--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think teenagers at any time are testing…" description: "\"I think teenagers at any time are testing to see how far they can go and where authority comes in.\" — Emily Meade" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/emily-meade-17862_authority_i-think-teenagers-at-any-time-are-testin_2539797.jpg" --- # I think teenagers at any time are testing to see how far… ![“I think teenagers at any time are testing to see how far they can go and where authority comes in.” quote by Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/emily-meade-17862_authority_i-think-teenagers-at-any-time-are-testin_2539797.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/emily-meade-17862_authority_i-think-teenagers-at-any-time-are-testin_2539797.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/emily-meade-17862_authority_i-think-teenagers-at-any-time-are-testin_2539797.jpg) > “I think teenagers at any time are testing to see how far they can go and where authority comes in.” [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teenagers test boundaries and explore authority to understand limits and personal autonomy. **In simple terms:** Teenagers push limits to learn about power. Key Takeaway Support healthy exploration of boundaries while providing guidance. Themes adolescence authority growth Mood inquisitive empathetic Type educational psychological When to use this quote - school environment - family discussions - peer groups - community programs - online platforms Key Concepts developmental psychology social dynamics identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What motivates teens to challenge authority? - How can adults guide constructive boundary testing? A Different Perspective Excessive testing can lead to conflict or risky behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Teenager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenager/) [Teenagers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenagers/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [I think what teenagers lack is the belief that they can be unique and extraordinary in life. Make the most of your age because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabirul-islam/i-think-what-teenagers-lack-is-the-belief-that-they-can-be-unique-and/) Sabirul Islam > [I think teenagers bring a lot of intellectual sophistication. They're wrestling with big questions. It's just that, a lot of times they do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-teenagers-bring-a-lot-of-intellectual-sophistication-they-re/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I've realized that I will probably write about teenagers and that time in people's lives - I'll probably come back to it a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-forsman/i-ve-realized-that-i-will-probably-write-about-teenagers-and-that/) [Charles Forsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-forsman/) > [I like writing about teenagers because it's a time of great change and conflict. Up to then, you accept what your parents tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-lingard/i-like-writing-about-teenagers-because-it-s-a-time-of-great-change/) [Joan Lingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-lingard/) > [A lot of people think teenagers haven't gone through anything in their lives - they're not even 20 years old yet. But a twenty-something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid/a-lot-of-people-think-teenagers-haven-t-gone-through-anything-in/) [Khalid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid/) > [I don't think teenagers in 2017 identify with heterosexuality, and that's a positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-don-t-think-teenagers-in-2017-identify-with-heterosexuality-and/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [I think as you get older, you tend to think of teenagers as really young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-roberts/i-think-as-you-get-older-you-tend-to-think-of-teenagers-as-really/) [Emma Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-roberts/) > [I used to say teenagers were the aliens among us and I think all teenagers feel that way in many respects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nutter/i-used-to-say-teenagers-were-the-aliens-among-us-and-i-think-all/) [David Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nutter/) > [Teenagers have time + energy, but no money. Middle age people have money + energy, but no time. Old people have time + money, but no energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/teenagers-have-time-energy-but-no-money-middle-age-people-have-money/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You may be a royal, and a monarch, but you know the High Council supplants your authority when it comes to the rings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-copeland/you-may-be-a-royal-and-a-monarch-but-you-know-the-high-council/) [Tricia Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-copeland/) > [True gospel authority, the authority to heal and renew things and people, is not finally found in a hierarchical office, a theological argument, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/true-gospel-authority-the-authority-to-heal-and-renew-things-and/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [This imperiousness which aids us in all things is merely a fitting authority which comes from superior spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/this-imperiousness-which-aids-us-in-all-things-is-merely-a-fitting/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [With authority comes the ability to victimize; with power comes choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalyani-rajalingham/with-authority-comes-the-ability-to-victimize-with-power-comes-choice/) [Kalyani Rajalingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalyani-rajalingham/) > [All authority comes from the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davies/all-authority-comes-from-the-people/) Michael Davies > [“Leadership does not come from being in a position of authority; it comes from exhibiting the qualities of a leader. The ability recognizes these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kennedy/leadership-does-not-come-from-being-in-a-position-of-authority-it/) Chris Kennedy ## More by Emily Meade > [I want to do every kind of movie and role you could imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/i-want-to-do-every-kind-of-movie-and-role-you-could-imagine/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [I usually get cast in more dark, dramatic things, and I would love to do something more comedic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/i-usually-get-cast-in-more-dark-dramatic-things-and-i-would-love-to/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [I always have a very complex personal life as far as romance goes. Sometimes I have a little too much time to get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/i-always-have-a-very-complex-personal-life-as-far-as-romance-goes/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [I've never felt fully able to sustain myself because I've run out of money many, many times, and it's been scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/i-ve-never-felt-fully-able-to-sustain-myself-because-i-ve-run-out-of/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [I didn't get Facebook until I was maybe a junior or senior in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/i-didn-t-get-facebook-until-i-was-maybe-a-junior-or-senior-in-high/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [Most of my good friends are my friends from high school or childhood, and they're not actors - they have 9-to-5 jobs. But I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/most-of-my-good-friends-are-my-friends-from-high-school-or-childhood/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [I have been considerably picky for somebody who's not a movie star, and sometimes I get frustrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/i-have-been-considerably-picky-for-somebody-who-s-not-a-movie-star/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [I was like little-miss wannabe punk-rocker; I would go home and secretly listen to Pink, and dance around, like, 'Ugh, she understands me so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/i-was-like-little-miss-wannabe-punk-rocker-i-would-go-home-and/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [It always feels good to be a part of something you think could actually impact human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/it-always-feels-good-to-be-a-part-of-something-you-think-could/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [I can be very stubborn, cold, strict, rigid, and - I'd like to think - driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/i-can-be-very-stubborn-cold-strict-rigid-and-i-d-like-to-think-driven/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [I was traumatized by the cartoon version of 'The Hobbit.' It's not supposed to be scary, I don't think, but literally I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/i-was-traumatized-by-the-cartoon-version-of-the-hobbit-it-s-not/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [Growing up, I always looked up to males or comedians such as Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. I also love Lucille Ball, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/growing-up-i-always-looked-up-to-males-or-comedians-such-as-dustin/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [I like to consider myself a detective, which is how I justify my obsession with my phone. By nature, since I was a kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/i-like-to-consider-myself-a-detective-which-is-how-i-justify-my/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [My first love was Heath Ledger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/my-first-love-was-heath-ledger/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [I've been crazy lucky that I've never had a day job. I get really close to having no money, then I always wind up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/i-ve-been-crazy-lucky-that-i-ve-never-had-a-day-job-i-get-really/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) [Explore all 36 Emily Meade quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. 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