--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We get older and more sophisticated and a…" description: "\"We get older and more sophisticated and a bit cleverer, but certainly boys - and men - are as childish and basic as we ever were.\" — Jim Broadbent" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/jim-broadbent-16636_childish_we-get-older-and-more-sophisticated-and_2340916.jpg" --- # We get older and more sophisticated and a bit cleverer… ![“We get older and more sophisticated and a bit cleverer, but certainly boys - and men - are as childish and basic as we ever were.” quote by Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/jim-broadbent-16636_childish_we-get-older-and-more-sophisticated-and_2340916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/jim-broadbent-16636_childish_we-get-older-and-more-sophisticated-and_2340916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/jim-broadbent-16636_childish_we-get-older-and-more-sophisticated-and_2340916.jpg) > “We get older and more sophisticated and a bit cleverer, but certainly boys - and men - are as childish and basic as we ever were.” [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. As people age, they become more sophisticated yet retain childish traits, especially men, suggesting a persistent immaturity despite growth. **In simple terms:** Men stay childish despite maturity. Key Takeaway Recognize and address lingering childish behavior. Themes maturity gender psychology aging Mood thoughtful humorous Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - relationship counseling - men’s health Key Concepts sociology developmental psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do some adults retain childish habits? - How can maturity be fostered effectively? A Different Perspective The claim may generalize across genders and cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Women encourage men to be childish, then scold them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/women-encourage-men-to-be-childish-then-scold-them/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Once you get to 22 or 23, you're already old school. It's the bubblegum ones that buy records, have fun, party. You get older,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clinton/once-you-get-to-22-or-23-you-re-already-old-school-it-s-the-bubblegum/) [George Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clinton/) > [I love French films, and European films. 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Only a child sees things with perfect clarity, because it hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/don-t-you-understand-that-we-need-to-be-childish-in-order-to/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [It was childish to feel disappointed, but childishness comes almost as naturally to a man as to a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-was-childish-to-feel-disappointed-but-childishness-comes-almost-as/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Growing up is childish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/growing-up-is-childish/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [The most powerful men were those who most effectively used the power of adult competence to enforce childish agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-s-trow/the-most-powerful-men-were-those-who-most-effectively-used-the-power/) [George W. S. Trow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-s-trow/) > [The naive is what is or appears to be natural, individual, or classical to the point of irony or to the point of continuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/the-naive-is-what-is-or-appears-to-be-natural-individual-or-classical/) [Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/) > [“Mockery is childish, Beatrice,' She says. 'It does not become you'. 'Mockery is childish, Beatric,' I repeat in my best imitation of her voice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mockery-is-childish-beatrice-she-says-it-does-not-become-you-mockery/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [When we're in that kind of childish space, we're more genuine and feel more comfortable with our friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-spiegel/when-we-re-in-that-kind-of-childish-space-we-re-more-genuine-and-feel/) [Evan Spiegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-spiegel/) > [“Age doesn’t make us childish, as they say, It finds that we’re still children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/age-doesn-t-make-us-childish-as-they-say-it-finds-that-we-re-still/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“KINGDOM OF THE WOMB From her thighs, she gives you life And how you treat she who gives you life Shows how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/kingdom-of-the-womb-from-her-thighs-she-gives-you-life-and-how-you/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [In a meat-eating world, wearing leather for shoes and clothes and even handbags, the discussion of fur is childish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/in-a-meat-eating-world-wearing-leather-for-shoes-and-clothes-and-even/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [Childish egocentrism is, in its essence, an inability to differentiate between the ego and the social environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/childish-egocentrism-is-in-its-essence-an-inability-to-differentiate/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I wasted my time on your childish games. But don't worry I will not even try to hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-f-b-mora/i-wasted-my-time-on-your-childish-games-but-don-t-worry-i-will-not/) Cynthia F B Mora ## More by Jim Broadbent > [A make-up artist I know polished her Oscar and it lost its lustre. But if you don't polish it, it doesn't tarnish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/a-make-up-artist-i-know-polished-her-oscar-and-it-lost-its-lustre-but/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [To do a blockbuster that isn't stressful is a delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/to-do-a-blockbuster-that-isn-t-stressful-is-a-delight/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [It's funny how a film about a murderous old English toff can help you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/it-s-funny-how-a-film-about-a-murderous-old-english-toff-can-help-you/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [I like being able to go to the supermarket and go on the Tube and have an ordinary domestic life. I'd hate to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/i-like-being-able-to-go-to-the-supermarket-and-go-on-the-tube-and/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [We seem to have reached the age where life stops giving us things and starts taking them away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/we-seem-to-have-reached-the-age-where-life-stops-giving-us-things-and/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [In Hollywood films everything is tidied up at the end with clean lines and clean character definitions. It's sort of unsatisfying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/in-hollywood-films-everything-is-tidied-up-at-the-end-with-clean/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [Sweet Jesus, war does terrible things to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/sweet-jesus-war-does-terrible-things-to-people/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [Oh, I think I've been entirely selfish with my career. I've done what I wanted to do, and not put myself out for anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/oh-i-think-i-ve-been-entirely-selfish-with-my-career-i-ve-done-what-i/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [I