drew his first breath he was less than five inches long from his nose to where his tail joined his back-bone."

"The eldest and biggest of the litter was a dog cub, and when he drew his first breath he was less than five inches long from his nose to where his tail joined his back-bone."

Henry Williamson, English Author

Childhood, First

3

"I was such a smart kid, I should have figured out that the only way to really get my parents' attention was to disappoint them or fail. But by the time I finally realized that, succeeding was already a habit too ingrained to break."

"I was such a smart kid, I should have figured out that the only way to really get my parents' attention was to disappoint them or fail. But by the time I finally realized that, succeeding was already a habit too ingrained to break."

Sarah Dessen, American Author

Childhood, Achievement, Attention, Parenting, Success

3

"We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it, if it were not the earth where the same flowers come up again every spring that we used to gather with our tiny fingers as we sat lisping to ourselves on the grass, the same hips and haws on the autumn hedgerows, the same redbreasts that we used to call 'God's birds' because they did no harm to the precious crops. What novelty is worth that sweet monotony where everything is known and loved because it is known?"

"We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it, if it were not the earth where the same flowers come up again every spring that we used to gather with our tiny fingers as we sat lisping to ourselves on the grass, the same hips and haws on the autumn hedgerows, the same redbreasts that we used to call 'God's birds' because they did no harm to the precious crops. What novelty is worth that sweet monotony where everything is known and loved because it is known?"

George Eliot, British Author

Childhood, Nature, Love, Memory

3

"Ours was not a political household, when I was growing up."

"Ours was not a political household, when I was growing up."

Judith Guest, American Novelist

Childhood, Growingup

3

"I suppose it is because nearly all children go to school nowadays and have things arranged for them that they seem so forlornly unable to produce their own ideas."

"I suppose it is because nearly all children go to school nowadays and have things arranged for them that they seem so forlornly unable to produce their own ideas."

Agatha Christie, English Writer

Childhood, Children, Creativity, Independence, Idea

3

"We first become salesmen as children in the confession booths of our parents."

"We first become salesmen as children in the confession booths of our parents."

Criss Jami, American Philosopher

Childhood, Truth, Life, Wisdom, Power

3

"And they're also very good at math, these super boogers, and so they teach Billy the ways of mathematics."

"And they're also very good at math, these super boogers, and so they teach Billy the ways of mathematics."

William Joyce, American Author

Childhood, Mathematics

2

"A child is a child."

"A child is a child."

Lailah Gifty Akita, Ghanaian Author

Childhood, Child, Nature, Innocence, Life

2

"I had a marvelously happy childhood."

"I had a marvelously happy childhood."

Darius Milhaud, French Composer

2

"Granny," said Esk, in the exasperated and remarkably adult voice children use to berate their wayward elders. "I don't think you quite understand. I don't want to hit the ground. It's never done anything to me."

"Granny," said Esk, in the exasperated and remarkably adult voice children use to berate their wayward elders. "I don't think you quite understand. I don't want to hit the ground. It's never done anything to me."

Terry Pratchett, English Author

Childhood, Innocence, Truth, Wisdom, Regret

2

"Leading up to Christmas, there was talk of Santa. But I'd never even heard of Santa. Bunty, one of the workers who I grew to love, tried to explain, 'He brings little angels like you, presents."

"Leading up to Christmas, there was talk of Santa. But I'd never even heard of Santa. Bunty, one of the workers who I grew to love, tried to explain, 'He brings little angels like you, presents."

Stephen Richards, British Author

Childhood, Christmas, Santa, Innocence, Love

2

"Kids don't have much accumulated and deep memories and that's why they happily live in the present time!"

"Kids don't have much accumulated and deep memories and that's why they happily live in the present time!"

Mehmet Murat ildan, Turkish Philosopher

Childhood, Truth, Happiness, Today, Inspirational

2

"Childhood is a promise that is never kept."

"Childhood is a promise that is never kept."

Ken Hill, British Playwright

Childhood, Promise

2

"Kids. You gotta love them. I adore children. A little salt, a squeeze of lemon--perfect."

"Kids. You gotta love them. I adore children. A little salt, a squeeze of lemon--perfect."

Jim Butcher, American Author

Childhood, Children, Love, Joy, Happiness

2

"I've always liked getting away with just a little bit of what you're not supposed to. Like my first book, Billy's Booger, got me in trouble with the principal's office."

"I've always liked getting away with just a little bit of what you're not supposed to. Like my first book, Billy's Booger, got me in trouble with the principal's office."

William Joyce, American Author

Childhood, First, Office, Trouble

2

"I'm incredibly boring; I had a very happy childhood. I never starved, nor did I have a silver spoon in my mouth. I'm one of those terribly middle-of-the-road, British middle class, South London gents."

