---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, I can't remember not being able to…"
description: "\"Well, I can't remember not being able to read. I was told I could read by myself very well at the age of three.\" — Diana Gabaldon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/diana-gabaldon-185_able_well-i-can-t-remember-not-being-able-to_1773049.jpg"
---

#  Well, I can't remember not being able to read. I was told…

![“Well, I can't remember not being able to read. I was told I could read by myself very well at the age of three.” quote by Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/diana-gabaldon-185_able_well-i-can-t-remember-not-being-able-to_1773049.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/diana-gabaldon-185_able_well-i-can-t-remember-not-being-able-to_1773049.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/diana-gabaldon-185_able_well-i-can-t-remember-not-being-able-to_1773049.jpg)

> “Well, I can't remember not being able to read. I was told I could read by myself very well at the age of three.”

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

## About This Quote

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

Highlights early confidence in reading ability, suggesting innate talent can emerge early.

**In simple terms:** She could read well at three years old.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and nurture early strengths.

Themes

education development talent

Mood

encouraging reflective

Type

educational psychological

When to use this quote

- early childhood education
- parental support
- self-directed learning

Key Concepts

early literacy self-efficacy learning styles

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we support children who struggle early?
- What role does confidence play in learning?

A Different Perspective

May not apply to all children.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/)

## Related quotes

> [I cannot remember not being able to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-cannot-remember-not-being-able-to-read/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“Because only a fool believes everything they read or are told.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larissa-ione/because-only-a-fool-believes-everything-they-read-or-are-told/)

[Larissa Ione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larissa-ione/)

> [“Why are you doing this?” One of his hands caressed the books. “Because books are made to be read,” I told him. “And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-allred/why-are-you-doing-this-one-of-his-hands-caressed-the-books-because/)

[Katherine Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-allred/)

> [I would like to remember all and be able to forgive everything - in due course!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-siguroardottir/i-would-like-to-remember-all-and-be-able-to-forgive-everything-in-due/)

[Johanna Siguroardottir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-siguroardottir/)

> [What is sad is not to be able to do today what you have done in your youth. But what is good is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/placido-domingo/what-is-sad-is-not-to-be-able-to-do-today-what-you-have-done-in-your/)

[Placido Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/placido-domingo/)

> [“Teddy Bear’ by Elvis Presley, I can remember, I have always been able to remember,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/teddy-bear-by-elvis-presley-i-can-remember-i-have-always-been-able-to/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [“All the old houses that I knew when I was a child were full of books, bought generation after generation by members of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ann-porter/all-the-old-houses-that-i-knew-when-i-was-a-child-were-full-of-books/)

Katherine Ann Porter

> [There is a young fella who works for me, named Brian Unkeless, who's very smart. We're a very small company that has been Brian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/there-is-a-young-fella-who-works-for-me-named-brian-unkeless-who-s/)

[Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/)

> [“We learned about life from the books they told us not to read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette-ingoldsby/we-learned-about-life-from-the-books-they-told-us-not-to-read/)

Antoinette Ingoldsby

> [Whenever I was encouraged by my elders to pick up a book, I was often told, 'Read so as to know the world.' And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hisham-matar/whenever-i-was-encouraged-by-my-elders-to-pick-up-a-book-i-was-often/)

[Hisham Matar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hisham-matar/)

> [“Tell me what you read and I'll tell you who you are" is true enough, but I'd know you better if you told me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trista-day/tell-me-what-you-read-and-i-ll-tell-you-who-you-are-is-true-enough-2/)

Trista Day

> [“Books were my hobby, even as a child,' he told me. 'I read about every book in Milkwaukee Public Library before I was 15...Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brandon/books-were-my-hobby-even-as-a-child-he-told-me-i-read-about-every/)

Ruth Brandon

> [Nobody ever told me what to read, or ever put poetry in my way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-rosenberg/nobody-ever-told-me-what-to-read-or-ever-put-poetry-in-my-way/)

[Isaac Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-rosenberg/)

> [“Get someone-anyone-to read books to you. Having books read to you at any age is the supremo ultimato of living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carew-papritz/get-someone-anyone-to-read-books-to-you-having-books-read-to-you-at/)

[Carew Papritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carew-papritz/)

> [One of the things I miss most is that I can no longer read, due to age-related macular degeneration. I get regular injections for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-of-the-things-i-miss-most-is-that-i-can-no-longer-read-due-to-age/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

## More by Diana Gabaldon

> [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“It was…hard. I didna call out, or let them see I was scairt, but I couldna keep my feet. Halfway through it, I fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-was-hard-i-didna-call-out-or-let-them-see-i-was-scairt-but-i/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [I have all the time and space in the world when I write a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-have-all-the-time-and-space-in-the-world-when-i-write-a-book/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [I discovered that, given the indescribable nature of what I write, the only way to sell it is to give people free samples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-discovered-that-given-the-indescribable-nature-of-what-i-write-the/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“We are bound,you and I, and nothing on this earth shall part me from you."One large hand rose to stroke my hair. "D'ye mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/we-are-bound-you-and-i-and-nothing-on-this-earth-shall-part-me-from/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [I think characters are going to be, if not a reflection of the author, at least some refraction of some part of their personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-think-characters-are-going-to-be-if-not-a-reflection-of-the-author/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [My husband asked me once why I read so many mysteries, and part of it is just intellectual, part of it is the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-husband-asked-me-once-why-i-read-so-many-mysteries-and-part-of-it/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“My Da says you’re never drunk, so long as ye can hold on to the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-da-says-you-re-never-drunk-so-long-as-ye-can-hold-on-to-the-floor/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“But a man is not forgotten, as long as there are two people left under the sky. One, to tell the story; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-a-man-is-not-forgotten-as-long-as-there-are-two-people-left-under/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“I didn’t answer, occupied in dissolving the penicillin tablets in the vial of sterile water. I selected a glass barrel, fitted a needle, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-didn-t-answer-occupied-in-dissolving-the-penicillin-tablets-in-the/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

[Explore all 952 Diana Gabaldon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

## More Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

Greg Perry

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

Browse all 17,257 Able quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Well, I can't remember not being able to read. I was told I could read by myself very well at the age of three.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Diana Gabaldon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/well-i-can-t-remember-not-being-able-to-read-i-was-told-i-could-read/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/well-i-can-t-remember-not-being-able-to-read-i-was-told-i-could-read/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/diana-gabaldon-185_able_well-i-can-t-remember-not-being-able-to_1773049.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/diana-gabaldon-185_able_well-i-can-t-remember-not-being-able-to_1773049.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/diana-gabaldon-185_able_well-i-can-t-remember-not-being-able-to_1773049.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Well, I can't remember not being able to read. I was told I could read by myself very well at the age of…” — Diana Gabaldon",
                "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": "Diana Gabaldon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Well, I can't remember not being...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/well-i-can-t-remember-not-being-able-to-read-i-was-told-i-could-read/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/well-i-can-t-remember-not-being-able-to-read-i-was-told-i-could-read/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
