--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was about 14, in about 1984, I…" description: "\"When I was about 14, in about 1984, I decided to become a great poet. Faber & Faber was going to publish me, and when Ted Hughes read my first antholog..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/david-mitchell-264_about_when-i-was-about-14-in-about-1984-i-deci_945312.jpg" --- # When I was about 14, in about 1984, I decided to become a… ![“When I was about 14, in about 1984, I decided to become a great poet. Faber & Faber was going to publish me, and when Ted Hughes read my first anthology he would invite me to Yorkshire for meat pies and mentorship.” quote by David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/david-mitchell-264_about_when-i-was-about-14-in-about-1984-i-deci_945312.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/david-mitchell-264_about_when-i-was-about-14-in-about-1984-i-deci_945312.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/david-mitchell-264_about_when-i-was-about-14-in-about-1984-i-deci_945312.jpg) > “When I was about 14, in about 1984, I decided to become a great poet. Faber & Faber was going to publish me, and when Ted Hughes read my first anthology he would invite me to Yorkshire for meat pies and mentorship.” [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early ambition and mentorship shaped his poetic career, highlighting the power of early support. **In simple terms:** Early support shaped his poetry career. Key Takeaway Seek mentors and act on early goals. Themes ambition mentorship creativity Mood reflective hopeful Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - publishing deals - creative networking Key Concepts literary development career pathways Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain growth after early breakthroughs? - What role does mentorship play in your field? A Different Perspective Early success may set unrealistic expectations later. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-poet/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hughes/) [Hughes Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hughes-read-1645923/) [Invite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invite/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Meat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meat/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poet Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-faber-1645922/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Publish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publish/) [Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read/) [Ted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ted/) [Ted Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ted-hughes-1645924/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [Yorkshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yorkshire/) ## Related quotes > [ \[ Mrs. James, my fifth-grade teacher\] introduced us to these authors early on and taught us that their literature is important. Langston Hughes -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/mrs-james-my-fifth-grade-teacher-introduced-us-to-these-authors-early/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“The first sorrow of autumn is the slow good-bye of the garden that stands so long in the evening—a brown poppy head, the stalk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-hughes/the-first-sorrow-of-autumn-is-the-slow-good-bye-of-the-garden-that/) [Ted Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-hughes/) > [Ted Hughes is dead. That's a fact, OK. Then there's something called the poetry of Ted Hughes. The poetry of Ted Hughes is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/ted-hughes-is-dead-that-s-a-fact-ok-then-there-s-something-called-the/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [There is no one more deserving of a place in Poets' Corner. Ted Hughes introduced a new kind of landscape into English poetry. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/there-is-no-one-more-deserving-of-a-place-in-poets-corner-ted-hughes/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [Ted Hughes has been appointed poet laureate to succeed Sir John Betjeman, which is a bit like appointing a grim young crow to replace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-howard-20th-earl-of-arundel/ted-hughes-has-been-appointed-poet-laureate-to-succeed-sir-john/) [Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-howard-20th-earl-of-arundel/) > [I did know Ted Hughes and I partly wrote the book to explain to myself and others the complexities of a marriage that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/i-did-know-ted-hughes-and-i-partly-wrote-the-book-to-explain-to/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [I ran for Congress in 1996 to help Ted Kennedy pass a comprehensive health insurance reform bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mcgovern/i-ran-for-congress-in-1996-to-help-ted-kennedy-pass-a-comprehensive/) [Jim McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mcgovern/) > [I listen to a lot of TED talks and motivational speakers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-burroughs/i-listen-to-a-lot-of-ted-talks-and-motivational-speakers/) [Jordan Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-burroughs/) > [Usually, TED only invites the most accomplished and famous people in the world to give talks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-russell/usually-ted-only-invites-the-most-accomplished-and-famous-people-in/) [Cameron Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-russell/) > ['Ted' made me nearly cry. It's kind of like 'Marley and Me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/ted-made-me-nearly-cry-it-s-kind-of-like-marley-and-me/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [That said, I should also add that I learned a great deal from being allowed in these privileged circles and am grateful for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/that-said-i-should-also-add-that-i-learned-a-great-deal-from-being/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I feel like great TED Talks are ones that are a little bit subject to interpretation, that do provoke further conversation - and