---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are all shaped by where we grow up…"
description: "\"We are all shaped by where we grow up, though that shaping takes different forms. I don't think there's any doubt that coming of age in Winnipeg both o..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/guy-gavriel-kay-2769_age_we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-th_2176244.jpg"
---

#  We are all shaped by where we grow up, though that shaping…

![“We are all shaped by where we grow up, though that shaping takes different forms. I don't think there's any doubt that coming of age in Winnipeg both opened my eyes and made me hungry - if I can subvert all claims to be a real writer by mixing metaphors like that.” quote by Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/guy-gavriel-kay-2769_age_we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-th_2176244.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/guy-gavriel-kay-2769_age_we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-th_2176244.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/guy-gavriel-kay-2769_age_we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-th_2176244.jpg)

> “We are all shaped by where we grow up, though that shaping takes different forms. I don't think there's any doubt that coming of age in Winnipeg both opened my eyes and made me hungry - if I can subvert all claims to be a real writer by mixing metaphors like that.”

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Our upbringing influences us in varied ways, shaping perspectives and ambitions, especially in a distinctive city like Winnipeg

**In simple terms:** Childhood environment shapes identity and drive

Key Takeaway

Recognize and use your background as creative fuel

Themes

identity growth creativity

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

personal creative

When to use this quote

- Writing
- storytelling
- personal reflection
- career motivation

Key Concepts

Cultural influence personal development regional impact

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your hometown affect your work?
- Can you transform regional traits into universal themes?

A Different Perspective

Not all influences are positive; some may limit perspective

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Coming of age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-of-age/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [Metaphors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphors/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/)

## Related quotes

> [We are all shaped by where we grow up, though that shaping takes different forms. I dont think theres any doubt that coming of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-though-that-shaping-takes/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [I think a lot of what goes into writing can be taught - not mixing metaphors, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-think-a-lot-of-what-goes-into-writing-can-be-taught-not-mixing/)

[Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/)

> [The tools that a society uses to create and maintain itself are as central to human life as a hive is to bee life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/the-tools-that-a-society-uses-to-create-and-maintain-itself-are-as/)

[Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/)

> [No idea for a new growth business ever comes fully shaped. When it emerges, it's half-baked, and it then goes through a process of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/no-idea-for-a-new-growth-business-ever-comes-fully-shaped-when-it-2/)

[Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/)

> [When I'm directing actors, I often find myself slipping in sports metaphors, like: 'Don't go for the punch line here, just put it up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waters/when-i-m-directing-actors-i-often-find-myself-slipping-in-sports/)

[Mark Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waters/)

> [“Metaphors are like similes, the only difference is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-davidson/metaphors-are-like-similes-the-only-difference-is/)

Aaron Davidson

> [“For just this moment, we have the closest thing to an advantage we're likely to get. And if we don't use it, we're gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-priest/for-just-this-moment-we-have-the-closest-thing-to-an-advantage-we-re/)

[Cherie Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-priest/)

> [(...) And metaphors like cats behind your smile, Each one wound up to purr, each one a pride, Each one a fine gold beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/and-metaphors-like-cats-behind-your-smile-each-one-wound-up-to-purr/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [I definitely write about my life and the issues I might have or the dilemmas I'm going through, but usually I write about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oh-land/i-definitely-write-about-my-life-and-the-issues-i-might-have-or-the/)

[Oh Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oh-land/)

> [I have been constantly shaping and reshaping my career. I laid a foundation by doing respectful work in all media. And I am happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/i-have-been-constantly-shaping-and-reshaping-my-career-i-laid-a/)

[Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/)

> [“Who you are is shaping your so-called reality. When you change — the world changes with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/who-you-are-is-shaping-your-so-called-reality-when-you-change-the/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [After World War I, while France and other Allies were building military defenses modeled on trench warfare, German commanders were shaping a nimble fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/after-world-war-i-while-france-and-other-allies-were-building/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [I was always very aware of the nature of the place where I was growing up in Gulfport, Mississippi, how that place was shaping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-trethewey/i-was-always-very-aware-of-the-nature-of-the-place-where-i-was/)

