--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was astonishing just how smart the old…" description: "\"“It was astonishing just how smart the old man had become in the years between Kurt reaching his teenage years and growing out of them.”\" — Christopher..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/christopher-nuttall-28371_old-man_it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-ol_1088475.jpg" --- # It was astonishing just how smart the old man had become… ![“It was astonishing just how smart the old man had become in the years between Kurt reaching his teenage years and growing out of them.” quote by Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/christopher-nuttall-28371_old-man_it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-ol_1088475.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/christopher-nuttall-28371_old-man_it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-ol_1088475.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/christopher-nuttall-28371_old-man_it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-ol_1088475.jpg) > ““It was astonishing just how smart the old man had become in the years between Kurt reaching his teenage years and growing out of them.”” [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The old man's unexpected wisdom grew during his youth's transition to adulthood. **In simple terms:** Youthful experiences shape later insight. Key Takeaway Value learning phases across life. Themes growth wisdom age transition Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type narrative reflective When to use this quote - education - career mentorship - personal coaching Key Concepts developmental psychology lifelong learning experience Questions to Reflect On - What lessons from youth still guide you? - How does early growth affect later decisions? A Different Perspective Assuming age equals wisdom can be misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Teenage years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenage-years/) ## Related quotes > [I'm the kind of person who can be with a man for years and never touch him. 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Share his house, his meals, speak on every subject. Then tie him up and hold him over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-with-a-man-forty-years-share-his-house-his-meals-speak-on-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You can be with a man for twenty years and never really know who he truly is. Then again, you can meet a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/you-can-be-with-a-man-for-twenty-years-and-never-really-know-who-he/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“Then the earth grew old, its landscapes mellowing and showing signs of age, its ways becoming whimsical and strange in the manner of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moorcock/then-the-earth-grew-old-its-landscapes-mellowing-and-showing-signs-of/) [Michael Moorcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moorcock/) > [If the bees disappear, man would have only four years of life left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-the-bees-disappear-man-would-have-only-four-years-of-life-left/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Every man at three years old is half his height](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/every-man-at-three-years-old-is-half-his-height/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) ## More by Christopher Nuttall > [“His more cynical side suspected that humans had never really needed an excuse to pick on other humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/his-more-cynical-side-suspected-that-humans-had-never-really-needed/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“Do not confuse "duty" with what other people expect of you; they are utterly different. Duty is a debt you owe to yourself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/do-not-confuse-duty-with-what-other-people-expect-of-you-they-are/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“Right,” Chong said sarcastically.  “Next time perhaps we could surrender and call it a tactical strike without arms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/right-chong-said-sarcastically-next-time-perhaps-we-could-surrender/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“I The moving sun-shapes on the spray, The sparkles where the brook was flowing, Pink faces, plightings, moonlit May, These were the things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/i-the-moving-sun-shapes-on-the-spray-the-sparkles-where-the-brook-was/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“War was a democracy, he knew.  The enemy got a vote too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/war-was-a-democracy-he-knew-the-enemy-got-a-vote-too/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“Well,” Jasmine said.  “Did you miss them?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/well-jasmine-said-did-you-miss-them/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“Admiral,” he said.  He couldn't resist.  “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/admiral-he-said-he-couldn-t-resist-reports-of-my-death-have-been/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it; but the young know they are wretched, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/it-is-an-illusion-that-youth-is-happy-an-illusion-of-those-who-have-3/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“In the long, fierce struggle for freedom of opinion, the press, like the Church, counted its martyrs by thousands. -James A. Garfield”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/in-the-long-fierce-struggle-for-freedom-of-opinion-the-press-like-the-2/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“One of the most dangerous signs of decline is the sudden reluctance to tolerate different points of view in political debate.  Questions and issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/one-of-the-most-dangerous-signs-of-decline-is-the-sudden-reluctance/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“delight in putting colonies everywhere.  The Tadpoles noted the terraforming project on the fourth world with bemusement.  