--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If one did not have at least a little…" description: "\"If one did not have at least a little luck, one would never survive childhood. But luck can be spent, like money; and lost, like a memory; and wasted, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/catherynne-m-valente-375_childhood_if-one-did-not-have-at-least-a-little-lu_2717724.png" --- # If one did not have at least a little luck, one would… ![“If one did not have at least a little luck, one would never survive childhood. But luck can be spent, like money; and lost, like a memory; and wasted, like a life.” quote by Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/catherynne-m-valente-375_childhood_if-one-did-not-have-at-least-a-little-lu_2717724.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/catherynne-m-valente-375_childhood_if-one-did-not-have-at-least-a-little-lu_2717724.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/catherynne-m-valente-375_childhood_if-one-did-not-have-at-least-a-little-lu_2717724.png) > “If one did not have at least a little luck, one would never survive childhood. But luck can be spent, like money; and lost, like a memory; and wasted, like a life.” [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Luck is portrayed as a consumable resource, similar to money or memory, influencing survival and life outcomes. **In simple terms:** Luck can be spent, lost, or wasted like money. Key Takeaway Treat luck as a valuable, limited asset. Themes survival luck resourcefulness Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - childhood survival - financial planning - personal growth Key Concepts luck as currency life management Questions to Reflect On - How do you ' luck versus effort? - What can you do when luck runs low? A Different Perspective Luck is not always controllable; overemphasis may ignore effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ## Related quotes > [“Lastly,” Lye said,”we must wash your luck. When souls queue up to be born, they all leap up at just the last moment, touching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/lastly-lye-said-we-must-wash-your-luck-when-souls-queue-up-to-be-born/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/luck-has-nothing-to-do-with-it-because-i-have-spent-many-many-hours/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [Most adults have forgotten what they had to do to survive childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/most-adults-have-forgotten-what-they-had-to-do-to-survive-childhood/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“How many times had he felt alone at midnight, with the hard dark pressing in and no sign of morning? Many times before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mccammon/how-many-times-had-he-felt-alone-at-midnight-with-the-hard-dark/) [Robert McCammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mccammon/) > [Every man, even the most blessed, needs a little more than average luck to survive this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-bourjaily/every-man-even-the-most-blessed-needs-a-little-more-than-average-luck/) Vance Bourjaily > [No one can survive childhood without being wounded. Everyone remembers at least one time when their parents rejected them, pushed them away, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/no-one-can-survive-childhood-without-being-wounded-everyone-remembers/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [Children with healthy mothers are much more likely to survive childhood, attend school and live healthy, productive lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/children-with-healthy-mothers-are-much-more-likely-to-survive/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [“If you survive a childhood like mine relatively unscathed, you’re lucky, and as soon as you can make up rules for yourself, that’s what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/if-you-survive-a-childhood-like-mine-relatively-unscathed-you-re/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [“Not everybody gets to grow up. First you have to survive your childhood, and then begins the hard work of growing into it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-godwin/not-everybody-gets-to-grow-up-first-you-have-to-survive-your/) [Gail Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-godwin/) > [“A friendship can't survive on childhood memories alone. We have to create new experiences, or the friendship will shrivel up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mlynowski/a-friendship-can-t-survive-on-childhood-memories-alone-we-have-to/) [Sarah Mlynowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mlynowski/) > [I think in most sports sometimes you need a little luck for the ball or calls to roll your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-smith/i-think-in-most-sports-sometimes-you-need-a-little-luck-for-the-ball/) [Kim Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-smith/) > [A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/a-little-government-and-a-little-luck-are-necessary-in-life-but-only/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“With a little luck you can get what you wish for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-o-connor/with-a-little-luck-you-can-get-what-you-wish-for/) Barbara O'Connor > [With a little luck, we might just get stuck, let's get a little mud on the tire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-a-little-luck-we-might-just-get-stuck-let-s-get-a-little-mud-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Little is the luck I've had, And oh, 'tis comfort small - To think that many another lad - Has had no luck at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edward-housman/little-is-the-luck-i-ve-had-and-oh-tis-comfort-small-to-think-that/) [Alfred Edward Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edward-housman/) ## More by Catherynne M. Valente > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-i-saw-him-i-thought-i-could-curl-up-inside-him-and-go-to-sleep/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all just keep moving, September. We keep moving until we stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-just-keep-moving-september-we-keep-moving-until-we-stop/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You couldn't ever really fix a sad story. You could only make another. And another. And another, until you found the right one at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-couldn-t-ever-really-fix-a-sad-story-you-could-only-make-another/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“He considers it for a moment and spits out the seeds, which sprout, quickly, into tiny junkblossoms sizzling with recursive algorithms. The algorithms wriggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/he-considers-it-for-a-moment-and-spits-out-the-seeds-which-sprout/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“Truly, Mallow yearned to know everything. Curiosity was part of her, like her short blond hair and bitten fingernails.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/truly-mallow-yearned-to-know-everything-curiosity-was-part-of-her/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“The cicada lies in the earth for seventeen years. It is warm and dark there, it is soft and wet. Its little legs curl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/the-cicada-lies-in-the-earth-for-seventeen-years-it-is-warm-and-dark/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Her heart was bruised by the kiss, smashed and surprised and unsettled by it. September thought kisses were all nice, sweet things asked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/her-heart-was-bruised-by-the-kiss-smashed-and-surprised-and-unsettled/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“September put her hand on the grip of the Rivet Gun. She’d only just gotten it, and she’d promised to take copious notes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/september-put-her-hand-on-the-grip-of-the-rivet-gun-she-d-only-just/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Just tell yourself a story that'll satisfy you and pretend he told it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/just-tell-yourself-a-story-that-ll-satisfy-you-and-pretend-he-told-it/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You see, the future is a kind of stew, a soup, a vichyssoise of the present and the past. That's how you get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-see-the-future-is-a-kind-of-stew-a-soup-a-vichyssoise-of-the/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Fairy tales have always been about getting through the worst of everything, the darkest and the deepest and the bloodiest of events. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/fairy-tales-have-always-been-about-getting-through-the-worst-of/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“There is a place, September, oh, very far from Pandemonium. A place where it is always autumn, where there is always cider and pumpkin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/there-is-a-place-september-oh-very-far-from-pandemonium-a-place-where/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“I was happy, the sun was high. I had enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-was-happy-the-sun-was-high-i-had-enough/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Who are you?" "I am Death," said the creature. "I thought that was obvious." "But you're so small!" "Only because you are small. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/who-are-you-i-am-death-said-the-creature-i-thought-that-was-obvious/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) [Explore all 621 Catherynne M. Valente quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## 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": "If one did not have at least a little luck, one would never survive childhood. But luck can be spent, like money; and lost, like a memory; and wasted, like a life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catherynne M. 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