--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: His sixth year, it seemed to him, had…" description: "\"“His sixth year, it seemed to him, had lasted a remarkably long time and there were points at which he frankly wondered whether he would ever turn seve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/alexander-mccall-smith-372_birthday_his-sixth-year-it-seemed-to-him-had-last_515946.jpg" --- # His sixth year, it seemed to him, had lasted a remarkably… ![“His sixth year, it seemed to him, had lasted a remarkably long time and there were points at which he frankly wondered whether he would ever turn seven. But now it was the night before his birthday, and barring some cosmic disaster, the advent of some unexpected black hole into which the earth…” quote by Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/alexander-mccall-smith-372_birthday_his-sixth-year-it-seemed-to-him-had-last_515946.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/alexander-mccall-smith-372_birthday_his-sixth-year-it-seemed-to-him-had-last_515946.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/alexander-mccall-smith-372_birthday_his-sixth-year-it-seemed-to-him-had-last_515946.jpg) > ““His sixth year, it seemed to him, had lasted a remarkably long time and there were points at which he frankly wondered whether he would ever turn seven. But now it was the night before his birthday, and barring some cosmic disaster, the advent of some unexpected black hole into which the earth might be sucked, with the attendant reversal or suspension of time, in very few hours he would be waking up to a world in which he was numbered among the seven-year-olds.”” [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage humorously portrays a child's perception of time stretching as they near a birthday, mixing mundane anxiety with fantastical disaster. **In simple terms:** Kids feel time drags before birthdays, imagining wild scenarios. Key Takeaway Appreciate the innocence and anxiety of growing up. Themes childhood time perception anxiety Mood lighthearted reflective Type narrative humorous When to use this quote - school - birthday planning - parent‑child talks Key Concepts imagination growth humor Questions to Reflect On - How do children cope with waiting for milestones? - What role does imagination play in easing anxiety? A Different Perspective It may trivialize genuine childhood stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday/) [Black hole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-hole/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [This is my sixth year now. I've never seen this many all-stars in the locker room at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-wilson/this-is-my-sixth-year-now-i-ve-never-seen-this-many-all-stars-in-the/) [Adrian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-wilson/) > [The big turning point for me was a school debate in sixth year when, against all odds and to everybody's surprise, I put myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/the-big-turning-point-for-me-was-a-school-debate-in-sixth-year-when/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [We're celebrating our sixth year with my Fleetwood's, and in a restaurant, that's a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-fleetwood/we-re-celebrating-our-sixth-year-with-my-fleetwood-s-and-in-a/) [Mick Fleetwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-fleetwood/) > [I have an almost seven year old... I think it's essential to be consistent with kids. And truthful, without scaring them. I could go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-collins/i-have-an-almost-seven-year-old-i-think-it-s-essential-to-be/) [Stephen Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-collins/) > [It's funny that I'm so popular with seven-, eight-, nine-year-olds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/it-s-funny-that-i-m-so-popular-with-seven-eight-nine-year-olds/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I am such a great gamer that seven-year-olds kick my butt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rooker/i-am-such-a-great-gamer-that-seven-year-olds-kick-my-butt/) [Michael Rooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rooker/) > [If I could give advice to seven-year-old Greta, it would be: Be kind to yourself. Spend less time trying to be pretty and cool.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/if-i-could-give-advice-to-seven-year-old-greta-it-would-be-be-kind-to/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [“Because you’re going to help me train a seven-year-old Witch who’s got the raw power right now to turn us both into dust and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bishop/because-you-re-going-to-help-me-train-a-seven-year-old-witch-who-s/) [Anne Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bishop/) > [My seven-year-old spirit is still there. I still think I can run like a gazelle, like I did at 21.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robson-green/my-seven-year-old-spirit-is-still-there-i-still-think-i-can-run-like/) [Robson Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robson-green/) > [“An average seven-year-old boy in North Korea is now 20 centimeters shorter and 10 kilos lighter than his brother in South Korea °'7”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-kim/an-average-seven-year-old-boy-in-north-korea-is-now-20-centimeters/) Mike Kim > [If I was roped into a seven-year TV contract I'd probably hang myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-theroux/if-i-was-roped-into-a-seven-year-tv-contract-i-d-probably-hang-myself/) [Justin Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-theroux/) > [When I was in New Orleans, I was in a grocery store and a woman came up to me and she said, "Oh, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/when-i-was-in-new-orleans-i-was-in-a-grocery-store-and-a-woman-came/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [A seven year old to a neighbor after the boy's house burned down, "Oh, that was not our home. That was our house. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-r-cook/a-seven-year-old-to-a-neighbor-after-the-boy-s-house-burned-down-oh/) [Gene R. Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-r-cook/) > [I think it's important not to grow up too fast. I'm 26 now, and I still can't wait for Christmas Day. The inner seven-year-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-haddock/i-think-it-s-important-not-to-grow-up-too-fast-i-m-26-now-and-i-still/) [Laura Haddock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-haddock/) > [For some people, a one-night stand doesn't make any difference in a seven-year love affair. I don't believe the degree of betrayal is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-some-people-a-one-night-stand-doesn-t-make-any-difference-in-a/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) ## More by Alexander McCall Smith > [“old-fashioned, gentle Scottish physician, unmoved by the considerations of profit and personal gain that could so disfigure medicine. That doctors should consider themselves businessmen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/old-fashioned-gentle-scottish-physician-unmoved-by-the-considerations/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“She had not made a lot of money, but she had not made a loss, and she had been happy and entertained. That counted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/she-had-not-made-a-lot-of-money-but-she-had-not-made-a-loss-and-she/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [And that, in a way, was the burden of being a philosopher: one knew what one had to do, but it was so often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-that-in-a-way-was-the-burden-of-being-a-philosopher-one-knew-what/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“To use strong language, she thought, was a sign of bad temper and lack of concern for others. Such people were not clever or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/to-use-strong-language-she-thought-was-a-sign-of-bad-temper-and-lack/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Men are very sensitive, Mma Makutsi. You would not always think it to look at them, but they are. They do not like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/men-are-very-sensitive-mma-makutsi-you-would-not-always-think-it-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“He is a good man, but even a good man can fall for a glamorous woman. That is well known.” “That is very well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/he-is-a-good-man-but-even-a-good-man-can-fall-for-a-glamorous-woman/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“And then the second thing you have to do is go and see your son. That is a duty of love, Andrew. It's as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-then-the-second-thing-you-have-to-do-is-go-and-see-your-son-that/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Because laughs never die away entirely,” said Jamie. “At least, if you believe in Marconi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/because-laughs-never-die-away-entirely-said-jamie-at-least-if-you/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“The trouble with having a conscience, she said to herself, is that it never sleeps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/the-trouble-with-having-a-conscience-she-said-to-herself-is-that-it/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“And if there's bad behaviour," Mma Potokwane went on. "If there's bad behaviour, the quickest way of stopping it is to give more love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-if-there-s-bad-behaviour-mma-potokwane-went-on-if-there-s-bad/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“We never realise how transparent we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/we-never-realise-how-transparent-we-are/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Has he not got a wife back wherever he comes from? Is there no wife to say, ‘You must not go off and visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/has-he-not-got-a-wife-back-wherever-he-comes-from-is-there-no-wife-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“He looked at her in the darkness, at this woman who was everything to him-mother, Africa, wisdom, understanding, good things to eat, pumpkins, chicken,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/he-looked-at-her-in-the-darkness-at-this-woman-who-was-everything-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“It is because you are generous in spirit; and may I be like that; may I become like you—which unrealistic wish, to become the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/it-is-because-you-are-generous-in-spirit-and-may-i-be-like-that-may-i/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni,” she asked, “do you think that our souls grow as we get older?” He did not answer immediately, but when he did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/mr-j-l-b-matekoni-she-asked-do-you-think-that-our-souls-grow-as-we/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) [Explore all 628 Alexander McCall Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) ## More Birthday quotes > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [Here is your third gift from Me once again..I had a fourth gift it was about me making a video telling you how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilbear/here-is-your-third-gift-from-me-once-again-i-had-a-fourth-gift-it-was/) [LilBear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilbear/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [“Natales grate numeras? (Do you count your birthdays with gratitude?)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/natales-grate-numeras-do-you-count-your-birthdays-with-gratitude/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“Jarod Kintz Day—it’s not just my birthday, but it should be a holiday that’s mandatory to celebrate, punishable by death if you don’t. It’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/jarod-kintz-day-it-s-not-just-my-birthday-but-it-should-be-a-holiday/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [May Lord bless you abundantly because a sweetheart like you deserves the best! Have a glorious and memorable Birthday!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-lord-bless-you-abundantly-because-a-sweetheart-like-you-deserves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Happy Birthday To Me,I just turned twenty three(23),I want a new Puppy, And I'll name it Julie:) Chocolate cake anyone all I have leftover,,,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/happy-birthday-to-me-i-just-turned-twenty-three-23-i-want-a-new-puppy/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [If you're going to do a job, do it right. If you're going to throw a birthday party, make it amazing. 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And that reason is our very existence!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/every-day-we-have-a-special-reason-to-make-a-good-celebration-and/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 2,984 Birthday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“His sixth year, it seemed to him, had lasted a remarkably long time and there were points at which he frankly wondered whether he would ever turn seven. 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