--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was 14 years old, I decided I…" description: "\"When I was 14 years old, I decided I could cook. It was either that or puberty.\" — Dom DeLuise" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/dom-deluise-30041_cook_when-i-was-14-years-old-i-decided-i-coul_326467.jpg" --- # When I was 14 years old, I decided I could cook. It was… ![“When I was 14 years old, I decided I could cook. It was either that or puberty.” quote by Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/dom-deluise-30041_cook_when-i-was-14-years-old-i-decided-i-coul_326467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/dom-deluise-30041_cook_when-i-was-14-years-old-i-decided-i-coul_326467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/dom-deluise-30041_cook_when-i-was-14-years-old-i-decided-i-coul_326467.jpg) > “When I was 14 years old, I decided I could cook. It was either that or puberty.” [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A humorous way of saying that learning to cook was a pivotal choice before adolescence took over. **In simple terms:** Cooking became a defining skill before growing up. Key Takeaway Learn a practical skill early. Themes choice growth humor Mood lighthearted reflective Type anecdotal motivational When to use this quote - teenage independence - family meals - personal development Key Concepts self‑reliance identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What skill could you have learned earlier? - How does early competence shape confidence? A Different Perspective Skill acquisition may not replace other aspects of maturity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Puberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puberty/) ## Related quotes > [I'll cook the water...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-ll-cook-the-water/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I love to cook and I've cooked a lot of Bulgarian food over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kostova/i-love-to-cook-and-i-ve-cooked-a-lot-of-bulgarian-food-over-the-years/) [Elizabeth Kostova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kostova/) > [...cook him up with some barbecued dog...cook that yellow chump. I'll make that mother f\*\*ker make me a sushi roll and cook me some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/cook-him-up-with-some-barbecued-dog-cook-that-yellow-chump-i-ll-make/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [I do not cook. However, if I did, I'd cook all Italian food, all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/i-do-not-cook-however-if-i-did-i-d-cook-all-italian-food-all-the-time/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [No one asks the cow or the chicken where it gets its protein. I eat about 4,000 or 5,000 calories a day, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/no-one-asks-the-cow-or-the-chicken-where-it-gets-its-protein-i-eat/) [John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/) > [My mother was making $135 a week, but she had resilience and imagination. She might take frozen vegetables, cook them with garlic, onion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mother-was-making-135-a-week-but-she-had-resilience-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My favorite thing to cook is anything that comes out okay. I'm very fond of certain pastas and sauces that I can just about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/my-favorite-thing-to-cook-is-anything-that-comes-out-okay-i-m-very/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [Anyone can cook, and most everyone should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/anyone-can-cook-and-most-everyone-should/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [I'm not an amazing cook. But I can follow a recipe!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-mcadams/i-m-not-an-amazing-cook-but-i-can-follow-a-recipe/) [Rachel McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-mcadams/) > [I'm a terrible cook, but if I could cook, I would see that in art as well, it's how much creative energy you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-m-a-terrible-cook-but-if-i-could-cook-i-would-see-that-in-art-as/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [When I wrote 'Fast Food My Way' in 2004, I hoped that my friends would prepare my recipes. Now, more people cook from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-p-pin/when-i-wrote-fast-food-my-way-in-2004-i-hoped-that-my-friends-would/) [Jacques Pepin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-p-pin/) > [I can cook, I can breathe, I can live!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/i-can-cook-i-can-breathe-i-can-live/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) > [I love to cook for my husband and daughter. I enjoy going to the market for fresh vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/i-love-to-cook-for-my-husband-and-daughter-i-enjoy-going-to-the/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [He makes his cook his merit, and the world visits his dinners and not him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/he-makes-his-cook-his-merit-and-the-world-visits-his-dinners-and-not/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [I cook a little bit. I make a Hungarian dish called chicken paprikash that's out of this world. I'll give a heads-up to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-carolla/i-cook-a-little-bit-i-make-a-hungarian-dish-called-chicken-paprikash/) [Adam Carolla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-carolla/) ## More by Dom DeLuise > [My mother had lots and lots of children who didn't survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/my-mother-had-lots-and-lots-of-children-who-didn-t-survive/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [There were five writers on Blazing Saddles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/there-were-five-writers-on-blazing-saddles/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [Mel is nuts. He puts on a suit and a tie and acts like a normal person so people think he's okay. He's definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/mel-is-nuts-he-puts-on-a-suit-and-a-tie-and-acts-like-a-normal-person/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [I'd rather be at home with 12 people around the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/i-d-rather-be-at-home-with-12-people-around-the-table/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [Mr. Brooks and I have been friends forever. He is in seventh heaven with his new success on Broadway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/mr-brooks-and-i-have-been-friends-forever-he-is-in-seventh-heaven/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [Once