The ways we miss our lives are life.
Randall JarrellRead
One of the most obvious facts about grownups to a child is that they have forgotten what it is like to be a child.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Adults often lose touch with the simplicity of childhood experiences.
This quote by Randall Jarrell suggests that as people grow up, they tend to forget the essence of being a child, including the innocence, wonder, and imaginative potential that defines childhood. Children are acutely aware of this shift, observing that adults may no longer value or remember the joys and simplicity of their early years, reflecting a broader theme of how life experiences and responsibilities can shape one's perspective over time.
Themes
ChildhoodAdulthoodMemoryGrowthInnocence
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of childhood education, one could use this quote to highlight the need for adults to remember the impact of their formative years.
More from Randall Jarrell
All quotes →Similar quotes
The wisdom of others remains dull till it is writ over with our own blood. We are essentially apart from the world; it bursts into our consciousness only when it sinks its teeth and nails into us.
Eric HofferRead
Throughout our lives, God's grace bestows temporal blessings and spiritual gifts that magnify our abilities and enrich our lives. His grace refines us. His grace helps us become our best selves.
Dieter F. UchtdorfRead
When the sage points at the moon, all that the idiot sees is the finger.
Anthony De MelloRead
Character is the ability of a person to see a positive end of things. This is the hope that a man of character has.
Tom LandryRead
I learned to make my mind large, as the universe is large, so that there is room for paradoxes.
Maxine Hong KingstonRead
God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, ". . . who will go for Us?" The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude.
Oswald ChambersRead