--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Three children have become adults since a…" description: "\"Three children have become adults since a phone call with Jo Rowling, containing one small clue, persuaded me that there was more to Snape than an unch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/alan-rickman-4156_adults_three-children-have-become-adults-since_102835.jpg" --- # Three children have become adults since a phone call with… ![“Three children have become adults since a phone call with Jo Rowling, containing one small clue, persuaded me that there was more to Snape than an unchanging costume, and that even though only three of the books were out at that time, she held the entire massive but delicate narrative in the…” quote by Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/alan-rickman-4156_adults_three-children-have-become-adults-since_102835.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/alan-rickman-4156_adults_three-children-have-become-adults-since_102835.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/alan-rickman-4156_adults_three-children-have-become-adults-since_102835.jpg) > “Three children have become adults since a phone call with Jo Rowling, containing one small clue, persuaded me that there was more to Snape than an unchanging costume, and that even though only three of the books were out at that time, she held the entire massive but delicate narrative in the surest of hands.” [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author realized that J.K. Rowling’s storytelling contains hidden depth, suggesting Snape’s character is more complex than his outward appearance. **In simple terms:** Snape is deeper than his façade. Key Takeaway Characters can conceal hidden layers. Themes Literature Character analysis Narrative depth Authorial intent Mood Curiosity Intrigue Type Literary insight Character observation When to use this quote - Reading a novel and noticing subtle clues - Analyzing a film character beyond surface traits - Discussing a TV series plot twist Key Concepts Subtext Character development Practical Applications - Re‑watch a story focusing on minor details - Write a character diary to explore hidden motives Questions to Reflect On - What cues do you use to infer a character’s inner life? - How does hidden complexity affect audience engagement? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Costumes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/costumes/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Phone call](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-call/) [Phone calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-calls/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snape/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Unchanging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unchanging/) ## Related quotes > [I knew with Snape I was working as a double agent, as it turns out, and a very good one at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-knew-with-snape-i-was-working-as-a-double-agent-as-it-turns-out-and/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I have just returned from the dubbing studio where I spoke into a microphone as Severus Snape for absolutely the last time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-have-just-returned-from-the-dubbing-studio-where-i-spoke-into-a/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Too many children and adults go hungry every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimmern/too-many-children-and-adults-go-hungry-every-day/) [Andrew Zimmern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimmern/) > [In 1600 the specialization of games and pastimes did not extend beyond infancy; after the age of three or four it decreased and disappeared.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-ari-s/in-1600-the-specialization-of-games-and-pastimes-did-not-extend/) [Philippe Aries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-ari-s/) > [“I feel grown-up. I am no longer in the category with the children, I am one of the adults! And I love it! They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrice-sparks/i-feel-grown-up-i-am-no-longer-in-the-category-with-the-children-i-am/) [Beatrice Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrice-sparks/) > [The difference between children and adults is that they're shorter - not dumber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/the-difference-between-children-and-adults-is-that-they-re-shorter/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [Nuclear war would mean abolition of most comforts, and disruption of normal routines, for children and adults alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-libby/nuclear-war-would-mean-abolition-of-most-comforts-and-disruption-of/) [Willard Libby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-libby/) > [If children could, if adults knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/if-children-could-if-adults-knew/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [I think any good literature, whether it's for children or for adults, will appeal to everybody. As far as children's literature goes, adults should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-benson/i-think-any-good-literature-whether-it-s-for-children-or-for-adults/) [Amber Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-benson/) > [That was when it was all made painfully clear to me. When you are a child, there is joy. There is laughter. And most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-david/that-was-when-it-was-all-made-painfully-clear-to-me-when-you-are-a/) [Peter David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-david/) > [A lot of what children go through is because you adults don't carry the burden yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/a-lot-of-what-children-go-through-is-because-you-adults-don-t-carry/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [“They say it is hard to raise children. They say I would understand it when I have children of my own. They say I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcella-purnama/they-say-it-is-hard-to-raise-children-they-say-i-would-understand-it/) [Marcella Purnama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcella-purnama/) > [“Spoon Feeding is only good for children not for adults. Let them think for themselves and don't baby them. They are just plain