--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I envy children who know that they're…" description: "\"I envy children who know that they're going to become doctors, know they're going to go into the forces or whatever. I think choice is one of the harde..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/jeremy-irons-10161_children_i-envy-children-who-know-that-they-re-go_461164.jpg" --- # I envy children who know that they're going to become… ![“I envy children who know that they're going to become doctors, know they're going to go into the forces or whatever. I think choice is one of the hardest things, but that's what I try to give my children, to say you can do anything.” quote by Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/jeremy-irons-10161_children_i-envy-children-who-know-that-they-re-go_461164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/jeremy-irons-10161_children_i-envy-children-who-know-that-they-re-go_461164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/jeremy-irons-10161_children_i-envy-children-who-know-that-they-re-go_461164.jpg) > “I envy children who know that they're going to become doctors, know they're going to go into the forces or whatever. I think choice is one of the hardest things, but that's what I try to give my children, to say you can do anything.” [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encouraging children to believe they can pursue any career, emphasizing choice as a challenge. **In simple terms:** Believing you can become anything is powerful. Key Takeaway Teach children to envision limitless possibilities. Themes confidence choice parenting Mood inspirational hopeful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career counseling - education - family discussions Key Concepts self‑efficacy future‑planning Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance encouragement with realistic guidance? - What choices do you model for your children? A Different Perspective Children may feel pressure to meet high expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“When I stopped going to doctors offices and taking their prescription medications, I recovered my health!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-i-stopped-going-to-doctors-offices-and-taking-their-prescription/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Going to the doctors - for me that was quite brave, taking that first step. That was a bit scary, saying that I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/limmy/going-to-the-doctors-for-me-that-was-quite-brave-taking-that-first/) [Limmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/limmy/) > [It's interesting to think that my children know more about the process than many mature critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/it-s-interesting-to-think-that-my-children-know-more-about-the/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [I aint such a mug as to put up my children to all I know myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-aint-such-a-mug-as-to-put-up-my-children-to-all-i-know-myself/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“From my years of teaching I know it's the children who say nothing who are in trouble more than the ones who complain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-kogawa/from-my-years-of-teaching-i-know-it-s-the-children-who-say-nothing/) [Joy Kogawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-kogawa/) > [“I wish I could hear more children say I can do something instead of I can't! Self-motivation will always lead them to greater &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/i-wish-i-could-hear-more-children-say-i-can-do-something-instead-of-i/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [Just because a child does the littlest thing wrong you want to shout after them. Lord, its just one miner thing but when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/just-because-a-child-does-the-littlest-thing-wrong-you-want-to-shout/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [What I think it really means is: I'm a teacher. I am a teacher. I teach all the time, as you do and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/what-i-think-it-really-means-is-i-m-a-teacher-i-am-a-teacher-i-teach/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [While they are kids, my children must do as I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/while-they-are-kids-my-children-must-do-as-i-say/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [A person with no children says, "Well I just love children," and you say "Why?" and they say, "Because a child is so truthful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/a-person-with-no-children-says-well-i-just-love-children-and-you-say/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [When you have children, you can't say you're not interested in money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloan-wilson/when-you-have-children-you-can-t-say-you-re-not-interested-in-money/) [Sloan Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloan-wilson/) > [We fail our children if we say, 'Don't do as I do, but do as I say'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/we-fail-our-children-if-we-say-don-t-do-as-i-do-but-do-as-i-say/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“—What do the children say? —There's a thing the children say. —What do the children say? —They say: Will you always love me? —Always.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/what-do-the-children-say-there-s-a-thing-the-children-say-what-do-the/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [Children never say that their father is the smartest; instead they boast that he's the strongest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrik-baboumian/children-never-say-that-their-father-is-the-smartest-instead-they/) [Patrik Baboumian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrik-baboumian/) > [Children say 'I want to grow up faster'. Adults say 'Oh how I wish I was young again'. The heck?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/children-say-i-want-to-grow-up-faster-adults-say-oh-how-i-wish-i-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jeremy Irons > [At age 10 or 12 he's going to boarding school in the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight is, of course, down at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/at-age-10-or-12-he-s-going-to-boarding-school-in-the-isle-of-wight/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [I liked the theater. I liked the people. I liked the time that we worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/i-liked-the-theater-i-liked-the-people-i-liked-the-time-that-we-worked/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [I succeeded on sort of chutzpah and charm. No technique at all, didn't know what I was doing, but it worked and the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/i-succeeded-on-sort-of-chutzpah-and-charm-no-technique-at-all-didn-t/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [ I find what I call the \[bleep\] side of the industry very difficult. You won't see me at other peoples' premiers. I mean, I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/i-find-what-i-call-the-bleep-side-of-the-industry-very-difficult-you/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [I get bored very easily, so I love doing different things, changing, doing a job for a month and then doing another one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/i-get-bored-very-easily-so-i-love-doing-different-things-changing/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [To be an actor you need various things. You need to have a head for choosing the roles. You have to be, hopefully, easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/to-be-an-actor-you-need-various-things-you-need-to-have-a-head-for/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [Sadly, one's parameters are constantly narrowed by one's success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/sadly-one-s-parameters-are-constantly-narrowed-by-one-s-success/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [One always returns to the fact that there are just too many of us, the population continues to rise and it's unsustainable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/one-always-returns-to-the-fact-that-there-are-just-too-many-of-us-the/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [I'm very glad I'm not a politician. I think it's one step away from the gates of hell, being a politician. I really do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/i-m-very-glad-i-m-not-a-politician-i-think-it-s-one-step-away-from/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [What Takes Us to the PAST is the MEMORY… What takes Us to the FUTURE is DREAM…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/what-takes-us-to-the-past-is-the-memory-what-takes-us-to-the-future/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [It's just money; it's made up. Pieces of paper with pictures on it so we don't have to kill each other just to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/it-s-just-money-it-s-made-up-pieces-of-paper-with-pictures-on-it-so/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [My next step must be to go to drama school. Well, I get into drama school, so I did that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/my-next-step-must-be-to-go-to-drama-school-well-i-get-into-drama/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [I've always believed that the great strength of the Internet is that it allows us to communicate with each other, it allows debate. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/i-ve-always-believed-that-the-great-strength-of-the-internet-is-that/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [Never played a video game. Actually, I try to keep them out of my house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/never-played-a-video-game-actually-i-try-to-keep-them-out-of-my-house/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [You think, you don't just speak. The lines come off the thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/you-think-you-don-t-just-speak-the-lines-come-off-the-thoughts/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) [Explore all 67 Jeremy Irons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) ## More Children 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/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. 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