--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we were kids, Fitz was unbeatable in…" description: "\"“When we were kids, Fitz was unbeatable in Scrabble. It would drive Eric crazy, because he wasn't used to be bested by Fitz in much of anything. But Fi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/jodi-picoult-45_english-language_when-we-were-kids-fitz-was-unbeatable-in_1170298.jpg" --- # When we were kids, Fitz was unbeatable in Scrabble. It… ![“When we were kids, Fitz was unbeatable in Scrabble. It would drive Eric crazy, because he wasn't used to be bested by Fitz in much of anything. But Fitz had an uncanny memory, and once he saw a word, he wouldn't forget it. [. . .] But Eric wasn't used to be second-best, so he commissioned me into…” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/jodi-picoult-45_english-language_when-we-were-kids-fitz-was-unbeatable-in_1170298.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/jodi-picoult-45_english-language_when-we-were-kids-fitz-was-unbeatable-in_1170298.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/jodi-picoult-45_english-language_when-we-were-kids-fitz-was-unbeatable-in_1170298.jpg) > ““When we were kids, Fitz was unbeatable in Scrabble. It would drive Eric crazy, because he wasn't used to be bested by Fitz in much of anything. But Fitz had an uncanny memory, and once he saw a word, he wouldn't forget it. \[. . .\] But Eric wasn't used to be second-best, so he commissioned me into teaching him the dictionary. \[. . .\] Three weeks after we'd taken on the English language, it rained on a Saturday. "Hey," Fitz suggested, like usual. "Bet I can whip you in Scrabble." Eric looked at me. "Huh," he said, "What makes you think that?" "Um . . . the five hundred and seventy thousand other times I've kicked your ass?" Fitz knew. The moment Eric laid down the letters J-A-R-L and then casually mentioned that it was a term for a Scandinavian noble, Fitz's eyes lit up.”” [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. A child's competitive edge and memory give him confidence, while a rival's insecurity drives him to seek help, highlighting how pride and learning intersect. **In simple terms:** Kids compete, learn, and grow through challenges. Key Takeaway Embrace learning to overcome ego. Themes competition learning pride memory confidence Mood playful reflective determined Type narrative anecdotal motivational When to use this quote - schoolyard games - family tutoring - self‑improvement - overcoming rivalry - building expertise Key Concepts psychology motivation cognitive skill growth mindset self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - How does pride affect willingness to learn? - What role does memory play in confidence? A Different Perspective The story may over‑emphasize innate talent versus effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-language/) [Fitz Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitz-knew-3388652/) [Fitz Suggested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitz-suggested-3388651/) [Scrabble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrabble/) [Scrabble Eric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrabble-eric-3388650/) [Whip Scrabble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whip-scrabble-3388653/) ## Related quotes > [“In the English language there are orphans and widows, but there is no word for the parents who lose a child.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/in-the-english-language-there-are-orphans-and-widows-but-there-is-no/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“He wished he knew what to say to make her feel better, but the truth was, he didn’t feel all that great himself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/he-wished-he-knew-what-to-say-to-make-her-feel-better-but-the-truth/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Wolves never look more funny than when they have lost the scent and scrabble to find it again: they hop in the air; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/wolves-never-look-more-funny-than-when-they-have-lost-the-scent-and/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [I play a lot of 'Scrabble' with my brother online.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-thompson/i-play-a-lot-of-scrabble-with-my-brother-online/) [Lea Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-thompson/) > [Scrabble has always been immensely popular, so it's easy to see why online Scrabble is just as lauded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schreier/scrabble-has-always-been-immensely-popular-so-it-s-easy-to-see-why/) [Jason Schreier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schreier/) > [The other day I was playing Scrabble. I saw that I could close the space in D-E- -Y. I had an N and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hempel/the-other-day-i-was-playing-scrabble-i-saw-that-i-could-close-the/) [Amy Hempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hempel/) > [“Sometimes fate just plays a strange game of Scrabble with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pawan-mishra/sometimes-fate-just-plays-a-strange-game-of-scrabble-with-you/) [Pawan Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pawan-mishra/) > [“Everyone lives in two worlds,” Maggie said, speaking in an absentminded sort of way while she studied her letters. “There’s the real world, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/everyone-lives-in-two-worlds-maggie-said-speaking-in-an-absentminded/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [“she thinks Scrabble is the answer to everything. She even has a Scrabble-based plan for lasting peace in the Middle East.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-warren/she-thinks-scrabble-is-the-answer-to-everything-she-even-has-a/) [Christine Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-warren/) > [My ideal Friday night is spent playing scrabble in my local in Kentish Town with a goon called Lenny. After I've won a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-key/my-ideal-friday-night-is-spent-playing-scrabble-in-my-local-in/) [Tim Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-key/) > [This book's title, Rough Beauty , conveys Anderson's conviction that the hard scrabble lives of most of the residents of Vidor, Texas, are worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-wilkes-tucker/this-book-s-title-rough-beauty-conveys-anderson-s-conviction-that-the/) [Anne Wilkes Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-wilkes-tucker/) > [I'm kind of a dork. I don't have much game. I'm not particularly comfortable in bars or clubs. I much prefer being home playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-m-kind-of-a-dork-i-don-t-have-much-game-i-m-not-particularly/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [Jeff is the annoying kind of Scrabble player who plays a lot of obscure two-letter words that shouldn't count but for whatever reason are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bennett-madison/jeff-is-the-annoying-kind-of-scrabble-player-who-plays-a-lot-of/) [Bennett Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bennett-madison/) > [Palindrome as well. My sister's name is Hannah. Father liked word games. He was fourteen times World Scrabble Champion. When he died, we buried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/palindrome-as-well-my-sister-s-name-is-hannah-father-liked-word-games/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. 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[. . .] Three weeks after we'd taken on the English language, it rained on a Saturday. \"Hey,\" Fitz suggested, like usual. \"Bet I can whip you in Scrabble.\" Eric looked at me. \"Huh,\" he said, \"What makes you think that?\" \"Um . . . the five hundred and seventy thousand other times I've kicked your ass?\" Fitz knew. 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