There was no shortage of habitable worlds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/delight-in-putting-colonies-everywhere-the-tadpoles-noted-the/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“This may seem absurd – after all, the motives are good.  But you may also wish to remember the parable of the cooked frog. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/this-may-seem-absurd-after-all-the-motives-are-good-but-you-may-also/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“The federal government hated it when people tried to move outside its sphere of control, no matter the reason.  It was incapable of leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/the-federal-government-hated-it-when-people-tried-to-move-outside-its/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“there would always be incompetent assholes in the world ... and many of them would be in places of power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/there-would-always-be-incompetent-assholes-in-the-world-and-many-of/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“Fairness is a foolish concept,” the man said dryly.  The line of Russian infantrymen seemed never-ending.  “The world is full of people who would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/fairness-is-a-foolish-concept-the-man-said-dryly-the-line-of-russian/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) [Explore all 19 Christopher Nuttall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) ## More Old man quotes > [“You’d better keep her tied.” “Why?” A yawn stretched Hunter’s dark face. “Because she’s looking skittish.” “She’s naked.” Sheathing his knife, Hunter flopped on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/you-d-better-keep-her-tied-why-a-yawn-stretched-hunter-s-dark-face/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [Therefore, brethren, pray until God gives us revelation so that "knowing this" in our spirit we may truly confess "that our old man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/therefore-brethren-pray-until-god-gives-us-revelation-so-that-knowing/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [My old man was ruthless. He terrorised us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hunt/my-old-man-was-ruthless-he-terrorised-us/) [Mark Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hunt/) > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“You think people was meaner then than they are now? the deputy said. The old man was looking out at the flooded town. No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/you-think-people-was-meaner-then-than-they-are-now-the-deputy-said/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“IN the year 1888 Herr von Pasenow was seventy, and there were people who felt an extraordinary and inexplicable repulsion when they saw him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-broch/in-the-year-1888-herr-von-pasenow-was-seventy-and-there-were-people/) [Hermann Broch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-broch/) > [“He wants to dream like a young man with the wisdom of a old man, he wants his home and securities, he wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/he-wants-to-dream-like-a-young-man-with-the-wisdom-of-a-old-man-he/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [The true love suddenly broken, not only but like the old man who has lost the stick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-love-suddenly-broken-not-only-but-like-the-old-man-who-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I’m 59 and people call me middle aged. How many 118 year old men do you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-cryer/i-m-59-and-people-call-me-middle-aged-how-many-118-year-old-men-do/) [Barry Cryer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-cryer/) > [The barman sidled toward them out of a back room. He was a grump-looking old man with a great deal of a long gray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-barman-sidled-toward-them-out-of-a-back-room-he-was-a-grump/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-don-t-get-to-choose-if-you-get-hurt-in-this-world-old-man-but-you/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A tall, thin old man waving a scorecard from the corner of his dugout. That's baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/a-tall-thin-old-man-waving-a-scorecard-from-the-corner-of-his-dugout/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [God has given this way of life to Israel: to abstain from everything which is contrary to nature, that is to say, anger, fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poemen/god-has-given-this-way-of-life-to-israel-to-abstain-from-everything/) [Poemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poemen/) [Browse all 2,184 Old man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was astonishing just how smart the old man had become in the years between Kurt reaching his teenage years and growing out of them.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Nuttall" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-old-man-had-become-in-the-years/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Old man" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-old-man-had-become-in-the-years/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/christopher-nuttall-28371_old-man_it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-ol_1088475.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/christopher-nuttall-28371_old-man_it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-ol_1088475.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/christopher-nuttall-28371_old-man_it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-ol_1088475.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was astonishing just how smart the old man had become in the years between Kurt reaching his teenage…” — Christopher Nuttall", "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": "Christopher Nuttall", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It was astonishing just how smart...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-old-man-had-become-in-the-years/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/it-was-astonishing-just-how-smart-the-old-man-had-become-in-the-years/#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 } } ] } ```