--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was very young when I joined. I’d grown…" description: "\"“I was very young when I joined. I’d grown up sheltered – and a touch spoiled. Like anyone, I suppose.”\" — Ian C. Esslemont" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/ian-c-esslemont-23897_childhood_i-was-very-young-when-i-joined-i-d-grown_531200.png" --- # I was very young when I joined. I’d grown up sheltered –… ![“I was very young when I joined. I’d grown up sheltered – and a touch spoiled. Like anyone, I suppose.” quote by Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/ian-c-esslemont-23897_childhood_i-was-very-young-when-i-joined-i-d-grown_531200.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/ian-c-esslemont-23897_childhood_i-was-very-young-when-i-joined-i-d-grown_531200.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/ian-c-esslemont-23897_childhood_i-was-very-young-when-i-joined-i-d-grown_531200.png) > ““I was very young when I joined. I’d grown up sheltered – and a touch spoiled. Like anyone, I suppose.”” [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on early naiveté and privileged upbringing before confronting harsh realities. **In simple terms:** Youthful innocence before harsh life. Key Takeaway Recognize and learn from early privilege. Themes self‑awareness growth humility Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal reflective. When to use this quote - military enlistment - career start - personal development - cultural immersion Key Concepts coming‑of‑age social conditioning Questions to Reflect On - How does early privilege shape your choices? - What steps can you take to broaden perspective? A Different Perspective Privilege can blind judgment and delay maturity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) ## Related quotes > [“Kurushima and Inonaka, however, had grown up sheltered in their housing-development capsules, never directly encountering any cold walls. For them, the walls of control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiko-shimada/kurushima-and-inonaka-however-had-grown-up-sheltered-in-their-housing/) Masahiko Shimada > [I'm one of those people who never really joined the grown-ups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-brien/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-never-really-joined-the-grown-ups/) [Richard O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-brien/) > [It don't take a lot to make me happy. I'm not spoiled like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/it-don-t-take-a-lot-to-make-me-happy-i-m-not-spoiled-like-that/) [Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/) > [I want to be spoiled like a child. Cry to my heart's content. But I can only suppress my feelings..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-yazawa/i-want-to-be-spoiled-like-a-child-cry-to-my-heart-s-content-but-i-can/) [Ai Yazawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-yazawa/) > [I've been a prima-dona. I was taken care of since I was 13. That's why I am the way I am today. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-ve-been-a-prima-dona-i-was-taken-care-of-since-i-was-13-that-s-why/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [I was really sheltered growing up, with six brothers and sisters. We played together all the time, and I was living in a fantasy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-enninful/i-was-really-sheltered-growing-up-with-six-brothers-and-sisters-we/) [Edward Enninful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-enninful/) > [We are also fortunate in being in quite a sheltered environment, in terms of people moving on to do other things, because there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-milne/we-are-also-fortunate-in-being-in-quite-a-sheltered-environment-in/) [David Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-milne/) > [“Daemons had minds of their own, which could never be harnessed, even by those who sheltered them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-bill-pepper/daemons-had-minds-of-their-own-which-could-never-be-harnessed-even-by/) Curtis Bill Pepper > [I was naïve when I was young, I was sheltered. I had illusions about who I was going to be, delusions, and a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-was-na-ve-when-i-was-young-i-was-sheltered-i-had-illusions-about/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [From my mother I learned just how violent and unquenchable a woman's loneliness can be. She had been sheltered excessively by her husband and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/from-my-mother-i-learned-just-how-violent-and-unquenchable-a-woman-s/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [I was in this sheltered little environment where, basically, all my high school experience was in 'Life Goes On,' and everyone told me where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-was-in-this-sheltered-little-environment-where-basically-all-my/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [“You're not at all the person I should be with, not on paper anyway. But none of that matters because I love you. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-paige/you-re-not-at-all-the-person-i-should-be-with-not-on-paper-anyway-but/) Sabrina Paige > [I'm the first to admit I've had a sheltered life. I grew up in the country and went to a boarding school. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rickitt/i-m-the-first-to-admit-i-ve-had-a-sheltered-life-i-grew-up-in-the/) [Adam Rickitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rickitt/) > [We don't want to raise sheltered children. They should see different parts of the country, and they should experience things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kennedy-montgomery/we-don-t-want-to-raise-sheltered-children-they-should-see-different/) [Lisa Kennedy Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kennedy-montgomery/) > [I was socially sheltered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glorilla/i-was-socially-sheltered/) [GloRilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glorilla/) ## More by Ian C. Esslemont > [“The superstitions of the ignorant are no concern of mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/the-superstitions-of-the-ignorant-are-no-concern-of-mine/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“There is much running of vomit and faeces on board this ship. Please stop adding to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/there-is-much-running-of-vomit-and-faeces-on-board-this-ship-please/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Messinath of Purge,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/messinath-of-purge/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“for all went to dark then and he allowed himself release without regret, without anger, without expectation of anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/for-all-went-to-dark-then-and-he-allowed-himself-release-without/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“And that just makes it all the harder, doesn’t it? Not being special. Not having that funny mark or that omen at your birth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/and-that-just-makes-it-all-the-harder-doesn-t-it-not-being-special/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Did we not look out together upon the dark waters of the lake And behold there the constellations Of both hemispheres at once? -Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/did-we-not-look-out-together-upon-the-dark-waters-of-the-lake-and/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Yes. It is your turn – as it is everyone’s at some time. The test is in our response.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/yes-it-is-your-turn-as-it-is-everyone-s-at-some-time-the-test-is-in/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [ “Who are you,’ it boomed, ‘to light a fire here in the depths of Himatan?’ \[...\] ‘Someone who would dare to do so,’ Pon-lor… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/who-are-you-it-boomed-to-light-a-fire-here-in-the-depths-of-himatan/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [I've come to understand that the truth isn't really what's important...what really matters is what people agree is the truth. -Greymane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/i-ve-come-to-understand-that-the-truth-isn-t-really-what-s-important/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Xethel laughed again, though rather nervously this time. ‘Then I name you Amman-an-ash. The One Who Would Know Everything.’ She nodded in Dancer’s direction.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/xethel-laughed-again-though-rather-nervously-this-time-then-i-name/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“We do not follow the philosophy of purity versus pollution. That is a false choice, a false dichotomy. The truth is, nothing is “pure”.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/we-do-not-follow-the-philosophy-of-purity-versus-pollution-that-is-a/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [When you do not recognize the wrongs of the past, the future takes its revenge. -Author forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/when-you-do-not-recognize-the-wrongs-of-the-past-the-future-takes-its/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Damn them for tormenting me! Don’t they see I’m not what they think? That they are casting upon me the weight of their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/damn-them-for-tormenting-me-don-t-they-see-i-m-not-what-they-think/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Here, all directions lead to the centre.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/here-all-directions-lead-to-the-centre/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“A rather arrogant beggar – you are nothing without your precious title.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/a-rather-arrogant-beggar-you-are-nothing-without-your-precious-title/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) [Explore all 25 Ian C. Esslemont quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) ## More Childhood quotes > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-childhood-s-hour-i-have-not-been-as-others-were-i-have-not-seen/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [I had a rough upbringing. Group homes. Foster homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-had-a-rough-upbringing-group-homes-foster-homes/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [On paper, it looks rough, but I had a great childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/on-paper-it-looks-rough-but-i-had-a-great-childhood/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I always knew that I was kind of bored; the regular life of a child didn't fit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-always-knew-that-i-was-kind-of-bored-the-regular-life-of-a-child/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Children are not a zoo of entertainingly exotic creatures, but an array of mirrors in which the human predicament leaps out at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/children-are-not-a-zoo-of-entertainingly-exotic-creatures-but-an/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) [Browse all 5,837 Childhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was very young when I joined. I’d grown up sheltered – and a touch spoiled. Like anyone, I suppose.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ian C. 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