--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know,” said Peter. “Perhaps better than…" description: "\"I know,” said Peter. “Perhaps better than anyone. But you can’t stay a child forever. To choose to speak into Echo’s Well is to choose illusion. To cho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/james-a-owen-12781_adults_i-know-said-peter-perhaps-better-than-an_1502923.jpg" --- # I know,” said Peter. “Perhaps better than anyone. But you… ![“I know,” said Peter. “Perhaps better than anyone. But you can’t stay a child forever. To choose to speak into Echo’s Well is to choose illusion. To choose to avoid the responsibilities of being an adult. The real trick—the real choice—is to keep the best of the child you were, without forgetting…” quote by James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/james-a-owen-12781_adults_i-know-said-peter-perhaps-better-than-an_1502923.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/james-a-owen-12781_adults_i-know-said-peter-perhaps-better-than-an_1502923.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/james-a-owen-12781_adults_i-know-said-peter-perhaps-better-than-an_1502923.jpg) > “I know,” said Peter. “Perhaps better than anyone. But you can’t stay a child forever. To choose to speak into Echo’s Well is to choose illusion. To choose to avoid the responsibilities of being an adult. The real trick—the real choice—is to keep the best of the child you were, without forgetting when you grow up. “It is the best of both worlds, Jack. Being a child is to believe in magic everywhere… “…but even Peter Pan had to grow up one day.” [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adult life requires responsibility, but retaining childlike wonder enriches experience; balance both. **In simple terms:** Keep childlike wonder while growing up. Key Takeaway Blend responsibility with imagination. Themes growth responsibility imagination Mood hopeful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - parenting - creative projects - personal reflection Key Concepts developmental psychology literary themes Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture wonder in daily tasks? - What responsibilities can you delegate? A Different Perspective Adult duties can suppress creativity if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe In Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-magic/) [Child Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-forever-1662597/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Echo Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/echo-choose-5514713/) [Echoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/echoes/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Forever Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever-choose-1932362/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Illusion Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion-choose-2233922/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [One day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-day/) [Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peter/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Stay Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-child-535999/) [Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricks/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Whichever way I went, there would be sadness and a sense of loss. Was this a part of growing up—the agony of making such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whichever-way-i-went-there-would-be-sadness-and-a-sense-of-loss-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The world is an illusion. Those who choose to come to it are seeking for a place where they can be illusions, and avoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miraclesone-foundation/the-world-is-an-illusion-those-who-choose-to-come-to-it-are-seeking/) [MiraclesOne Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miraclesone-foundation/) > [“So, what if everything in life is an illusion? Well, choose your illusion; Don't let it choose you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dionne/so-what-if-everything-in-life-is-an-illusion-well-choose-your/) [Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dionne/) > [“There are two paths of which one may choose in the walk of life; one we are born with, and the one we consciously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/there-are-two-paths-of-which-one-may-choose-in-the-walk-of-life-one/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [“If you want to be creative, stay in part a child, with the creativity and invention that characterizes children before they are deformed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piaget/if-you-want-to-be-creative-stay-in-part-a-child-with-the-creativity/) [Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piaget/) > [Stay a child while you can be a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/stay-a-child-while-you-can-be-a-child/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [One day it just hit me. This is it. You are not in love. So either stay in it because you have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandy-norwood/one-day-it-just-hit-me-this-is-it-you-are-not-in-love-so-either-stay/) [Brandy Norwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandy-norwood/) > [“He makes you feel like a better person than you are. And this is what makes you regret, again, endlessly, that you cannot stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/he-makes-you-feel-like-a-better-person-than-you-are-and-this-is-what/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [Just try to stay a child as long as you can. Don't force into adulthood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/just-try-to-stay-a-child-as-long-as-you-can-don-t-force-into-adulthood/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [To have a child is to forever have your heart go walking around outside your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/to-have-a-child-is-to-forever-have-your-heart-go-walking-around/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I suppose nowadays it's all a question of surgery, isn't it? Of course the notion is beautiful, the idea of staying a boy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-suppose-nowadays-it-s-all-a-question-of-surgery-isn-t-it-of-course/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [“I didn’t want to invade his privacy; I didn’t want to fight with him; I didn’t want anyone else to ever hurt him. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-didn-t-want-to-invade-his-privacy-i-didn-t-want-to-fight-with-him-i/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [It's a blessing to stay a child all your life - pretend to be this and that. And get paid for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/it-s-a-blessing-to-stay-a-child-all-your-life-pretend-to-be-this-and/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [“Your mother didn't raise you to be a child forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadahiko-nagao/your-mother-didn-t-raise-you-to-be-a-child-forever/) [Tadahiko Nagao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadahiko-nagao/) > [“People always say to me "What do you think you'd like to be When you grow up?" And I say, "Why, I think I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-kuskin/people-always-say-to-me-what-do-you-think-you-d-like-to-be-when-you/) [Karla Kuskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-kuskin/) ## More by James A. Owen > [Never, ever, sacrifice what you want the most, for what you want the most at that moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/never-ever-sacrifice-what-you-want-the-most-for-what-you-want-the/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [It is the world, my boy," he said. "All the World, in ink and blood, vellum and parchment, leather and hide. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/it-is-the-world-my-boy-he-said-all-the-world-in-ink-and-blood-vellum/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“My name is Samaranth,” said the great red beast, “and all those you see around you declined my invitation, opting instead to help themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/my-name-is-samaranth-said-the-great-red-beast-and-all-those-you-see/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“The Cavelries hear and their short and furrie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/the-cavelries-hear-and-their-short-and-furrie/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [I'm a conundrum. Or an enigma. I forget which.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/i-m-a-conundrum-or-an-enigma-i-forget-which/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [Discipline, Norah. If you're going to taunt them, remember to stick out your tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/discipline-norah-if-you-re-going-to-taunt-them-remember-to-stick-out/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [Our weaknesses are always evident, both to ourselves and others. But our strengths are hidden until we choose to reveal them--and that is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/our-weaknesses-are-always-evident-both-to-ourselves-and-others-but/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [If I can't joke about imminent death, then I might as well just resign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/if-i-can-t-joke-about-imminent-death-then-i-might-as-well-just-resign/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [That isn't a desperate act. That's a PLAN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/that-isn-t-a-desperate-act-that-s-a-plan/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“I cannot be defeated, because you are not my opponent. I cannot lose, because I am not fighting. And in the end, all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/i-cannot-be-defeated-because-you-are-not-my-opponent-i-cannot-lose/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [Always, always ask for what you want. Because the Universe might surprise you — and give it to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/always-always-ask-for-what-you-want-because-the-universe-might/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [Simple,' Tummeler replied.' Blueberries is one of the great forces o'good in the world.' How do you figure that?' said Charles. Well,' said Tummeler,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/simple-tummeler-replied-blueberries-is-one-of-the-great-forces-o-good/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“A really well-done first draft of a book bares your soul. The purpose of revision is so that everyone who reads the published version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/a-really-well-done-first-draft-of-a-book-bares-your-soul-the-purpose/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“That's one benefit of travelling to your own future, and making the trip part of your past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/that-s-one-benefit-of-travelling-to-your-own-future-and-making-the/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [“That's a shame," said Bert, "to run out of crackers before you've run out of emergency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/that-s-a-shame-said-bert-to-run-out-of-crackers-before-you-ve-run-out/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) [Explore all 50 James A. Owen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) [One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know,” said Peter. “Perhaps better than anyone. But you can’t stay a child forever. To choose to speak into Echo’s Well is to choose illusion. To choose to avoid the responsibilities of being an adult. The real trick—the real choice—is to keep the best of the child you were, without forgetting when you grow up. “It is the best of both worlds, Jack. Being a child is to believe in magic everywhere… “…but even Peter Pan had to grow up one day.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James A. Owen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/i-know-said-peter-perhaps-better-than-anyone-but-you-can-t-stay-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adults" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/i-know-said-peter-perhaps-better-than-anyone-but-you-can-t-stay-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/james-a-owen-12781_adults_i-know-said-peter-perhaps-better-than-an_1502923.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/james-a-owen-12781_adults_i-know-said-peter-perhaps-better-than-an_1502923.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/james-a-owen-12781_adults_i-know-said-peter-perhaps-better-than-an_1502923.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know,” said Peter. “Perhaps better than anyone. But you can’t stay a child forever. To choose to speak…” — James A. Owen", "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": "James A. Owen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know,” said Peter. “Perhaps better...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/i-know-said-peter-perhaps-better-than-anyone-but-you-can-t-stay-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/i-know-said-peter-perhaps-better-than-anyone-but-you-can-t-stay-a/#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 } } ] } ```