potentially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-feel-like-great-ted-talks-are-ones-that-are-a-little-bit-subject-to/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) > [All my memories of 'Father Ted' are very pleasant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/all-my-memories-of-father-ted-are-very-pleasant/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [I have wrestled gators in Florida. I have sailed the ocean with Ted Turner. I have swam the oceans in the Caribbean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-sager/i-have-wrestled-gators-in-florida-i-have-sailed-the-ocean-with-ted/) [Craig Sager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-sager/) > [Love this movie hahahahaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted/love-this-movie-hahahahaha/) [Ted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted/) ## More by David Mitchell > [“In the next room a freckly girl Julia's age sat in a wheelchair. One of her legs wasn't there. She'd probably love to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/in-the-next-room-a-freckly-girl-julia-s-age-sat-in-a-wheelchair-one/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“I envied my uncritical, unthinking sisters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-envied-my-uncritical-unthinking-sisters/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“... Ethical cyberexplorers are responsible, yeah? We are friendly ghosts in the machine, not poltergeists or hooligans. We are a growing breed. Over sixty-five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/ethical-cyberexplorers-are-responsible-yeah-we-are-friendly-ghosts-in/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“I succumbed. Late-fifteenth-century verb, Old French succomber or Latin succumbere, but a basic necessity of the human condition, especially mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-succumbed-late-fifteenth-century-verb-old-french-succomber-or-latin/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Your environment affects you wherever you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/your-environment-affects-you-wherever-you-are/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“The second tunnel’s a Ministry of Defence tunnel...dug for a nuclear bomb shelter. The entrance is in the garden center at Woolworth’s in Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/the-second-tunnel-s-a-ministry-of-defence-tunnel-dug-for-a-nuclear/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“Loyalty looks simple... but it ain't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/loyalty-looks-simple-but-it-ain-t/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“Only the trombonist played on. That's trombonists for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/only-the-trombonist-played-on-that-s-trombonists-for-you/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [War's an auction where whoever can pay the most in damage and still be standing wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/war-s-an-auction-where-whoever-can-pay-the-most-in-damage-and-still/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [The human world is made of stories, not people. The people the stories use to tell themselves are not to be blamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/the-human-world-is-made-of-stories-not-people-the-people-the-stories/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [So little is actually worthy of belief or disbelief. Better to strive to coexist than seek to disapprove . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/so-little-is-actually-worthy-of-belief-or-disbelief-better-to-strive/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [I elbowed my way into the grubby café, bought a pie that tasted of shoe polish and a pot of tea with cork crumbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-elbowed-my-way-into-the-grubby-caf-bought-a-pie-that-tasted-of-shoe/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“A classical LP was playing... ... Jealous and sweet, this music was, sobbing and gorgeous, muddy and crystal. But if the right words existed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/a-classical-lp-was-playing-jealous-and-sweet-this-music-was-sobbing/) [david mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [How lazily "xperts" dismiss what they fail to understand!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/how-lazily-xperts-dismiss-what-they-fail-to-understand/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“Writing poetry's,' I looked around the solarium, but Madame Crommelynck's got a tractor beam, 'sort of . . . gay.' '"Gay"? A merry activity?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/writing-poetry-s-i-looked-around-the-solarium-but-madame-crommelynck/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) [Explore all 748 David Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was about 14, in about 1984, I decided to become a great poet. Faber & Faber was going to publish me, and when Ted Hughes read my first anthology he would invite me to Yorkshire for meat pies and mentorship.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Mitchell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/when-i-was-about-14-in-about-1984-i-decided-to-become-a-great-poet/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/when-i-was-about-14-in-about-1984-i-decided-to-become-a-great-poet/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/david-mitchell-264_about_when-i-was-about-14-in-about-1984-i-deci_945312.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/david-mitchell-264_about_when-i-was-about-14-in-about-1984-i-deci_945312.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35e/david-mitchell-264_about_when-i-was-about-14-in-about-1984-i-deci_945312.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was about 14, in about 1984, I decided to become a great poet. Faber & Faber was going to publish me…” — David Mitchell", "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": "David Mitchell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was about 14, in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/when-i-was-about-14-in-about-1984-i-decided-to-become-a-great-poet/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/when-i-was-about-14-in-about-1984-i-decided-to-become-a-great-poet/#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 } } ] } ```