love French films, and European films. They're not any bigger, but there's just a sort of definition, and a confidence, and strength to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/i-love-french-films-and-european-films-they-re-not-any-bigger-but/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [I'm not that comfortable with actors receiving honours, partly because I think they ought to go to those who really help others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/i-m-not-that-comfortable-with-actors-receiving-honours-partly-because/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [It's so easy as a child to identify with 'Winnie-the-Pooh.' The humour doesn't talk down at you. It's a very grown up humour -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/it-s-so-easy-as-a-child-to-identify-with-winnie-the-pooh-the-humour/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [Other people have a much better idea of what I might do than I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/other-people-have-a-much-better-idea-of-what-i-might-do-than-i/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [People smile at me as if they know me. I just smile back. They probably might know me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/people-smile-at-me-as-if-they-know-me-i-just-smile-back-they-probably/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [I never was a great Thatcher fan, and it wasn't a sad day in my life when she resigned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/i-never-was-a-great-thatcher-fan-and-it-wasn-t-a-sad-day-in-my-life/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [An Oscar clears the deck of envy and resentment. You think, 'Well, I've got that. I can relax now.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/an-oscar-clears-the-deck-of-envy-and-resentment-you-think-well-i-ve/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) [Explore all 39 Jim Broadbent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) ## More Childish quotes > [I wasted my time on your childish games. But don't worry I will not even try to hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-f-b-mora/i-wasted-my-time-on-your-childish-games-but-don-t-worry-i-will-not/) Cynthia F B Mora > [Childish egocentrism is, in its essence, an inability to differentiate between the ego and the social environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/childish-egocentrism-is-in-its-essence-an-inability-to-differentiate/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [In a meat-eating world, wearing leather for shoes and clothes and even handbags, the discussion of fur is childish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/in-a-meat-eating-world-wearing-leather-for-shoes-and-clothes-and-even/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [“KINGDOM OF THE WOMB From her thighs, she gives you life And how you treat she who gives you life Shows how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/kingdom-of-the-womb-from-her-thighs-she-gives-you-life-and-how-you/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Age doesn’t make us childish, as they say, It finds that we’re still children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/age-doesn-t-make-us-childish-as-they-say-it-finds-that-we-re-still/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [When we're in that kind of childish space, we're more genuine and feel more comfortable with our friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-spiegel/when-we-re-in-that-kind-of-childish-space-we-re-more-genuine-and-feel/) [Evan Spiegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-spiegel/) > [“Mockery is childish, Beatrice,' She says. 'It does not become you'. 'Mockery is childish, Beatric,' I repeat in my best imitation of her voice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mockery-is-childish-beatrice-she-says-it-does-not-become-you-mockery/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [The naive is what is or appears to be natural, individual, or classical to the point of irony or to the point of continuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/the-naive-is-what-is-or-appears-to-be-natural-individual-or-classical/) [Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/) > [The most powerful men were those who most effectively used the power of adult competence to enforce childish agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-s-trow/the-most-powerful-men-were-those-who-most-effectively-used-the-power/) [George W. S. Trow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-s-trow/) > [“Growing up is childish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/growing-up-is-childish/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [It was childish to feel disappointed, but childishness comes almost as naturally to a man as to a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-was-childish-to-feel-disappointed-but-childishness-comes-almost-as/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Don't you understand that we need to be childish in order to understand? Only a child sees things with perfect clarity, because it hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/don-t-you-understand-that-we-need-to-be-childish-in-order-to/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I think it is important to learn to distinguish between being childlike and being childish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-it-is-important-to-learn-to-distinguish-between-being/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I don't respect thinking that is dangerous, prejudicial, childish, and could get me killed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-don-t-respect-thinking-that-is-dangerous-prejudicial-childish-and/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“In a meat-eating world, wearing leather for shoes and even clothes, the discussion of fur is childish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/in-a-meat-eating-world-wearing-leather-for-shoes-and-even-clothes-the/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) Browse all 299 Childish quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We get older and more sophisticated and a bit cleverer, but certainly boys - and men - are as childish and basic as we ever were.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Broadbent" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/we-get-older-and-more-sophisticated-and-a-bit-cleverer-but-certainly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Childish" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/we-get-older-and-more-sophisticated-and-a-bit-cleverer-but-certainly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/jim-broadbent-16636_childish_we-get-older-and-more-sophisticated-and_2340916.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/jim-broadbent-16636_childish_we-get-older-and-more-sophisticated-and_2340916.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/jim-broadbent-16636_childish_we-get-older-and-more-sophisticated-and_2340916.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We get older and more sophisticated and a bit cleverer, but certainly boys - and men - are as childish and…” — Jim Broadbent", "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": "Jim Broadbent", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We get older and more sophisticated...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/we-get-older-and-more-sophisticated-and-a-bit-cleverer-but-certainly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/we-get-older-and-more-sophisticated-and-a-bit-cleverer-but-certainly/#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 } } ] } ```