--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do you know anyone who would - secretly…" description: "\"Do you know anyone who would - secretly, sincerely, in his innermost self - really prefer to return to childhood?\" — Anita Desai" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/anita-desai-24160_childhood_do-you-know-anyone-who-would-secretly-si_760890.png" --- # Do you know anyone who would - secretly, sincerely, in his… ![“Do you know anyone who would - secretly, sincerely, in his innermost self - really prefer to return to childhood?” quote by Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/anita-desai-24160_childhood_do-you-know-anyone-who-would-secretly-si_760890.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/anita-desai-24160_childhood_do-you-know-anyone-who-would-secretly-si_760890.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/anita-desai-24160_childhood_do-you-know-anyone-who-would-secretly-si_760890.png) > “Do you know anyone who would - secretly, sincerely, in his innermost self - really prefer to return to childhood?” [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A longing for the innocence and freedom of youth can surface in adulthood. **In simple terms:** Missing childhood simplicity and freedom. Key Takeaway Reconnect with inner child. Themes nostalgia identity freedom Mood wistalgic contemplative Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - creative play - mindfulness - journaling Key Concepts psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - What childhood joy can you revive? - How does adult life limit that freedom? A Different Perspective Escapism may avoid adult responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [ When He \[God\] talks of their losing their selves, He means only abandoning the clamour of self-will; once they have done that, He really… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-he-god-talks-of-their-losing-their-selves-he-means-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I wanted to start again. 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But then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/we-must-become-so-alone-so-utterly-alone-that-we-withdraw-into-our/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“If we search into the innermost part of our self, we come in the end to an utter void where nothing from the outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/if-we-search-into-the-innermost-part-of-our-self-we-come-in-the-end/) [Paul Brunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/) > [“One may escape from the prisons of experience, ideology or philosophy, but it is impossible to escape from the reality of one's innermost self.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-samuels/one-may-escape-from-the-prisons-of-experience-ideology-or-philosophy/) [Mark Samuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-samuels/) ## More by Anita Desai > [“Her eyes opened at this sight against her will and she looked around the room almost in fear. But it was dark and shadowy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/her-eyes-opened-at-this-sight-against-her-will-and-she-looked-around/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [The wheel turns and turns and turns: it never stops and stands still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/the-wheel-turns-and-turns-and-turns-it-never-stops-and-stands-still/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [The book begins and ends with the visits to give the impression of a tunnel into their ancestors and family history. I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/the-book-begins-and-ends-with-the-visits-to-give-the-impression-of-a/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [People think that because I write about India I must be trying to portray India in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/people-think-that-because-i-write-about-india-i-must-be-trying-to/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [Someone who wants to write should make an effort to write a little something every day. Writing in this sense is the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/someone-who-wants-to-write-should-make-an-effort-to-write-a-little/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [“The bougainvillea hung about it, purple and magenta, in livid balloons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/the-bougainvillea-hung-about-it-purple-and-magenta-in-livid-balloons/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [Ever since I could first write I have been doing so. When I was taught how to write and read at school, I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/ever-since-i-could-first-write-i-have-been-doing-so-when-i-was-taught/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [What a sense of possession, of confidence, it gave one to have pockets, to shove one's fists into them, as if in simply owning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/what-a-sense-of-possession-of-confidence-it-gave-one-to-have-pockets/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [I aim to tell the truth about any subject, not a romance or fantasy, not avoid the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/i-aim-to-tell-the-truth-about-any-subject-not-a-romance-or-fantasy/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [My style of writing is to allow the story to unfold on its own. I try not to structure my work too rigidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/my-style-of-writing-is-to-allow-the-story-to-unfold-on-its-own-i-try/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [I try to trace the connection between the characters and that way a story or plot emerges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/i-try-to-trace-the-connection-between-the-characters-and-that-way-a/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [Isn't it strange how life won't flow, like a river, but moves in jumps, as if it were held back by locks that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/isn-t-it-strange-how-life-won-t-flow-like-a-river-but-moves-in-jumps/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [India is a curious place that still preserves the past, religions, and its history. No matter how modern India becomes, it is still very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/india-is-a-curious-place-that-still-preserves-the-past-religions-and/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [...the moon that hung over the garden like some great priceless pearl, flawed and blemished with grey shadowy ridges as only a very great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/the-moon-that-hung-over-the-garden-like-some-great-priceless-pearl/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) > [“They never looked at anyone else, only at each other, with an expression that halted me. It was tender, loving, yes, but in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/they-never-looked-at-anyone-else-only-at-each-other-with-an/) [Anita Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) [Explore all 25 Anita Desai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/) ## More Childhood quotes > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-childhood-s-hour-i-have-not-been-as-others-were-i-have-not-seen/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [I had a rough upbringing. Group homes. Foster homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-had-a-rough-upbringing-group-homes-foster-homes/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [On paper, it looks rough, but I had a great childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/on-paper-it-looks-rough-but-i-had-a-great-childhood/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I always knew that I was kind of bored; the regular life of a child didn't fit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-always-knew-that-i-was-kind-of-bored-the-regular-life-of-a-child/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Children are not a zoo of entertainingly exotic creatures, but an array of mirrors in which the human predicament leaps out at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/children-are-not-a-zoo-of-entertainingly-exotic-creatures-but-an/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) [Browse all 5,837 Childhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do you know anyone who would - secretly, sincerely, in his innermost self - really prefer to return to childhood?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anita Desai" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/do-you-know-anyone-who-would-secretly-sincerely-in-his-innermost-self/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Childhood" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/do-you-know-anyone-who-would-secretly-sincerely-in-his-innermost-self/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/anita-desai-24160_childhood_do-you-know-anyone-who-would-secretly-si_760890.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/anita-desai-24160_childhood_do-you-know-anyone-who-would-secretly-si_760890.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/anita-desai-24160_childhood_do-you-know-anyone-who-would-secretly-si_760890.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do you know anyone who would - secretly, sincerely, in his innermost self - really prefer to return to…” — Anita Desai", "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": "Anita Desai", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-desai/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Do you know anyone who would...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/do-you-know-anyone-who-would-secretly-sincerely-in-his-innermost-self/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-desai/do-you-know-anyone-who-would-secretly-sincerely-in-his-innermost-self/#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 } } ] } ```