---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I wrote 'Runaways,' I was a naive…"
description: "\"When I wrote 'Runaways,' I was a naive kid who thought that all parents were evil. Now that I'm a wise old man with children of my own, I am certain th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/brian-k-vaughan-2421_am_when-i-wrote-runaways-i-was-a-naive-kid_2205743.png"
---

#  When I wrote 'Runaways,' I was a naive kid who thought…

![“When I wrote 'Runaways,' I was a naive kid who thought that all parents were evil. Now that I'm a wise old man with children of my own, I am certain that all parents are evil.” quote by Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/brian-k-vaughan-2421_am_when-i-wrote-runaways-i-was-a-naive-kid_2205743.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/brian-k-vaughan-2421_am_when-i-wrote-runaways-i-was-a-naive-kid_2205743.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/brian-k-vaughan-2421_am_when-i-wrote-runaways-i-was-a-naive-kid_2205743.png)

> “When I wrote 'Runaways,' I was a naive kid who thought that all parents were evil. Now that I'm a wise old man with children of my own, I am certain that all parents are evil.”

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator’s view of parents shifted from naive distrust to a cynical belief that all parents are evil.

**In simple terms:** The narrator now sees parents as inherently bad.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions about parental motives.

Themes

family trust disillusionment

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- parenting
- childhood
- personal growth

Key Concepts

cynicism generational trauma

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you think all parents are flawed?
- How does personal experience shape your view of authority?

A Different Perspective

Broad generalizations ignore individual differences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Runaways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/runaways/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/)

## Related quotes

> [I was so naive as a kid I used to sneak behind the barn and do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-was-so-naive-as-a-kid-i-used-to-sneak-behind-the-barn-and-do-nothing/)

[Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/)

> [The only thing I wanted to do when I was a young naive kid was to become a New York stage actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/the-only-thing-i-wanted-to-do-when-i-was-a-young-naive-kid-was-to/)

[Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/)

> [I was a very naive kid. I didn't know there were people living in closets in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-breuer/i-was-a-very-naive-kid-i-didn-t-know-there-were-people-living-in/)

[Jim Breuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-breuer/)

> [I've written about teenage heroes before, on Marvel's Runaways, and I remember at the time when I pitched it, it was a team that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-ve-written-about-teenage-heroes-before-on-marvel-s-runaways-and-i/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [“Gert: What... what just happened? Chase: I don't know, but guess who totally stole Cookie Monster's glasses! Gert: Whew, for a second there, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/gert-what-what-just-happened-chase-i-don-t-know-but-guess-who-totally/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [“Runaways are romantic. The girls are waiflike with dyed ratty hair and baggy pants. They usually own a stray dog of the mutt variety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bett-williams/runaways-are-romantic-the-girls-are-waiflike-with-dyed-ratty-hair-and/)

Bett Williams

> [I had found The Runaways and I had seen Foxes, and I decided I was just gonna become a juvie, like Cherie Currie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/i-had-found-the-runaways-and-i-had-seen-foxes-and-i-decided-i-was/)

[Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/)

> [Every Friday I used to have about fifty, sixty kids who would wait for me on Sunset Boulevard and I'd take them all to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/every-friday-i-used-to-have-about-fifty-sixty-kids-who-would-wait-for/)

[Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/)

> [I wouldn't change a thing except I wish we could have got back together. That's my only regret... Being in the Runaways, we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-currie/i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing-except-i-wish-we-could-have-got-back/)

[Cherie Currie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-currie/)

> [Only because The Runaways were my baby and there's no reason to get it back together except to totally have fun. If that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/only-because-the-runaways-were-my-baby-and-there-s-no-reason-to-get/)

[Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/)

> [“the figures are shadow-swept, various, self-involved, and as turbulent as waves, as standing waves ...; and as I look at them, as I curl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dara/the-figures-are-shadow-swept-various-self-involved-and-as-turbulent/)

[Evan Dara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dara/)

> [I was the bass player in the '70s all-female rock band the Runaways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/i-was-the-bass-player-in-the-70s-all-female-rock-band-the-runaways/)

[Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/)

> [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/)

[Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/)

> [As a kid, in the Runaways, I would see the interviewers start to ask about our personal lives and what we did — and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/as-a-kid-in-the-runaways-i-would-see-the-interviewers-start-to-ask/)

[Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/)

> [Little did I know how much the Runaways had influenced so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-currie/little-did-i-know-how-much-the-runaways-had-influenced-so-many-people/)

[Cherie Currie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-currie/)

## More by Brian K. Vaughan

> [“By the time they're out of preschool, most children have already seen thousands of acts of violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/by-the-time-they-re-out-of-preschool-most-children-have-already-seen/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [I'm really happiest living life 22 pages at a time and putting things in little boxes on pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-m-really-happiest-living-life-22-pages-at-a-time-and-putting-things/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [You'd never be able to convince someone to give you money to do a bilingual story where you're not translating half of it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/you-d-never-be-able-to-convince-someone-to-give-you-money-to-do-a/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [“I´ve held you in my heart since the day you left me. But you´re too heavy to carry another step. And I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-ve-held-you-in-my-heart-since-the-day-you-left-me-but-you-re-too/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [Every issue, the characters and I duke it out. They usually win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/every-issue-the-characters-and-i-duke-it-out-they-usually-win/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [ I love that the book \[Paper Girls \] gets to kind of evolve and change in each era. Our third storyline is our best… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-love-that-the-book-paper-girls-gets-to-kind-of-evolve-and-change-in/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [I know I'm a grumpy old man, but I'm always more delighted by readers talking about the actual comics than people talking about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-know-i-m-a-grumpy-old-man-but-i-m-always-more-delighted-by-readers/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [I'm still digesting the '90s. It takes some time to get perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-m-still-digesting-the-90s-it-takes-some-time-to-get-perspective/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [“Ask a child's guardians what it takes to be good at their jobs, and most will answer with a single word... SACRIFICE. Parents give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/ask-a-child-s-guardians-what-it-takes-to-be-good-at-their-jobs-and/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [I think some people are just very passionate that things remain the way they were when they were kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-think-some-people-are-just-very-passionate-that-things-remain-the/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [“Fuck the Bureau! Their entire outfit is half the size of the NYPD. I've got more officers who speak Arabic in one precinct that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/fuck-the-bureau-their-entire-outfit-is-half-the-size-of-the-nypd-i-ve/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [In film, you have the luxury of accomplishing what you need in 24 frames every second. Comics, you only have five or six panels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/in-film-you-have-the-luxury-of-accomplishing-what-you-need-in-24/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [“Sooner or later, every last echo fades. Even the loudest thunder in the deepest valley.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/sooner-or-later-every-last-echo-fades-even-the-loudest-thunder-in-the/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [There's just something about that late '80s that suddenly feels like it has something to teach us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/there-s-just-something-about-that-late-80s-that-suddenly-feels-like/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

> [Fans of my books have just been supremely nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/fans-of-my-books-have-just-been-supremely-nice/)

[Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

[Explore all 166 Brian K. Vaughan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/)

## More Am quotes

> [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/)

[Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/)

> [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/)

[Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/)

[Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/)

> [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/)

[Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/)

> [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/)

[Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/)

> [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/)

[Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/)

> [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/)

Darlene Senger

> [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/)

[Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/)

> [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/)

[Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/)

Browse all 9,589 Am quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I wrote 'Runaways,' I was a naive kid who thought that all parents were evil. Now that I'm a wise old man with children of my own, I am certain that all parents are evil.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brian K. Vaughan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/when-i-wrote-runaways-i-was-a-naive-kid-who-thought-that-all-parents/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Am"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/when-i-wrote-runaways-i-was-a-naive-kid-who-thought-that-all-parents/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/brian-k-vaughan-2421_am_when-i-wrote-runaways-i-was-a-naive-kid_2205743.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/brian-k-vaughan-2421_am_when-i-wrote-runaways-i-was-a-naive-kid_2205743.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/brian-k-vaughan-2421_am_when-i-wrote-runaways-i-was-a-naive-kid_2205743.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I wrote 'Runaways,' I was a naive kid who thought that all parents were evil. Now that I'm a wise old…” — Brian K. Vaughan",
                "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": "Brian K. Vaughan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I wrote 'Runaways,' I was...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/when-i-wrote-runaways-i-was-a-naive-kid-who-thought-that-all-parents/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/when-i-wrote-runaways-i-was-a-naive-kid-who-thought-that-all-parents/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
