--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before I was nine years old, I had been a…" description: "\"Before I was nine years old, I had been a socialist. When young, everyone is a socialist; later he becomes cleverer.\" — Janusz Korwin-Mikke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/janusz-korwin-mikke-15927_nine_before-i-was-nine-years-old-i-had-been-a_553847.jpg" --- # Before I was nine years old, I had been a socialist. When… ![“Before I was nine years old, I had been a socialist. When young, everyone is a socialist; later he becomes cleverer.” quote by Janusz Korwin-Mikke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/janusz-korwin-mikke-15927_nine_before-i-was-nine-years-old-i-had-been-a_553847.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/janusz-korwin-mikke-15927_nine_before-i-was-nine-years-old-i-had-been-a_553847.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/janusz-korwin-mikke-15927_nine_before-i-was-nine-years-old-i-had-been-a_553847.jpg) > “Before I was nine years old, I had been a socialist. When young, everyone is a socialist; later he becomes cleverer.” [Janusz Korwin-Mikke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korwin-mikke/) ## 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 humorously notes that youthful idealism often fades into more nuanced views as one ages. **In simple terms:** Youthful idealism gives way to complexity. Key Takeaway Expect ideas to evolve with experience. Themes politics ideology growth Mood contemplative analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - political discussions - education - personal development - career planning Key Concepts idealism maturity critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How has your political view changed over time? - What causes shifts from idealism to pragmatism? A Different Perspective Not all become less idealistic; some retain early beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Socialist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialist/) ## Related quotes > [My father was a dreamer - my hero. He was a smart, tough guy from Poland, a cutter of lady's handbags, an old socialist-unionist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/my-father-was-a-dreamer-my-hero-he-was-a-smart-tough-guy-from-poland/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [A monkey is a much better voter than a socialist. Statistically speaking, if we assume that there are two options to choose from: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-korwin-mikke/a-monkey-is-a-much-better-voter-than-a-socialist-statistically/) [Janusz Korwin-Mikke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korwin-mikke/) > [It has been nine years since the Supreme Court decision outlawing segregated schools, yet less than ten per cent of the Negro students in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/it-has-been-nine-years-since-the-supreme-court-decision-outlawing/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I started publishing stories in small magazines early on, but after seven or eight or nine years you feel like you need a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-magazines-early-on-but-after/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [I have been doing this since I was nine years old. So whatever the role is, I am going to do the best I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-mccrary/i-have-been-doing-this-since-i-was-nine-years-old-so-whatever-the/) [Darius McCrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-mccrary/) > [The birth of a true poet is neither an insignificant event nor an easy delivery. Complications generally begin long before the fated soul carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-birth-of-a-true-poet-is-neither-an-insignificant-event-nor-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I've learned anything in twenty-nine years, it's that every human being you see in the course of a day has a problem that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/if-i-ve-learned-anything-in-twenty-nine-years-it-s-that-every-human/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Since I spent eighteen years of my life as a child, and nine years of that life as a pretty sexually active gay child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/since-i-spent-eighteen-years-of-my-life-as-a-child-and-nine-years-of/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [I was called a bookish child. Mother sent me to a ballet teacher in Cincinnati when I was nine years old. I guess I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-ellen/i-was-called-a-bookish-child-mother-sent-me-to-a-ballet-teacher-in/) [Vera-Ellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-ellen/) > [You go ahead. I'd rather not be shot out of a tube into a pool filled with a bunch of nine-year-olds' urine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/you-go-ahead-i-d-rather-not-be-shot-out-of-a-tube-into-a-pool-filled/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [My mom taught me to read when I was two or three. When I was five I read and wrote well enough to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-abani/my-mom-taught-me-to-read-when-i-was-two-or-three-when-i-was-five-i/) [Chris Abani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-abani/) > [Because nine years ago, I walked up to the most beautiful girl in the bar, and tonight she's still the only person I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/because-nine-years-ago-i-walked-up-to-the-most-beautiful-girl-in-the/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [I wanted to be an actor since I was nine years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-since-i-was-nine-years-old/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I intend to be, the richest man in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hughes/i-intend-to-be-the-richest-man-in-the-world/) [Howard Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hughes/) > [You know what I was thinking about on my way home? 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Everything has to be "the best", but in reality as we know best things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-korwin-mikke/whenever-socialism-appears-it-destroys-at-least-one-thing-diversity/) [Janusz Korwin-Mikke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korwin-mikke/) > [I am for joining a free trade zone. The European Union is not such zone, but a zone of raging bureaucracy which stears every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-korwin-mikke/i-am-for-joining-a-free-trade-zone-the-european-union-is-not-such/) [Janusz Korwin-Mikke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korwin-mikke/) > [I've had no sexual education, but I have six children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-korwin-mikke/i-ve-had-no-sexual-education-but-i-have-six-children/) [Janusz Korwin-Mikke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korwin-mikke/) > [Currently we breed cowards and snitches. Whored society of sons of whores!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-korwin-mikke/currently-we-breed-cowards-and-snitches-whored-society-of-sons-of/) [Janusz Korwin-Mikke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korwin-mikke/) > [The purpose of road traffic is speed, not safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-korwin-mikke/the-purpose-of-road-traffic-is-speed-not-safety/) [Janusz Korwin-Mikke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korwin-mikke/) > [A monkey is a much better voter than a socialist. Statistically speaking, if we assume that there are two options to choose from: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-korwin-mikke/a-monkey-is-a-much-better-voter-than-a-socialist-statistically/) [Janusz Korwin-Mikke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korwin-mikke/) [Explore all 41 Janusz Korwin-Mikke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korwin-mikke/) ## More Nine quotes > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [Everybody is different. Some writers can write reams of great books and then J. D. Salinger wrote just a few. 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They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [Nine times out of 10, I'm trying to score if I do decide to run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-jackson/nine-times-out-of-10-i-m-trying-to-score-if-i-do-decide-to-run/) [Lamar Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-jackson/) > [Growing up in Dallas, my first influences on the guitar were T-Bone Walker and Les Paul. T-Bone taught me how to play lead guitar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/growing-up-in-dallas-my-first-influences-on-the-guitar-were-t-bone/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Ninety nine per cent of the time, for anyone who wins or makes money, it makes them happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/ninety-nine-per-cent-of-the-time-for-anyone-who-wins-or-makes-money/) [Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/) > [I'm so thankful that there are people willing to do that - to actually carry a child nine months for someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glozell/i-m-so-thankful-that-there-are-people-willing-to-do-that-to-actually/) GloZell > [I've always been a late bloomer in some ways, and extremely precocious in other ways. 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