[Natasha Trethewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-trethewey/)

> [When the business starts shaping the art, or the delivery of the art, then it's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mould/when-the-business-starts-shaping-the-art-or-the-delivery-of-the-art/)

[Bob Mould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mould/)

> ['Born This Way' is shaping up to be creative ecstasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/born-this-way-is-shaping-up-to-be-creative-ecstasy/)

[Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/)

## More by Guy Gavriel Kay

> [“For all his frustrations and his chronic sense of being overburdened. He was proud of that; he’d always felt that it was worth doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/for-all-his-frustrations-and-his-chronic-sense-of-being-overburdened/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [“Branching paths. The turning of days and seasons and years. Life offered you love sometimes, sorrow often. If you were very fortunate, true friendship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/branching-paths-the-turning-of-days-and-seasons-and-years-life/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [I never talk about books in progress. I could decide to change it to a series of seafood recipes, after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/i-never-talk-about-books-in-progress-i-could-decide-to-change-it-to-a/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [“He’d stopped permitting himself to be unhappy about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/he-d-stopped-permitting-himself-to-be-unhappy-about-it/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [“The privacy of pride.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/the-privacy-of-pride/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [“It had taken skill, tact, an ability to choose friends well, and a great deal of luck”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/it-had-taken-skill-tact-an-ability-to-choose-friends-well-and-a-great/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [“The soul must bend to endure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/the-soul-must-bend-to-endure/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [“He sang one whole verse directly to her, then, in fidelity to the song, he sent his vision inward to where his purest music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/he-sang-one-whole-verse-directly-to-her-then-in-fidelity-to-the-song/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [“Ambitions and dreams put you at a drinking table with unexpected companions. Cups were filled and refilled, making you drunk with the illusion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/ambitions-and-dreams-put-you-at-a-drinking-table-with-unexpected/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [“We regard our own memories as truths, when they are often just the stories we have told ourselves over time. They become the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/we-regard-our-own-memories-as-truths-when-they-are-often-just-the/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [ “\[We let\] the universality of fantasy, of once upon a time, allow escapist fiction to be more than just that - to also bring… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/we-let-the-universality-of-fantasy-of-once-upon-a-time-allow-escapist/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [“Battles are won en route, Shalhassan of Cathal though. A worthy thought: he raised his hand in a certain way, and a moment later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/battles-are-won-en-route-shalhassan-of-cathal-though-a-worthy-thought/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [After a while, you start to realize that you should write a book you would want to read. I try to write a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/after-a-while-you-start-to-realize-that-you-should-write-a-book-you/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [“Daylight was coming outside, but it was not only that: courage cast its own light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/daylight-was-coming-outside-but-it-was-not-only-that-courage-cast-its/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

> [“But when a place has been an island the memory of water lingers, and of water magic, no matter how far away the sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/but-when-a-place-has-been-an-island-the-memory-of-water-lingers-and/)

[Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

[Explore all 150 Guy Gavriel Kay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/)

## More Age quotes

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [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/)

> [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/)

[Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/)

> [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/)

[Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/)

> [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/)

[Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/)

> [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/)

[Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/)

> [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/)

[Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/)

> [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/)

[Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/)

> [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/)

[Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/)

> [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/)

[Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/)

> [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/)

[Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/)

> [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/)

[Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/)

[Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We are all shaped by where we grow up, though that shaping takes different forms. I don't think there's any doubt that coming of age in Winnipeg both opened my eyes and made me hungry - if I can subvert all claims to be a real writer by mixing metaphors like that.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Guy Gavriel Kay"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-though-that-shaping-takes-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Age"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-though-that-shaping-takes-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/guy-gavriel-kay-2769_age_we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-th_2176244.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/guy-gavriel-kay-2769_age_we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-th_2176244.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/guy-gavriel-kay-2769_age_we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-th_2176244.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We are all shaped by where we grow up, though that shaping takes different forms. I don't think there's any…” — Guy Gavriel Kay",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Guy Gavriel Kay",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We are all shaped by where...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-though-that-shaping-takes-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/we-are-all-shaped-by-where-we-grow-up-though-that-shaping-takes-2/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
