--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I grew up, there were common…" description: "\"When I grew up, there were common patterns to people's lives. Now everybody is just making it up as they go along.\" — Jane Pauley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/jane-pauley-10071_along_when-i-grew-up-there-were-common-pattern_2709604.jpg" --- # When I grew up, there were common patterns to people's… ![“When I grew up, there were common patterns to people's lives. Now everybody is just making it up as they go along.” quote by Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/jane-pauley-10071_along_when-i-grew-up-there-were-common-pattern_2709604.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/jane-pauley-10071_along_when-i-grew-up-there-were-common-pattern_2709604.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/jane-pauley-10071_along_when-i-grew-up-there-were-common-pattern_2709604.jpg) > “When I grew up, there were common patterns to people's lives. Now everybody is just making it up as they go along.” [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal norms have shifted from predictable life patterns to improvisation. **In simple terms:** Life used to follow patterns; now it's improvised. Key Takeaway Adapt to changing life trajectories. Themes change society individuality uncertainty Mood contemplative hopeful Type cultural motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - parenting - education Key Concepts sociology culture Questions to Reflect On - How do you find direction today? - What habits help you create personal structure? A Different Perspective Loss of guidance can cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Along](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/along/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-patterns-2797103/) [Everybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everybody/) [Everybody Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everybody-just/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Grew Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-common-2797104/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives/) [Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Patterns People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns-people-2797102/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) ## Related quotes > [They're so attached to their patterns that they've forgotten rule number one of human behavior: there are no patterns. People just do things. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/they-re-so-attached-to-their-patterns-that-they-ve-forgotten-rule/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [I felt the comics grew because they became the common man's literature, the common man's art, the common man's publishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-felt-the-comics-grew-because-they-became-the-common-man-s/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [“What is culture? It’s a set of consistent patterns people follow for communicating, thinking, and acting, all grounded in their shared assumptions and values.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-watkins/what-is-culture-it-s-a-set-of-consistent-patterns-people-follow-for/) [Michael D. Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-watkins/) > [Education was like progression with time not age, somehow the gap grew between common sense and knowing how to approach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ucunted/education-was-like-progression-with-time-not-age-somehow-the-gap-grew/) [Ucunted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ucunted/) > [Thanh Hoa itself is a rich agricultural province. Rice fields, a pattern of many shades of green, stretch far into the distance along the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/thanh-hoa-itself-is-a-rich-agricultural-province-rice-fields-a/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The perfect rescue dog is out there for everybody. You just have to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hopkins/the-perfect-rescue-dog-is-out-there-for-everybody-you-just-have-to/) [Josh Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hopkins/) > [But at the end of the day, every star, every person that been iconic, has gone through a time in their lives where it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-howard/but-at-the-end-of-the-day-every-star-every-person-that-been-iconic/) [Dwight Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-howard/) > [Everybody just needs a second chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/everybody-just-needs-a-second-chance/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/) > [You don't have to work with everybody and be on songs with everybody just to make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-the-kid/you-don-t-have-to-work-with-everybody-and-be-on-songs-with-everybody/) [Rich the Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-the-kid/) > [“Everybody. Just. Calm.Down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-whalen/everybody-just-calm-down/) [Michael Whalen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-whalen/) > [In real life there are no bad guys. Everybody just has their own perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/in-real-life-there-are-no-bad-guys-everybody-just-has-their-own/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [Everybody is just a stranger, but that's the danger in going my own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/everybody-is-just-a-stranger-but-that-s-the-danger-in-going-my-own-way/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I see myself as anybody, as everybody; I'm not just telling the story of my life to give the reader a picture of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/i-see-myself-as-anybody-as-everybody-i-m-not-just-telling-the-story/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [I always think family get-togethers when everybody just sort of crashes out are pretty much the best. If it's more than a few days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-cohan/i-always-think-family-get-togethers-when-everybody-just-sort-of/) [Lauren Cohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-cohan/) > [You wanna be there for everybody, but it's just not possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/you-wanna-be-there-for-everybody-but-it-s-just-not-possible/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) ## More by Jane Pauley > [My son has been known to throw a book at the television set when he called for me to come play and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/my-son-has-been-known-to-throw-a-book-at-the-television-set-when-he/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [I see myself as life-sized, certainly not a supersized personality, and apparently after 30 years of television, that's what the audience thinks of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/i-see-myself-as-life-sized-certainly-not-a-supersized-personality-and/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [I have a very good sense of tone, and it's possible to talk about very personal things and maintain a level of