--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But as he grew older, he learned that a…" description: "\"But as he grew older, he learned that a word was a powerful thing. An insult didn't have to be shouted to bleed; a vow didn't have to be whispered to m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jodi-picoult-45_action_but-as-he-grew-older-he-learned-that-a-w_2708297.jpg" --- # But as he grew older, he learned that a word was a… ![“But as he grew older, he learned that a word was a powerful thing. An insult didn't have to be shouted to bleed; a vow didn't have to be whispered to make you believe. Hold a thought in your head, and that was enough to change the actions of anyone and anything that crossed your path.” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jodi-picoult-45_action_but-as-he-grew-older-he-learned-that-a-w_2708297.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jodi-picoult-45_action_but-as-he-grew-older-he-learned-that-a-w_2708297.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jodi-picoult-45_action_but-as-he-grew-older-he-learned-that-a-w_2708297.jpg) > “But as he grew older, he learned that a word was a powerful thing. An insult didn't have to be shouted to bleed; a vow didn't have to be whispered to make you believe. Hold a thought in your head, and that was enough to change the actions of anyone and anything that crossed your path.” [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words wield power; thoughts alone can influence actions without being spoken. **In simple terms:** Thoughts can change actions. Key Takeaway Mind the power of words. Themes communication psychology influence Mood introspective thoughtful Type literary psychological When to use this quote - writing - teaching - leadership - conflict mediation Key Concepts literature cognitive science Questions to Reflect On - How can unspoken thoughts shape outcomes? - When should you speak versus think? A Different Perspective Silence may limit impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Thoughts in your head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-in-your-head/) [Vow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vow/) ## Related quotes > [“As he grew older, he learned that a word was a powerful thing. 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One day when your alarm clock rang, you got up and realized you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/as-it-turned-out-growing-up-was-just-as-she-d-feared-one-day-when/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Hold a thought in your head, and that was enough to change the actions of anyone and anything that crossed your path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was-enough-to-change-the-actions/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I've learned that my word carries weight, and that's something I have to always have to keep in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/i-ve-learned-that-my-word-carries-weight-and-that-s-something-i-have/) [Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/) > [“You are learned in the Word of God--And if you know His Word, you know His Will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-eisner/you-are-learned-in-the-word-of-god-and-if-you-know-his-word-you-know/) [Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-eisner/) > [I learned the word non-conformist in fourth grade and immediately announced that I would grow up to become one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-learned-the-word-non-conformist-in-fourth-grade-and-immediately/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [I learned the word "black" in every language just so I know when to be offended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-learned-the-word-black-in-every-language-just-so-i-know-when-to-be/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [When I was in the academy I might have done a little trick here or there or a step-over, but as you get older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-mount/when-i-was-in-the-academy-i-might-have-done-a-little-trick-here-or/) [Mason Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-mount/) > [As I've gotten older I learned to cherish everything I have, remember everything I had, and look forward to whats coming, to make lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-learned-to-cherish-everything-i-have-remember/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [When I was younger, I believed my inconsistency was due to my youth. I believed that age would teach me all I needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/when-i-was-younger-i-believed-my-inconsistency-was-due-to-my-youth-i/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [As I've gotten older and learned more, I realise that Hollywood has not told the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/as-i-ve-gotten-older-and-learned-more-i-realise-that-hollywood-has/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [A burlesque word is often a powerful sermon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/a-burlesque-word-is-often-a-powerful-sermon/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [“The written word is a powerful thing, you have to be careful with it. - Silvertongue”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/the-written-word-is-a-powerful-thing-you-have-to-be-careful-with-it/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [The word is not just a sound or a written symbol. The word is a force; it is the power you have to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/the-word-is-not-just-a-sound-or-a-written-symbol-the-word-is-a-force/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) ## More by Jodi Picoult > [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Let me guess," Eric says, "You never meant for it to happen." "Hell, yes, I did. 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My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/sometimes-words-are-not-big-enough-to-contain-all-the-feelings-you/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The age wasn't as important as the milestones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-age-wasn-t-as-important-as-the-milestones/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The night is falling down around us. Meteors rain like fireworks, quick rips in the seam of the dark... Every second, another streak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-night-is-falling-down-around-us-meteors-rain-like-fireworks-quick/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“When she had packed all the artifacts that made up their personal history into liquor store boxes, the house became strictly a feminine place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-she-had-packed-all-the-artifacts-that-made-up-their-personal/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Here's what I hadn't realized : the mother you haven't seen for almost 36 years isn't your mother. She is a stranger. 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I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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