--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Adults always acted like they could fix…" description: "\"Adults always acted like they could fix everything. But they can't. And they know it.\" — Jana Oliver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/jana-oliver-9015_adults_adults-always-acted-like-they-could-fix_1601092.png" --- # Adults always acted like they could fix everything. But… ![“Adults always acted like they could fix everything. But they can't. And they know it.” quote by Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/jana-oliver-9015_adults_adults-always-acted-like-they-could-fix_1601092.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/jana-oliver-9015_adults_adults-always-acted-like-they-could-fix_1601092.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/jana-oliver-9015_adults_adults-always-acted-like-they-could-fix_1601092.png) > “Adults always acted like they could fix everything. But they can't. And they know it.” [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adults often believe they can solve all problems, yet they recognize their limitations and the inevitability of some unresolved issues. **In simple terms:** People think they can fix everything but realize they can't. Key Takeaway Accept that not everything is fixable. Themes limitations realism growth humility Mood reflective somber Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace conflicts - policy decisions - family dynamics Key Concepts control acceptance imperfection Questions to Reflect On - What situations reveal your limits? - How do you cope when you cannot solve a problem? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on control can lead to burnout or denial of reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ## Related quotes > [My head grew muddled with it all; the silly ways adults acted with one another, never saying what they meant, trusting in sighs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-benjamin/my-head-grew-muddled-with-it-all-the-silly-ways-adults-acted-with-one/) [Melanie Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-benjamin/) > [Sometimes ish could seem so bad and you would think theres no way to fix it but before you know it things will get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teady/sometimes-ish-could-seem-so-bad-and-you-would-think-theres-no-way-to/) $Teady > [“I’d fix it all for you if I could. You know that, right?” He whispers. I wonder if he’s talking about my scars or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-a-tucker/i-d-fix-it-all-for-you-if-i-could-you-know-that-right-he-whispers-i/) [K.A. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-a-tucker/) > [I would be happy if I were Jesus. I'd like to fix everyone else's problems more than my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-brown/i-would-be-happy-if-i-were-jesus-i-d-like-to-fix-everyone-else-s/) [June Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-brown/) > [They always say some women like to fix people. I don't like to fix people, but you like a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha-tyler/they-always-say-some-women-like-to-fix-people-i-don-t-like-to-fix/) [Aisha Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha-tyler/) > [I don't expect anyone who doesn't look like me to fix my problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/i-don-t-expect-anyone-who-doesn-t-look-like-me-to-fix-my-problems/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [I'm really unimaginative - once I like something, I fix on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-peake/i-m-really-unimaginative-once-i-like-something-i-fix-on-it/) [Maxine Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-peake/) > [If you don't like something about yourself FIX IT, but if you can't fix it ACCEPT IT and learn to LOVE IT because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-you-don-t-like-something-about-yourself-fix-it-but-if-you-can-t/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Where I grew up in my city, there was no one who acted like me, so I felt insecure, and when I would read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doechii/where-i-grew-up-in-my-city-there-was-no-one-who-acted-like-me-so-i/) [Doechii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doechii/) > [Though I had success in my research both when I was mad and when I was not, eventually I felt that my work would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/though-i-had-success-in-my-research-both-when-i-was-mad-and-when-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [From the moment I could express myself, I acted like a stereotypical girl and insisted that I was a girl. I wasn't just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazz-jennings/from-the-moment-i-could-express-myself-i-acted-like-a-stereotypical/) [Jazz Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazz-jennings/) > [I acted like it wasn't a big deal,when really it was breaking my heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-acted-like-it-wasn-t-a-big-deal-when-really-it-was-breaking-my-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I got through with my ability to mimic others and make people laugh. I swaggered through life, but, in reality, I lived in fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-considine/i-got-through-with-my-ability-to-mimic-others-and-make-people-laugh-i/) [Paddy Considine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-considine/) > [I acted like Cary Grant for so long that I became Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-acted-like-cary-grant-for-so-long-that-i-became-cary-grant/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [When you acted like 'The Beast' I still saw 'The Prince' in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/when-you-acted-like-the-beast-i-still-saw-the-prince-in-you/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) ## More by Jana Oliver > [“The demon stopped its frantic attempts to escape. It stared at the glitter and began to pant, fingers twitching in anticipation. More twitching. Faster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/the-demon-stopped-its-frantic-attempts-to-escape-it-stared-at-the/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [Simon had been all lined up and he’d managed to throw away the best girl he’d ever meet. “What a dumbass,” Beck muttered. “No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/simon-had-been-all-lined-up-and-he-d-managed-to-throw-away-the-best/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [“Ozymandias controls not only the dead, but the living. He works the dark magics, and it is said he knows the paths between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/ozymandias-controls-not-only-the-dead-but-the-living-he-works-the/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [Ya hafta be there for Beck. He only has you." Riley sighed. "I'll get the car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/ya-hafta-be-there-for-beck-he-only-has-you-riley-sighed-i-ll-get-the/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [“I promised Paul I'd keep ya safe, he said. If that means packin' yer ass out of town so it doesen't get humped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/i-promised-paul-i-d-keep-ya-safe-he-said-if-that-means-packin-yer-ass/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [“She was a journeyman trapper and caretaker of Denver Beck's heart. Even Hell knew her name. Blackthorne's daughter would never settle for "okay" ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/she-was-a-journeyman-trapper-and-caretaker-of-denver-beck-s-heart/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [“You could have let that thing flatten me, but you didn't. Why?” “I could ask you the same question.” She was too tired to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/you-could-have-let-that-thing-flatten-me-but-you-didn-t-why-i-could/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [Will you wear my ring so all the world knows yer mine?" Beck wasn't asking for her hand in marriage, but it was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/will-you-wear-my-ring-so-all-the-world-knows-yer-mine-beck-wasn-t/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [Don't start,” he warned. “What?” she said, grinning. “I'm sure all the big, bad trappers have a bun-bun in their houses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/don-t-start-he-warned-what-she-said-grinning-i-m-sure-all-the-big-bad/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [I learned that the Holy Water better be fresh, that I need practice throwing the spheres, and that someone has to watch my back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/i-learned-that-the-holy-water-better-be-fresh-that-i-need-practice/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [Accept that I enjoy being with you. Accept that when I'm with you I see Heaven in your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/accept-that-i-enjoy-being-with-you-accept-that-when-i-m-with-you-i/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [A soul is forged in the fires of adversity, not comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/a-soul-is-forged-in-the-fires-of-adversity-not-comfort/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [“Beck finished his call. Once he was paying attention again, she pointed downward with the pipe. Peering over the edge of the building, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/beck-finished-his-call-once-he-was-paying-attention-again-she-pointed/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [Yes!’ Beck crowed, pumping his fist into the air. ‘That rocks!’ Then he charged off in search of another Three to decapitate. Riley sighed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/yes-beck-crowed-pumping-his-fist-into-the-air-that-rocks-then-he/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [I could stay here forever." "But you won't." "Maybe I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/i-could-stay-here-forever-but-you-won-t-maybe-i-will/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) [Explore all 76 Jana Oliver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) ## 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 > [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 > [ 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": "Adults always acted like they could fix everything. But they can't. 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