--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before smiling and we leave childhood…" description: "\"“Before smiling and we leave childhood Before knowing youth runs away It seems so short that we're all surprised Before understanding it we leave exist..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/anonymous-1_childhood_before-smiling-and-we-leave-childhood-be_3114659.jpg" --- # Before smiling and we leave childhood Before knowing youth… ![“Before smiling and we leave childhood Before knowing youth runs away It seems so short that we're all surprised Before understanding it we leave existence” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/anonymous-1_childhood_before-smiling-and-we-leave-childhood-be_3114659.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/anonymous-1_childhood_before-smiling-and-we-leave-childhood-be_3114659.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/anonymous-1_childhood_before-smiling-and-we-leave-childhood-be_3114659.jpg) > ““Before smiling and we leave childhood Before knowing youth runs away It seems so short that we're all surprised Before understanding it we leave existence”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on how quickly life phases pass before we realize their fleeting nature. **In simple terms:** Life stages slip by unnoticed. Key Takeaway Cherish each moment. Themes time impermanence reflection Mood nostalgic contemplative Type poetic reflective When to use this quote - childhood - youth - adulthood - aging Key Concepts existentialism mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you notice fleeting moments? - What can you do to savor now? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of present experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Childhood Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood-knowing-2267064/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Knowing Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-youth-3244578/) [Leave Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-childhood-677715/) [Leave Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-existence-611090/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Smiling Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiling-leave-5448698/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [We are born one time only, we can never start a new life equipped with the experience we've gained from the previous one. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/we-are-born-one-time-only-we-can-never-start-a-new-life-equipped-with/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I saw a lot of haute couture all my childhood, and without knowing it I've learned from when I was a child to recognise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/i-saw-a-lot-of-haute-couture-all-my-childhood-and-without-knowing-it/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/the-day-we-fret-about-the-future-is-the-day-we-leave-our-childhood/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Leave your existence to existence, stop caring for yourself so much and let the universe care for you; it is the best mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/leave-your-existence-to-existence-stop-caring-for-yourself-so-much/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [“I stopped living a long time ago, in order to simply exist. Now I am trying to leave existence, in order to step into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/i-stopped-living-a-long-time-ago-in-order-to-simply-exist-now-i-am/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) > [When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/when-we-are-children-we-seldom-think-of-the-future-this-innocence/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [We're naturally programmed to endure a muddle of emotions as we leave childhood behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/we-re-naturally-programmed-to-endure-a-muddle-of-emotions-as-we-leave/) [Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/) > [“Perhaps, when you leave your childhood behind too early and jump into adulthood, certain parts of you never fully grow up. They just become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-hoke/perhaps-when-you-leave-your-childhood-behind-too-early-and-jump-into/) [Angela Hoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-hoke/) > [Childhood knows what it wants - to leave childhood behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/childhood-knows-what-it-wants-to-leave-childhood-behind/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [I find myself drawn to that period where children are about to leave childhood behind. When you're 12 years old, you still have one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-find-myself-drawn-to-that-period-where-children-are-about-to-leave/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“I have this theory that most artists never leave childhood, that you're endlessly trying to work out what happened. And leaving university and facing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cusk/i-have-this-theory-that-most-artists-never-leave-childhood-that-you/) [Rachel Cusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cusk/) > [Most places we leave in childhood grow less, not more, fancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/most-places-we-leave-in-childhood-grow-less-not-more-fancy/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [At childhood we cry loudly to get what we like but now when we grown up , we cry silently to forget what we like ..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-childhood-we-cry-loudly-to-get-what-we-like-but-now-when-we-grown/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me? Behave? Seriously!! As a child I saw Tarzan almost naked, Cinderella arrived home after midnight, Pinocchio told lies, Aladdin was a thief, Batman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-behave-seriously-as-a-child-i-saw-tarzan-almost-naked-cinderella/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Childhood friendship is the most beautiful memory that can't ever be replaced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/childhood-friendship-is-the-most-beautiful-memory-that-can-t-ever-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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": "“Before smiling and we leave childhood Before knowing youth runs away It seems so short that we're all surprised Before understanding it we leave existence”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-smiling-and-we-leave-childhood-before-knowing-youth-runs-away/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Childhood" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-smiling-and-we-leave-childhood-before-knowing-youth-runs-away/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/anonymous-1_childhood_before-smiling-and-we-leave-childhood-be_3114659.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/anonymous-1_childhood_before-smiling-and-we-leave-childhood-be_3114659.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/anonymous-1_childhood_before-smiling-and-we-leave-childhood-be_3114659.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before smiling and we leave childhood Before knowing youth runs away It seems so short that we're all…” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Before smiling and we leave childhood...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-smiling-and-we-leave-childhood-before-knowing-youth-runs-away/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-smiling-and-we-leave-childhood-before-knowing-youth-runs-away/#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 } } ] } ```