--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was that word again.Mature. Was…" description: "\"There was that word again.Mature. Was this what maturity was? Giving up on the things we wanted because we knew we'd never get them?\" — Diana Peterfreund" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/diana-peterfreund-9959_aging_there-was-that-word-again-mature-was-thi_2447735.png" --- # There was that word again.Mature. Was this what maturity… ![“There was that word again.Mature. Was this what maturity was? Giving up on the things we wanted because we knew we'd never get them?” quote by Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/diana-peterfreund-9959_aging_there-was-that-word-again-mature-was-thi_2447735.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/diana-peterfreund-9959_aging_there-was-that-word-again-mature-was-thi_2447735.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/diana-peterfreund-9959_aging_there-was-that-word-again-mature-was-thi_2447735.png) > “There was that word again.Mature. Was this what maturity was? Giving up on the things we wanted because we knew we'd never get them?” [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maturity can mean relinquishing desires when they become unattainable, accepting reality over longing. **In simple terms:** Maturity is letting go of impossible wishes. Key Takeaway Accept what cannot be, and move forward. Themes growth acceptance realism Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal goals - grief - health challenges Key Concepts psychology life stages Questions to Reflect On - What desires have you outgrown? - How does acceptance change your outlook? A Different Perspective Letting go can feel like defeat rather than growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturity/) ## Related quotes > [I hate that word, mature, but I guess I am growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-hate-that-word-mature-but-i-guess-i-am-growing-up/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [Be the person you are. Never try to be another, and you will become mature. Maturity is accepting the responsibility of being oneself, whatsoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-the-person-you-are-never-try-to-be-another-and-you-will-become-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be the person you are. Never try to be another, and you will become mature. Maturity is accepting the responsibility of being oneself, whatsoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/be-the-person-you-are-never-try-to-be-another-and-you-will-become/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Listen to your being. It is continuously giving you hints; it is a still, small voice. It does not shout at you, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/listen-to-your-being-it-is-continuously-giving-you-hints-it-is-a-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My ideal goal is to "mature" into childhood. That would be genuine maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-schulz/my-ideal-goal-is-to-mature-into-childhood-that-would-be-genuine/) [Bruno Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-schulz/) > [To be mature, you have to be an adult. But to be in love, you have to be nothing but a human being with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-mature-you-have-to-be-an-adult-but-to-be-in-love-you-have-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Mature adults gravitate toward new values and understandings, not just rehashing and blind acceptance of past patterns and previous learning. This is an ongoing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/mature-adults-gravitate-toward-new-values-and-understandings-not-just/) [David W. Earle LPC- Love is Not Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/) > [Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of the years, but by obedience to the will of God. Some people mature into an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/spiritual-maturity-is-not-reached-by-the-passing-of-the-years-but-by/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [You, oh mature ones, keep company solely with other mature ones, and your maturity is so mature that it can only chum up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witold-gombrowicz/you-oh-mature-ones-keep-company-solely-with-other-mature-ones-and/) [Witold Gombrowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witold-gombrowicz/) > [I don't think people change. I think they definitely mature. But I think the essence of what I am today is the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/i-don-t-think-people-change-i-think-they-definitely-mature-but-i/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say, I was wrong. And, when right, the mature person need not experience the satisfaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/maturity-is-humility-it-is-being-big-enough-to-say-i-was-wrong-and/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [I've made my mistakes, I have to pay for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith-2/i-ve-made-my-mistakes-i-have-to-pay-for-them/) Stephen A Smith > [The process of maturing is an art to be learned, an effort to be sustained. By the age of fifty you have made yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/the-process-of-maturing-is-an-art-to-be-learned-an-effort-to-be/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [A mature mind is one who understands the impossibility of knowing the ultimate, and with this understanding there is a new dimension: the dimension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/a-mature-mind-is-one-who-understands-the-impossibility-of-knowing-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“To be mature is, we're told, to move beyond possessiveness. Jealousy is for babies. The mature person knows that no one owns anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/to-be-mature-is-we-re-told-to-move-beyond-possessiveness-jealousy-is/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) ## More by Diana Peterfreund > [We can only be responsible for what we ourselves do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/we-can-only-be-responsible-for-what-we-ourselves-do/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [“I don’t do drugs, I’ve never been arrested, and from what I hear, I’m not too shabby in bed. Not that any of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/i-don-t-do-drugs-i-ve-never-been-arrested-and-from-what-i-hear-i-m/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [“Gordian pays you to sleep with unicorn hunters. That's the definition of a whore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/gordian-pays-you-to-sleep-with-unicorn-hunters-that-s-the-definition/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [No one is innocent in the tide of history. Everyone has kings and slaves in his past. Everyone has saints and sinners. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/no-one-is-innocent-in-the-tide-of-history-everyone-has-kings-and/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [“I have only this cave to call my own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/i-have-only-this-cave-to-call-my-own/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [“How do you know you're in love?" I asked her. 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"And if the sun explodes?" Elliot countered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/and-if-the-boat-sinks-and-if-the-sun-explodes-elliot-countered/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [“She knows your mother isn't here to protect you any more. But you know what the solution is: stay out of her way. Stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/she-knows-your-mother-isn-t-here-to-protect-you-any-more-but-you-know/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [“Look at us. You look like death, my friend, and I’m sure I do, too. We’ll never stop blaming ourselves. I guess that’s the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/look-at-us-you-look-like-death-my-friend-and-i-m-sure-i-do-too-we-ll/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [“And put myself in the hands of total strangers?" She snapped the lid shut, "What do you take me for? Of course I checked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/and-put-myself-in-the-hands-of-total-strangers-she-snapped-the-lid/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) [Explore all 69 Diana Peterfreund quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) ## More Aging quotes > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“You could see the signs of female aging as diseased, especially if you had a vested interest in making women too see them your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/you-could-see-the-signs-of-female-aging-as-diseased-especially-if-you/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [“It takes maturity to be able to laugh like a child again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/it-takes-maturity-to-be-able-to-laugh-like-a-child-again/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Growing old-it's not nice, but it's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/growing-old-it-s-not-nice-but-it-s-interesting/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Anything is possible in the life of a man if he lives long enough. Even maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-raines/anything-is-possible-in-the-life-of-a-man-if-he-lives-long-enough/) [Howell Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-raines/) > [I just want to be Patty McCormack. I want to spend every year aging the way she has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-just-want-to-be-patty-mccormack-i-want-to-spend-every-year-aging/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Maturity is reached the day we don't need to be lied to about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-yerby/maturity-is-reached-the-day-we-don-t-need-to-be-lied-to-about-anything/) [Frank Yerby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-yerby/) [Browse all 2,792 Aging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There was that word again.Mature. Was this what maturity was? 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