"I'm incredibly boring; I had a very happy childhood. I never starved, nor did I have a silver spoon in my mouth. I'm one of those terribly middle-of-the-road, British middle class, South London gents."

Jude Law, British Actor

Childhood, Class, London, Middle class

2

"When I was young, my favorite picture book was 'Fletcher and Zenobia,' written by Edward Gorey and illustrated by Victoria Chess. It's long out of print now, but its mix of macabre humor and 1960s psychedelia made it a perfect children's book for the times."

"When I was young, my favorite picture book was 'Fletcher and Zenobia,' written by Edward Gorey and illustrated by Victoria Chess. It's long out of print now, but its mix of macabre humor and 1960s psychedelia made it a perfect children's book for the times."

Rick Riordan, American Novelist

Childhood, Nostalgia, Truth, Happiness, Life

2

"I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled. I could not control the world I was in, could not walk away from things or people or moments that hurt, but I took joy in the things that made me happy."

"I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled. I could not control the world I was in, could not walk away from things or people or moments that hurt, but I took joy in the things that made me happy."

Neil Gaiman, British Author

Childhood, Joy, Control, Happiness

2

"Gingerbread houseswith gumdrops and peppermintand marshmallow snow."

"Gingerbread houseswith gumdrops and peppermintand marshmallow snow."

Richelle E. Goodrich, American Poet

Childhood, Joy, Imagination, Happiness

2

"Books are all very well in their way, and we love them at Sagamore Hill; but children are better than books."

"Books are all very well in their way, and we love them at Sagamore Hill; but children are better than books."

Theodore Roosevelt, American President

Childhood, Children, Books, Learning, Happiness

1

"Having in our childhood felt primal awe for the spectacle of the holiday, we are told to age into feeling sullen and resentful. You are supposed to proclaim Santa dead like preadolescent Nietzsches and decry the whole month as an orgy of crass commercialism."

"Having in our childhood felt primal awe for the spectacle of the holiday, we are told to age into feeling sullen and resentful. You are supposed to proclaim Santa dead like preadolescent Nietzsches and decry the whole month as an orgy of crass commercialism."

Thomm Quackenbush, American Author

Childhood, Awe, Holiday, Resentment

1

"Christmas was gluing cotton balls to Santa's beard in Coke ads, sneaking candy canes off the tree daily (that my parents replaced every few nights), enough gift-wrap to wallpaper a room, the terror and delight of knowing a magical being would enter my home while I slept."

"Christmas was gluing cotton balls to Santa's beard in Coke ads, sneaking candy canes off the tree daily (that my parents replaced every few nights), enough gift-wrap to wallpaper a room, the terror and delight of knowing a magical being would enter my home while I slept."

Thomm Quackenbush, American Author

Childhood, Memory, Magic, Joy

1

"Don't try to make me grow up before my time."

"Don't try to make me grow up before my time."

Louisa May Alcott, American Novelist

Childhood, Freedom, Innocence, Growth

1

"Between the dark and the daylight, When the night is beginning to lower, Comes a pause in the day's occupations, That is known as the Children's Hour."

"Between the dark and the daylight, When the night is beginning to lower, Comes a pause in the day's occupations, That is known as the Children's Hour."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American Poet

Childhood, Family, Time, Memory

1

"The middle years of childhood arrive just as your own are getting uncomfortably close."

"The middle years of childhood arrive just as your own are getting uncomfortably close."

Marguerite Kelly, American Columnist

Childhood, Years

1

"I think childhood is to everyone a lost land."

"I think childhood is to everyone a lost land."

Dennis Potter, British Dramatist

Childhood, Land

1

"Only children believe they're capable of everything."

"Only children believe they're capable of everything."

Paulo Coelho, Brazilian Novelist

Childhood, Belief, Capability, Innocence

1

"The small hopes and plans and pleasures of children should be tenderly respected by grown-up people, and never rudely thwarted or ridiculed."

"The small hopes and plans and pleasures of children should be tenderly respected by grown-up people, and never rudely thwarted or ridiculed."

Louisa May Alcott, American Novelist

Childhood, Respect, Joy, Hope

1

"A boy is of all wild beasts the most difficult to manage."

"A boy is of all wild beasts the most difficult to manage."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Childhood, Boys, Youth, Parenting, Behavior

1

"I thought about adults. I wondered if that was true: if they were all really children wrapped in adult bodies, like children's books hidden in the middle of dull, long adult books, the kind with no pictures or conversations."

"I thought about adults. I wondered if that was true: if they were all really children wrapped in adult bodies, like children's books hidden in the middle of dull, long adult books, the kind with no pictures or conversations."

Neil Gaiman, British Author

Childhood, Adultery, Perception, Truth

1

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