--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was naïve when I was young, I was…" description: "\"I was naïve when I was young, I was sheltered. I had illusions about who I was going to be, delusions, and a little bit of pretentiousness. And I thoug..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/greg-mottola-18911_delusion_i-was-na-ve-when-i-was-young-i-was-shelt_141893.jpg" --- # I was naïve when I was young, I was sheltered. I had… ![“I was naïve when I was young, I was sheltered. I had illusions about who I was going to be, delusions, and a little bit of pretentiousness. And I thought, "I'll write the guy like that. It'll allow me to make fun of everyone else if I make fun of myself."” quote by Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/greg-mottola-18911_delusion_i-was-na-ve-when-i-was-young-i-was-shelt_141893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/greg-mottola-18911_delusion_i-was-na-ve-when-i-was-young-i-was-shelt_141893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/greg-mottola-18911_delusion_i-was-na-ve-when-i-was-young-i-was-shelt_141893.jpg) > “I was naïve when I was young, I was sheltered. I had illusions about who I was going to be, delusions, and a little bit of pretentiousness. And I thought, "I'll write the guy like that. It'll allow me to make fun of everyone else if I make fun of myself."” [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Youthful naiveté leads to self‑delusion and pretentious humor, using self‑mockery as a shield against criticism. **In simple terms:** Young people often hide insecurities with sarcasm. Key Takeaway Recognize and own your true self. Themes self‑awareness humor growth Mood reflective playful Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - college life - creative writing - personal development - social media interactions Key Concepts identity self‑deception defense mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - How does humor protect you from vulnerability? - What truths are you avoiding? A Different Perspective Self‑mockery can prevent genuine connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I was raised to please people in authority, and I'd also come from a sheltered boarding school, so I was very naive and young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-was-raised-to-please-people-in-authority-and-i-d-also-come-from-a/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [I was a very naive young man, and I may still be ignorant about a lot of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-namath/i-was-a-very-naive-young-man-and-i-may-still-be-ignorant-about-a-lot/) [Joe Namath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-namath/) > [Luckily, unreasonable expectations go hand in hand with naive young scientists. 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Instead of conquering obstacles, they simply pretend they don't exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-madison/never-trust-someone-that-claims-they-care-nothing-of-what-society/) [Tiffany Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-madison/) > [“To be full of yourself is to make a fool of yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashly-lorenzana/to-be-full-of-yourself-is-to-make-a-fool-of-yourself/) [Ashly Lorenzana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashly-lorenzana/) > [“Pretentiousness is a comedy vein filled with riches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torry-martin/pretentiousness-is-a-comedy-vein-filled-with-riches/) [Torry Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torry-martin/) > [Personally I don't spend much time thinking about being funny. 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I was surrounded by so many young people. People like Seth Rogen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/when-i-was-a-tv-director-working-on-judd-apatow-s-show-undeclared-i/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [Brian Eno records and music became a huge obsession of mine in college, in a way that a pop song can provide solace. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/brian-eno-records-and-music-became-a-huge-obsession-of-mine-in/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [I am very interested in the small decisions people make that do set you on a different road in your life. As much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-am-very-interested-in-the-small-decisions-people-make-that-do-set/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [Brian Eno records and music got me through. 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Technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-p-neary/we-shouldn-t-surrender-our-real-world-perception-to-a-false-reality/) M.P. Neary > [Atheism Explained is a gem. It is clear, informative, well-argued, provocative, often witty, and unfailingly interesting. David Ramsay Steele ranges over so many issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-shearmur/atheism-explained-is-a-gem-it-is-clear-informative-well-argued/) Jeremy Shearmur > [It is a great delusion to suppose that flesh-meat of any kind is essential to health. Considerably more than three parts of the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/it-is-a-great-delusion-to-suppose-that-flesh-meat-of-any-kind-is/) [Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/) > [The religions of mankind must be classed among the mass-delusions of this kind. 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