lazy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-marie-aguilar/spoon-feeding-is-only-good-for-children-not-for-adults-let-them-think/) [Ann Marie Aguilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-marie-aguilar/) > [Certainly in the case of 'Gnomeo & Juliet,' if it makes children or adults a little more interested in Shakespeare, there's nothing wrong with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-asbury/certainly-in-the-case-of-gnomeo-juliet-if-it-makes-children-or-adults/) [Kelly Asbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-asbury/) > [“From what I can tell, the chief distinguishing factor between children and adults is that children hear everything while appearing not to and adults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/from-what-i-can-tell-the-chief-distinguishing-factor-between-children/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) ## More by Alan Rickman > [Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-character-just-speaks-to-you/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [My definition of palatable might be slightly different from yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/my-definition-of-palatable-might-be-slightly-different-from-yours/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I do feel more myself in America. I can regress there, and they have roller-coaster parks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-do-feel-more-myself-in-america-i-can-regress-there-and-they-have/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I have a love-hate relationship with white silk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-have-a-love-hate-relationship-with-white-silk/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Unless we tell stories about ourselves, which is all that theater is, we're in deep trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/unless-we-tell-stories-about-ourselves-which-is-all-that-theater-is/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I was 7, and I remember being given a part in a play and thinking, This is exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-was-7-and-i-remember-being-given-a-part-in-a-play-and-thinking-this/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [The difference between being an actor and a director is simple. The director has to hide his panic; the actor doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/the-difference-between-being-an-actor-and-a-director-is-simple-the/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Do you know that moment when you paint a landscape as a child and, when you’re maybe under seven or something, the sky is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/do-you-know-that-moment-when-you-paint-a-landscape-as-a-child-and/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Who I am gets in the way of people looking innocently at the parts I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/who-i-am-gets-in-the-way-of-people-looking-innocently-at-the-parts-i/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I don't think it's right that everybody knows everything about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-don-t-think-it-s-right-that-everybody-knows-everything-about-me/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [One thing I will say - my job gets harder and harder. The more you understand about what you are capable of, the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/one-thing-i-will-say-my-job-gets-harder-and-harder-the-more-you/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [On the screen were some flashback shots of Daniel, Emma and Rupert from ten years ago. They were 12. I have also recently returned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/on-the-screen-were-some-flashback-shots-of-daniel-emma-and-rupert/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I was coming from a very cerebral, dark, difficult, layered play by Christopher Hampton and doing an action movie in Hollywood (Die Hard) with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-was-coming-from-a-very-cerebral-dark-difficult-layered-play-by/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I don't play villains, I play very interesting people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-don-t-play-villains-i-play-very-interesting-people/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Film has to be reflecting the world that we live in, and that's all you want to be a part of. Actors inhabit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/film-has-to-be-reflecting-the-world-that-we-live-in-and-that-s-all/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) [Explore all 115 Alan Rickman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) K. Anders Ericsson > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Three children have become adults since a phone call with Jo Rowling, containing one small clue, persuaded me that there was more to Snape than an unchanging costume, and that even though only three of the books were out at that time, she held the entire massive but delicate narrative in the surest of hands.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Rickman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/three-children-have-become-adults-since-a-phone-call-with-jo-rowling/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adults" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/three-children-have-become-adults-since-a-phone-call-with-jo-rowling/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/alan-rickman-4156_adults_three-children-have-become-adults-since_102835.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/alan-rickman-4156_adults_three-children-have-become-adults-since_102835.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/484/alan-rickman-4156_adults_three-children-have-become-adults-since_102835.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Three children have become adults since a phone call with Jo Rowling, containing one small clue, persuaded…” — Alan Rickman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alan Rickman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Three children have become adults since...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/three-children-have-become-adults-since-a-phone-call-with-jo-rowling/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/three-children-have-become-adults-since-a-phone-call-with-jo-rowling/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```