--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was taught from a young age that I had…" description: "\"I was taught from a young age that I had to serve, so that turned into me thinking I had to save the planet.\" — Alanis Morissette" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/alanis-morissette-1074_age_i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had_53211.jpg" --- # I was taught from a young age that I had to serve, so that… ![“I was taught from a young age that I had to serve, so that turned into me thinking I had to save the planet.” quote by Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/alanis-morissette-1074_age_i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had_53211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/alanis-morissette-1074_age_i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had_53211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/alanis-morissette-1074_age_i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had_53211.jpg) > “I was taught from a young age that I had to serve, so that turned into me thinking I had to save the planet.” [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker links early lessons of service to a later conviction that personal responsibility includes environmental stewardship. **In simple terms:** Personal duty expands to planetary care. Key Takeaway Service mindset can drive ecological activism. Themes responsibility environment personal growth service activism Mood determined reflective hopeful Type personal testimony motivational When to use this quote - career choice - volunteering - advocacy - education - policy work Key Concepts identity moral duty sustainability Practical Applications - environmental campaigns - sustainability consulting Questions to Reflect On - How does early social conditioning shape later ethical priorities? - What risks arise when personal identity is tied to planetary outcomes? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday/) [Save the planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-the-planet/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Young age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-age/) ## Related quotes > [We need enlightenment, not just individually but collectively, to save the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-need-enlightenment-not-just-individually-but-collectively-to-save/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/if-anyone-wants-to-save-the-planet-all-they-have-to-do-is-just-stop/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [What if a small group of world leaders were to conclude that the principal risk to the Earth comes from the actions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/what-if-a-small-group-of-world-leaders-were-to-conclude-that-the/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [Songs wont save the planet, but neither will books or speeches. Songs are sneaky things; they can slip across borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/songs-wont-save-the-planet-but-neither-will-books-or-speeches-songs/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [Back in 2005, when I was Christopher Eccleston, we saw one of the largest increases on record, of CO2 in the atmosphere. Unless we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tennant/back-in-2005-when-i-was-christopher-eccleston-we-saw-one-of-the/) [David Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tennant/) > [It does not cost the world to save the planet,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottmar-edenhofer/it-does-not-cost-the-world-to-save-the-planet/) [Ottmar Edenhofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottmar-edenhofer/) > [I don't think the world will destroy itself in a nuclear cataclysm. On the contrary, we have the capacity to save ourselves and save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-don-t-think-the-world-will-destroy-itself-in-a-nuclear-cataclysm-on/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Personally, I believe a rocking hammock, a good cigar, and a tall gin-and-tonic is the way to save the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/personally-i-believe-a-rocking-hammock-a-good-cigar-and-a-tall-gin/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Save the planet? The planet is just fine. The people are just fucked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/save-the-planet-the-planet-is-just-fine-the-people-are-just-fucked/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we have peace, then we have a chance to save the planet. But if we are not united in peace, if we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-have-peace-then-we-have-a-chance-to-save-the-planet-but-if-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I admire your determination to save the planet despite your inability to save a houseplant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-admire-your-determination-to-save-the-planet-despite-your-inability/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we save the planet and have a society of inequality, we wouldn't have saved much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/if-we-save-the-planet-and-have-a-society-of-inequality-we-wouldn-t/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [I am involved with so many charitable organizations. Lung Cancer because of my dad, Breast Cancer because as a woman and mother of two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-robbins/i-am-involved-with-so-many-charitable-organizations-lung-cancer/) Lois Robbins > [So often we talk about saving the planet, but what we really mean is to save the planet the way it is, so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/so-often-we-talk-about-saving-the-planet-but-what-we-really-mean-is/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [We can either save the planet from catastrophic warming, or protect fossil fuel CEOs. Not both. Do the math(s)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/we-can-either-save-the-planet-from-catastrophic-warming-or-protect/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) ## More by Alanis Morissette > [It's when someone has an agenda of their own for the record that it doesn't work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/it-s-when-someone-has-an-agenda-of-their-own-for-the-record-that-it/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [If someone hates or loves something, then right on. I can't rob them of that. I'm not going to try and change their mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/if-someone-hates-or-loves-something-then-right-on-i-can-t-rob-them-of/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I didn't have high self-esteem when I was a teen-ager, as I think most teen-agers don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-didn-t-have-high-self-esteem-when-i-was-a-teen-ager-as-i-think-most/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I sabotage myself for fear of what my bigness could do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-sabotage-myself-for-fear-of-what-my-bigness-could-do/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Peace of mind for five minutes, that's what I crave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/peace-of-mind-for-five-minutes-that-s-what-i-crave/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Don't be surprised if I Love you for aLL that you are, I couLdn't heLp it, it's aLL your fauLt..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/don-t-be-surprised-if-i-love-you-for-all-that-you-are-i-couldn-t-help/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [My main objective with every album is to capture a moment in time, which usually makes the whole process very relaxing. I only discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/my-main-objective-with-every-album-is-to-capture-a-moment-in-time/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you When you think everything's okay and everything's going right And life has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/well-life-has-a-funny-way-of-sneaking-up-on-you-when-you-think/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I don't like it when my lips steal the show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-don-t-like-it-when-my-lips-steal-the-show/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [For four to six months at a time, I would barely eat. I lived on a diet of Melba toast, carrots, and black coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/for-four-to-six-months-at-a-time-i-would-barely-eat-i-lived-on-a-diet/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I salute you for your courage, and I applaud your perseverance, and I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-salute-you-for-your-courage-and-i-applaud-your-perseverance-and-i/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Freedom lies at the heart of my willingness to lose everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/freedom-lies-at-the-heart-of-my-willingness-to-lose-everything/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I would never judge someone's intrigue with the spoils of fame, because I went through that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-would-never-judge-someone-s-intrigue-with-the-spoils-of-fame/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [In 1995, I was thrust into the role of reluctant, flag-waving feminist and emotionally-focused artist/advocate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/in-1995-i-was-thrust-into-the-role-of-reluctant-flag-waving-feminist/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Running has made being depressed impossible. If I'm going through something emotional and just go outside for a run, you can rest assured I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/running-has-made-being-depressed-impossible-if-i-m-going-through/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) [Explore all 297 Alanis Morissette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was taught from a young age that I had to serve, so that turned into me thinking I had to save the planet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alanis Morissette" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had-to-serve-so-that-turned-into/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Age" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had-to-serve-so-that-turned-into/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/alanis-morissette-1074_age_i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had_53211.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/alanis-morissette-1074_age_i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had_53211.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/alanis-morissette-1074_age_i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had_53211.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was taught from a young age that I had to serve, so that turned into me thinking I had to save the planet.” — Alanis Morissette", "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": "Alanis Morissette", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was taught from a young...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had-to-serve-so-that-turned-into/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had-to-serve-so-that-turned-into/#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 } } ] } ```