Adults Quote by Joan Didion
“I just read everything I could get my hands on. I taught myself to read or my mother taught me. Who knows how I learned to read? It was before I went to school, so I would go to the library and just take things off the shelf. My mother had to sign a piece of paper saying I could take adult books.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 1975
She describes an autodidactic childhood driven by curiosity and access to books, emphasizing self‑directed learning before formal schooling.
In simple terms: She taught herself to read by borrowing books from the library.
Key Takeaway
Embrace curiosity and seek knowledge independently.
Themes
learning
self‑direction
curiosity
literacy
independence
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
personal development
educational
When to use this quote
- home schooling
- library visits
- personal development
- early literacy
- self‑motivation
Key Concepts
autodidactism
access to resources
informal education
Questions to Reflect On
- What resources can you use to learn independently?
- How does early self‑directed learning shape later habits?
A Different Perspective
Limited access to materials could hinder such self‑learning.
![“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 art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/katherine-paterson-2365_adults_he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-s_6101.jpg)
