---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How will I know I've grown up? When I've…"
description: "\"“How will I know I've grown up? When I've started using words I didn't really know the meaning of. I said I did that already and she said yes but I wor..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/helen-oyeyemi-1658_said_how-will-i-know-i-ve-grown-up-when-i-ve_1734902.png"
---

#  How will I know I've grown up? When I've started using…

![“How will I know I've grown up? When I've started using words I didn't really know the meaning of. I said I did that already and she said yes but I worried about it and grown-ups didn't.” quote by Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/helen-oyeyemi-1658_said_how-will-i-know-i-ve-grown-up-when-i-ve_1734902.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/helen-oyeyemi-1658_said_how-will-i-know-i-ve-grown-up-when-i-ve_1734902.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/helen-oyeyemi-1658_said_how-will-i-know-i-ve-grown-up-when-i-ve_1734902.png)

> ““How will I know I've grown up? When I've started using words I didn't really know the meaning of. I said I did that already and she said yes but I worried about it and grown-ups didn't.””

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

## About This Quote

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

The narrator wonders how maturity is marked, noting the use of unfamiliar words as a sign of growing up.

**In simple terms:** Maturity can be seen in expanding vocabulary.

Key Takeaway

Notice new words in your speech.

Themes

growth language identity comingofage

Mood

reflective introspective

Type

psychological educational

When to use this quote

- reading literature
- learning new words
- reflecting on personal change
- teaching language

Key Concepts

linguistic development self-discovery cognitive growth

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you know you’ve matured?
- What other signs indicate adulthood?

A Different Perspective

Relying on vocabulary alone may not capture true maturity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [Maximus grunted. "Some days you remind me of Vlad." "Meaning?" I said sharply. "Your obsession with revenge. Next you'll want to drive a pole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/maximus-grunted-some-days-you-remind-me-of-vlad-meaning-i-said/)

[Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/)

> [“If something is freaking out people it is very often the slippery slope between words and meaning, between what is said and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/if-something-is-freaking-out-people-it-is-very-often-the-slippery/)

[Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/)

> [The meaning of what is said is according to the motive for saying it: because things are not subject to speech, but speech to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/the-meaning-of-what-is-said-is-according-to-the-motive-for-saying-it/)

[Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/)

> ["If it were a dog, it would have bitten you already." Actual Twents: "At e ne hond was, dan e oew allange ebettene." Meaning:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/if-it-were-a-dog-it-would-have-bitten-you-already-actual-twents-at-e/)

[Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/)

> [Said I'd never let you go and I never did, said I'd never let you fall and I always ment it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/said-i-d-never-let-you-go-and-i-never-did-said-i-d-never-let-you-fall/)

[A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/)

> [Did you find yourself?" "What?" said my sister. "Did you find yourself?" "She found me," I said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/did-you-find-yourself-what-said-my-sister-did-you-find-yourself-she/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [“When I said I'd give my right arm to you, I didn't think you'd ask me for it, but you did. You said, Give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-brown/when-i-said-i-d-give-my-right-arm-to-you-i-didn-t-think-you-d-ask-me/)

Rebecca Brown

> [I said I'd never let you go and I never did, said I'd never let you fall and I always meant it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-said-i-d-never-let-you-go-and-i-never-did-said-i-d-never-let-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When it's all over, you're remembered for what you did, not what you said you were going to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-it-s-all-over-you-re-remembered-for-what-you-did-not-what-you/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“They said what they would do, and we did not listen. Then they did what they said they would do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederich-c-rich/they-said-what-they-would-do-and-we-did-not-listen-then-they-did-what/)

Frederich C. Rich

> [“Too much had happened. Could we really take back everything we both did and said?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-rise-chance/too-much-had-happened-could-we-really-take-back-everything-we-both/)

[Rachel Rise, Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-rise-chance/)

> [From all I did and all I said let no one try to find out who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-p-cavafy/from-all-i-did-and-all-i-said-let-no-one-try-to-find-out-who-i-was/)

[C.P. Cavafy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-p-cavafy/)

> [All that we did, all that we said or sang must come from contact with the soil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/all-that-we-did-all-that-we-said-or-sang-must-come-from-contact-with-2/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [You said you loved me, but you lied. You said you wouldn't hurt me, but you did. I said I loved you, I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-said-you-loved-me-but-you-lied-you-said-you-wouldn-t-hurt-me-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“what if they make me stay? To keep me safe?”“I wouldn’t, if I were them.” “What do you mean?”“Any minute now . . .”Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/what-if-they-make-me-stay-to-keep-me-safe-i-wouldn-t-if-i-were-them/)

[Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/)