at the White House I was asked to conduct the Drum and Bugle Corp. The man just handed me the baton and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/once-at-the-white-house-i-was-asked-to-conduct-the-drum-and-bugle/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [My mother had lots and lots of children who didnt survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/my-mother-had-lots-and-lots-of-children-who-didnt-survive/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [I have a cooking show that's coming on that I did in Albany. It will be on The Cooking Channel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/i-have-a-cooking-show-that-s-coming-on-that-i-did-in-albany-it-will/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [Sometimes I get a little manic and you can't stop me. I'm all over the place. I have fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/sometimes-i-get-a-little-manic-and-you-can-t-stop-me-i-m-all-over-the/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [Every couple of seconds out here they're honoring somebody. You've got to get dressed, go in and sit down. Invariably somebody makes a speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/every-couple-of-seconds-out-here-they-re-honoring-somebody-you-ve-got/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [The joys of my life are my granddaughters. They are beautiful. You don't have to believe me. You can ask my wife. She'll tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/the-joys-of-my-life-are-my-granddaughters-they-are-beautiful-you-don/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [I'm actually a thin serious person but I play fat and funny, but only for the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/i-m-actually-a-thin-serious-person-but-i-play-fat-and-funny-but-only/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [I've had some wonderful times at the White House. I've been with Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and Bush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/i-ve-had-some-wonderful-times-at-the-white-house-i-ve-been-with-ford/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [Dolly Parton... I love being around that woman! I worked really hard to keep up with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/dolly-parton-i-love-being-around-that-woman-i-worked-really-hard-to/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) > [I think I was immediately fed, so food became a very important part of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-deluise/i-think-i-was-immediately-fed-so-food-became-a-very-important-part-of/) [Dom DeLuise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) [Explore all 17 Dom DeLuise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-deluise/) ## More Cook quotes > [When you cook a sausage, the skin sometimes breaks and the ground meat comes apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-cook-a-sausage-the-skin-sometimes-breaks-and-the-ground-meat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are some things that I like, like education, wine, and I'd like to be a good cook, although I'm a pretty good eater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wagoner/there-are-some-things-that-i-like-like-education-wine-and-i-d-like-to/) [Rick Wagoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wagoner/) > [Being such a good cook that even the fire alarm cheers you on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-such-a-good-cook-that-even-the-fire-alarm-cheers-you-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'll cook the water...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-ll-cook-the-water/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [My dream as a passionate cook has been to go to Le Cordon Bleu. Never could my most incredible dream have lived up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/my-dream-as-a-passionate-cook-has-been-to-go-to-le-cordon-bleu-never/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [I love to feed people, and I like to cook food they want to eat and food that will be good for them. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-glick/i-love-to-feed-people-and-i-like-to-cook-food-they-want-to-eat-and/) [Ruth Glick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-glick/) > [“Looks delicious," he lied. "A mite crispy along the edges - but then, I like it that way." Incredulous eyes met his own. "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-anne-warren/looks-delicious-he-lied-a-mite-crispy-along-the-edges-but-then-i-like/) [Tracy Anne Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-anne-warren/) > [During the season I only cook for myself on the off-days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/during-the-season-i-only-cook-for-myself-on-the-off-days/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [He makes his cook his merit, and the world visits his dinners and not him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/he-makes-his-cook-his-merit-and-the-world-visits-his-dinners-and-not/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [I never really cook from recipes. But the worst is when something turns out great and I can't figure out how to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/i-never-really-cook-from-recipes-but-the-worst-is-when-something/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [I love to cook for my husband and daughter. I enjoy going to the market for fresh vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/i-love-to-cook-for-my-husband-and-daughter-i-enjoy-going-to-the/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [I can cook, I can breathe, I can live!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/i-can-cook-i-can-breathe-i-can-live/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) > [Technology is, of course, a double edged sword. Fire can cook our food but also burn us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/technology-is-of-course-a-double-edged-sword-fire-can-cook-our-food/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) > [The way to entice people into cooking is to cook delicious things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/the-way-to-entice-people-into-cooking-is-to-cook-delicious-things/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [“If you knew how to cook, maybe I would eat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-knew-how-to-cook-maybe-i-would-eat/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) Browse all 945 Cook quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was 14 years old, I decided I could cook. 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