--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was twelve, I decided to become a…" description: "\"When I was twelve, I decided to become a chef. I stole a book from the library about the greatest restaurants in France. I'd flip the pages and dream. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/eric-ripert-8689_book_when-i-was-twelve-i-decided-to-become-a_1515734.png" --- # When I was twelve, I decided to become a chef. I stole a… ![“When I was twelve, I decided to become a chef. I stole a book from the library about the greatest restaurants in France. I'd flip the pages and dream. I should return that book to the library some day.” quote by Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/eric-ripert-8689_book_when-i-was-twelve-i-decided-to-become-a_1515734.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/eric-ripert-8689_book_when-i-was-twelve-i-decided-to-become-a_1515734.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/eric-ripert-8689_book_when-i-was-twelve-i-decided-to-become-a_1515734.png) > “When I was twelve, I decided to become a chef. I stole a book from the library about the greatest restaurants in France. I'd flip the pages and dream. I should return that book to the library some day.” [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A childhood fascination with French cuisine sparked a lifelong culinary ambition. **In simple terms:** Dreams of cooking began early and guided his path. Key Takeaway Pursue passions discovered in youth. Themes inspiration career food Mood nostalgic motivational Type career inspirational When to use this quote - career choice - education - travel - library research Key Concepts culinary arts dreams determination Questions to Reflect On - What early passion still drives you? - How can you nurture it today? A Different Perspective Dreams may clash with practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Chef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chef/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/france/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) ## Related quotes > [I once stole a book. It was really just the once, and at the time I called it borrowing. 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There were lovely foreign names in it and pictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/you-could-get-a-book-then-there-was-a-book-in-the-library-about/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [When someone tell me they illegally downloaded one of my audiobooks I think, Thanks a lot, Pal. When someone tells me they checked my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/when-someone-tell-me-they-illegally-downloaded-one-of-my-audiobooks-i/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [It is like having a book out from the library. It is like constantly having a book out from the library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/it-is-like-having-a-book-out-from-the-library-it-is-like-constantly/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [Just be a cool grandpa who's creative, and hang out and tell stories and read a book in the library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/just-be-a-cool-grandpa-who-s-creative-and-hang-out-and-tell-stories/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [Attitude fucked up, ain't saying to much...flip the bird!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/attitude-fucked-up-ain-t-saying-to-much-flip-the-bird/) [Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/) > [I've taken my cue from people here and from viewers, especially survivors-who said, 'When it's time to literally flip your wig, you'll know.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-roberts/i-ve-taken-my-cue-from-people-here-and-from-viewers-especially/) [Robin Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-roberts/) > [I like that you can easily flip the sheets over and have a different feel or vibe in your room. You don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-white/i-like-that-you-can-easily-flip-the-sheets-over-and-have-a-different/) [Shaun White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-white/) > [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More by Eric Ripert > [For me, food is about memories, feelings, emotions, and so is Le Bernardin, and that's why it's not just a restaurant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/for-me-food-is-about-memories-feelings-emotions-and-so-is-le/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [Well, cooking starts with shopping. If the ingredients are not good, you don't do it. Just change your mind and do something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/well-cooking-starts-with-shopping-if-the-ingredients-are-not-good-you/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [Cooks build muscles; we can stand all day long on our feet and not feel the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/cooks-build-muscles-we-can-stand-all-day-long-on-our-feet-and-not/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [“Prior to my second stint in Perpignan, I was a fine diner and as I saw it, food was art. At vocational school, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/prior-to-my-second-stint-in-perpignan-i-was-a-fine-diner-and-as-i-saw/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [My mother and my grandmother would make an apple tart in different styles, and I had one per day. 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