## More by Helen Oyeyemi

> [“Juju is not enough to protect you. Everything you have I will turn against you. I'll turn sugar bitter for you. I'll take your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/juju-is-not-enough-to-protect-you-everything-you-have-i-will-turn/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [“Marriage is no real excuse for not loving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/marriage-is-no-real-excuse-for-not-loving/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [I do tend to feel more connected to dead writers, perhaps because they have finished their work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-do-tend-to-feel-more-connected-to-dead-writers-perhaps-because-they/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [“People don’t make too much money around here, but what comes with that is a different definition of what it means to be well-off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/people-don-t-make-too-much-money-around-here-but-what-comes-with-that/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [“He looked honored, extraordinarily honored, seeming to care for that which tore his flesh than he did for the flesh itself, embracing the blade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/he-looked-honored-extraordinarily-honored-seeming-to-care-for-that/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [“White-flowered shrubs thickened around her and so did sleep; it directed her limbs. Lie down now, sleep said sweetly. Lie down. These are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/white-flowered-shrubs-thickened-around-her-and-so-did-sleep-it/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [I don't despise 'Don Quixote,' but it is a book I don't... get. I'll have to come back it. Maybe there'll be a gateway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-don-t-despise-don-quixote-but-it-is-a-book-i-don-t-get-i-ll-have-to/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [“I think her favorite thing about our . . . collaboration was her actor and musician friends rubbing shoulders with my academic colleagues, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-think-her-favorite-thing-about-our-collaboration-was-her-actor-and/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [“After half an hour the Senora emerged, short of breath, with flushed cheeks…as uf she'd been seized and shaken like a faulty thermometer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/after-half-an-hour-the-senora-emerged-short-of-breath-with-flushed/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [“It was the usual struggle between one who loves by accepting burdens and one who loves by refusing to be”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/it-was-the-usual-struggle-between-one-who-loves-by-accepting-burdens/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [“Pops says he loves me just the way I am, but not everyone in the world is like my father. Maman, for example. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/pops-says-he-loves-me-just-the-way-i-am-but-not-everyone-in-the-world/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [“With boys there was a fundamental assumption that they had a right to be there—not always, but more often than not. With girls, Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/with-boys-there-was-a-fundamental-assumption-that-they-had-a-right-to/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [The more forcibly I'm made aware of the fact that I'll never be the kind of storyteller I most admire, the less I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/the-more-forcibly-i-m-made-aware-of-the-fact-that-i-ll-never-be-the/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [The girl was lighter without her heart. She danced barefoot on the hot roads, and her feet were not cut by the glass or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/the-girl-was-lighter-without-her-heart-she-danced-barefoot-on-the-hot/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

> [“So her missing person's poster features a girl with long hair and dreamy eyes that don't see the fracture coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/so-her-missing-person-s-poster-features-a-girl-with-long-hair-and/)

[Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

[Explore all 218 Helen Oyeyemi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/)

## More Said quotes

> [High school sucked. It was a universal truth, and whoever said these were supposed to be the best years of your life was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/high-school-sucked-it-was-a-universal-truth-and-whoever-said-these/)

[Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/)

> [I have three words for you," EMT Guy said. "Possible internal bleeding." I turned back to him. "Don't you think if I was bleeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/i-have-three-words-for-you-emt-guy-said-possible-internal-bleeding-i/)

[Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/)

> [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/)

[Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/)

> [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/)

[Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/)

> [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/)

[Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/)

> [I'm proud to say I had a bet with a guy from Chicago who said Chicago is windier and colder than Wyoming. Wyoming dominated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/i-m-proud-to-say-i-had-a-bet-with-a-guy-from-chicago-who-said-chicago/)

[Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/)

> [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/)

[Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/)

> [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/)

[Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/)

Browse all 30,273 Said quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“How will I know I've grown up? When I've started using words I didn't really know the meaning of. I said I did that already and she said yes but I worried about it and grown-ups didn't.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Helen Oyeyemi"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/how-will-i-know-i-ve-grown-up-when-i-ve-started-using-words-i-didn-t/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Said"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/how-will-i-know-i-ve-grown-up-when-i-ve-started-using-words-i-didn-t/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/helen-oyeyemi-1658_said_how-will-i-know-i-ve-grown-up-when-i-ve_1734902.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/helen-oyeyemi-1658_said_how-will-i-know-i-ve-grown-up-when-i-ve_1734902.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/helen-oyeyemi-1658_said_how-will-i-know-i-ve-grown-up-when-i-ve_1734902.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“How will I know I've grown up? When I've started using words I didn't really know the meaning of. I said I…” — Helen Oyeyemi",
                "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": "Helen Oyeyemi",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“How will I know I've grown...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/how-will-i-know-i-ve-grown-up-when-i-ve-started-using-words-i-didn-t/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/how-will-i-know-i-ve-grown-up-when-i-ve-started-using-words-i-didn-t/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