dignity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/i-have-a-very-good-sense-of-tone-and-it-s-possible-to-talk-about-very/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [I'm sorry, but I can't imagine being an American icon! It would be pretty difficult to look at your face in the mirror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/i-m-sorry-but-i-can-t-imagine-being-an-american-icon-it-would-be/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [Twins are a high-risk pregnancy, by definition. The quieter I am, the longer I can keep them growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/twins-are-a-high-risk-pregnancy-by-definition-the-quieter-i-am-the/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [My goal is to see that mental illness is treated like cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/my-goal-is-to-see-that-mental-illness-is-treated-like-cancer/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [I probably am more shy than people realize. But I'm shy when I leave a studio and I am just myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/i-probably-am-more-shy-than-people-realize-but-i-m-shy-when-i-leave-a/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [In the beginning when I sat next to Tom Brokaw on the 'Today' show, the stories I was interested in were those having to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/in-the-beginning-when-i-sat-next-to-tom-brokaw-on-the-today-show-the/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [I'm excited about going back to 'Today,' but, at odd moments, I'll grit my teeth in anxiety. I feel like a student before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/i-m-excited-about-going-back-to-today-but-at-odd-moments-i-ll-grit-my/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [Many people come to reinvention when life changes around them, but people come in all different stripes. I'm oriented to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/many-people-come-to-reinvention-when-life-changes-around-them-but/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [There might be false starts and do-overs.You are entitled to experiment before you find your calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/there-might-be-false-starts-and-do-overs-you-are-entitled-to/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder the year I turned 50, it was certainly a shock. But as a journalist, knowing a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/when-i-was-diagnosed-with-bipolar-disorder-the-year-i-turned-50-it/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [I've come to recognize what I call my 'inside interests.' Telling stories. And helping people tell their stories is a sort of interpersonal gardening.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/i-ve-come-to-recognize-what-i-call-my-inside-interests-telling/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [My guess is that people look at me and project their own values - importance of family, ego is healthy but not the biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/my-guess-is-that-people-look-at-me-and-project-their-own-values/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [I was an unusually private person - in a way, kind of insufferably so. I think I thought the celebrity thing when it happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/i-was-an-unusually-private-person-in-a-way-kind-of-insufferably-so-i/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) [Explore all 68 Jane Pauley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) ## More Along quotes > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [I always like to look for adventure when I go away. I have gone on several horse adventures with my wife - from Guangxi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/i-always-like-to-look-for-adventure-when-i-go-away-i-have-gone-on/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [I'd always wanted the show to be more reality based science fiction, something along the lines of The Day the Earth Stood Still, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gerard/i-d-always-wanted-the-show-to-be-more-reality-based-science-fiction/) [Gil Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gerard/) > [Each time I think I've created time for myself, along comes a throwback to disrupt my private space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/each-time-i-think-i-ve-created-time-for-myself-along-comes-a/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [I get along with everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-get-along-with-everybody/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It would have been an interesting run if we hadn't gotten along! It was good casting, I suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-west/it-would-have-been-an-interesting-run-if-we-hadn-t-gotten-along-it/) [Dominic West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-west/) > [Defense spending as a share of the economy dropped significantly during the early 1990s, and that was one of the things, along with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orszag/defense-spending-as-a-share-of-the-economy-dropped-significantly/) [Peter Orszag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orszag/) > [Just remember: to be grateful and thank the people who are there and support you along the way is a great start to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/just-remember-to-be-grateful-and-thank-the-people-who-are-there-and/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [We feel that, with Sidney, we have a great opportunity over the next few years to put a great team on the ice. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-lemieux/we-feel-that-with-sidney-we-have-a-great-opportunity-over-the-next/) [Mario Lemieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-lemieux/) > [“Being along with the Nature your soul is stronger than all disasters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esat-durak/being-along-with-the-nature-your-soul-is-stronger-than-all-disasters/) [Esat Durak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esat-durak/) > [When I was 16 I was fortunate enough to get Cosby and move to New York and shift my whole life. that had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-bonet/when-i-was-16-i-was-fortunate-enough-to-get-cosby-and-move-to-new/) [Lisa Bonet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-bonet/) > [For some actors, their star shines brightly and fizzles out. My star doesn't shine that brightly, but it buzzes along. Hopefully, that means it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-maxwell-martin/for-some-actors-their-star-shines-brightly-and-fizzles-out-my-star/) [Anna Maxwell Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-maxwell-martin/) > [I prefer to have one gigantic laugh preceded by several smaller laughs rather than a bunch of medium laughs all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/i-prefer-to-have-one-gigantic-laugh-preceded-by-several-smaller/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) [Browse all 1,040 Along quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/along/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I grew up, there were common patterns to people's lives. 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