---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's this moment when kids realize…"
description: "\"There's this moment when kids realize that they have power and that they can use it.\" — Claire Messud"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/claire-messud-1372_child_there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-th_1797340.png"
---

#  There's this moment when kids realize that they have power…

![“There's this moment when kids realize that they have power and that they can use it.” quote by Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/claire-messud-1372_child_there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-th_1797340.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/claire-messud-1372_child_there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-th_1797340.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/claire-messud-1372_child_there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-th_1797340.png)

> “There's this moment when kids realize that they have power and that they can use it.”

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

## About This Quote

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

Children realize their agency and the ability to effect change.

**In simple terms:** Kids discover they have power.

Key Takeaway

Encourage youthful empowerment.

Themes

growth empowerment awareness

Mood

hopeful energetic

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- education
- community projects
- activism

Key Concepts

agency self-efficacy potential

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we channel this power positively?
- What responsibilities accompany newfound agency?

A Different Perspective

Power can be misused without guidance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [I just wish all these young black kids would realize how significant it is to stop acting a fool out there, killing each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-just-wish-all-these-young-black-kids-would-realize-how-significant/)

[Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/)

> [The beautiful moment when kids copy your steps .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/the-beautiful-moment-when-kids-copy-your-steps/)

[Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/)

> [The awkward moment when kids younger than you have a more interesting love life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-awkward-moment-when-kids-younger-than-you-have-a-more-interesting/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Being single is not your weakness, realize its power and add to your strenth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagi/being-single-is-not-your-weakness-realize-its-power-and-add-to-your/)

Jagi

> [Grown-ups desperately need to feel safe, and then they project onto the kids. But what none of us seem to realize is how smart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/grown-ups-desperately-need-to-feel-safe-and-then-they-project-onto/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [It's important for kids to realize nothing is given to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/it-s-important-for-kids-to-realize-nothing-is-given-to-you/)

[Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/)

> [Hopefully, kids realize you can do anything you want. Skateboarding can be that gateway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-sheckler/hopefully-kids-realize-you-can-do-anything-you-want-skateboarding-can/)

[Ryan Sheckler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-sheckler/)

> [It really didn't matter how much work I had to put in... I was always going to give my best. And I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/it-really-didn-t-matter-how-much-work-i-had-to-put-in-i-was-always/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [You know you're a success when you look at your kids and realize they turned out better than you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/you-know-you-re-a-success-when-you-look-at-your-kids-and-realize-they/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [When you work with kids, you realize if they have a really good, stable family environment that they're going to be okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hill/when-you-work-with-kids-you-realize-if-they-have-a-really-good-stable/)

[Amy Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hill/)

> [You realize, this is not just a little studio we go to make these television episodes. This thing is reaching everybody in the world!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-farr/you-realize-this-is-not-just-a-little-studio-we-go-to-make-these/)

[Jamie Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-farr/)

> [I don't think you realize the power you have over me. The way just one word from you can make me feel amazing...or like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-think-you-realize-the-power-you-have-over-me-the-way-just-one/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I just don't think enough players realize the power of these programs and the doors they open for you if you go about your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-just-don-t-think-enough-players-realize-the-power-of-these-programs/)

[Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/)

> [When we feel we are powerless our ego most wants to change the things in our world. As we realize we have the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-braden/when-we-feel-we-are-powerless-our-ego-most-wants-to-change-the-things/)

[Gregg Braden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-braden/)

> [“You do not realize the power you have over me,” Asmoday says quietly. He brushes the hair from her shoulders. Keely’s body goes rigid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dark-calling/you-do-not-realize-the-power-you-have-over-me-asmoday-says-quietly-he/)

Dark Calling

## More by Claire Messud

> [I'd wish for my work to be remembered rather than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-d-wish-for-my-work-to-be-remembered-rather-than-myself/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [I have said it somewhere - our literary lived lives are as important as our literally lived lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-have-said-it-somewhere-our-literary-lived-lives-are-as-important-as/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [“Life is about deciding what matters. It’s about the fantasy that determines the reality. Have you ever asked yourself whether you’d rather fly or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/life-is-about-deciding-what-matters-it-s-about-the-fantasy-that/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [Life's funny. You have to find a way to keep going, to keep laughing, even after you realize that none of your dreams will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/life-s-funny-you-have-to-find-a-way-to-keep-going-to-keep-laughing/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [It's the strangest thing about being human: to know so much, to communicate so much, and yet always to fall so drastically short of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-s-the-strangest-thing-about-being-human-to-know-so-much-to/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [The fictional narratives that television, film, and the news provide for girls and young women are appalling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/the-fictional-narratives-that-television-film-and-the-news-provide/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [“I don't want to sleep,' my mother said. 'I want -- for God's sake, I want to wake up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-don-t-want-to-sleep-my-mother-said-i-want-for-god-s-sake-i-want-to/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [“It was supposed to say “Great Artist” on my tombstone, but if I died right now it would say “such a good teacher/​daughter/​friend” instead;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-was-supposed-to-say-great-artist-on-my-tombstone-but-if-i-died/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [“Live, my dear Nora. Satisfy your hunger. There's food all around you, you know.' 'What kind of food, I'd like to know?' 'Ah'-he smiled-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/live-my-dear-nora-satisfy-your-hunger-there-s-food-all-around-you-you/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [I digress a lot - it's how I experience the world. I would like to write in a way that will convey that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-digress-a-lot-it-s-how-i-experience-the-world-i-would-like-to-write/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [We think that - as kids, you know - that kids make up stories and live in a sort of fictional place, but that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/we-think-that-as-kids-you-know-that-kids-make-up-stories-and-live-in/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [“It makes sense that if you stand almost daily in the middle of a perfect crescent of shore, with a vista open to eternity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-makes-sense-that-if-you-stand-almost-daily-in-the-middle-of-a/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [“Once aware of my isolation, I was afraid not of it but of its interruption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/once-aware-of-my-isolation-i-was-afraid-not-of-it-but-of-its/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [“who I am in my head, very few people really get to see that. Almost none. It’s the most precious gift I can give,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/who-i-am-in-my-head-very-few-people-really-get-to-see-that-almost/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [“My everyday Appleton life, my phones calls to my father, my occasional beers with friends, my Saturday-morning jobs around the reservoir - what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/my-everyday-appleton-life-my-phones-calls-to-my-father-my-occasional/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

[Explore all 249 Claire Messud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

## More Child quotes

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [“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/)

> [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/)

[Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/)

> [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/)

[LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/)

> [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/)

[Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/)

> [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/)

[Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/)

> [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/)

[Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/)

> [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/)

[Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/)

> [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/)

[Johnnetta B. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/)

> [Bring up your children in the way you think other peoples children should go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/bring-up-your-children-in-the-way-you-think-other-peoples-children/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/)

Sheila Kamerman

> [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/)

[Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/)

[Browse all 10,700 Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There's this moment when kids realize that they have power and that they can use it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Claire Messud"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-that-they-have-power-and-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Child"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-that-they-have-power-and-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/claire-messud-1372_child_there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-th_1797340.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/claire-messud-1372_child_there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-th_1797340.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/claire-messud-1372_child_there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-th_1797340.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There's this moment when kids realize that they have power and that they can use it.” — Claire Messud",
                "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": "Claire Messud",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There's this moment when kids realize...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-that-they-have-power-and-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-that-they-have-power-and-that/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
