--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did not consider that I would lead a…" description: "\"I did not consider that I would lead a literary life. I'd thought initially, as a young girl, that I would be a teacher, since I so admired many of my ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/joyce-carol-oates-344_girl_i-did-not-consider-that-i-would-lead-a-l_244502.png" --- # I did not consider that I would lead a literary life. I'd… ![“I did not consider that I would lead a literary life. I'd thought initially, as a young girl, that I would be a teacher, since I so admired many of my teachers. And though I loved writing, I did not ever think of myself as a writer.” quote by Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/joyce-carol-oates-344_girl_i-did-not-consider-that-i-would-lead-a-l_244502.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/joyce-carol-oates-344_girl_i-did-not-consider-that-i-would-lead-a-l_244502.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/joyce-carol-oates-344_girl_i-did-not-consider-that-i-would-lead-a-l_244502.png) > “I did not consider that I would lead a literary life. I'd thought initially, as a young girl, that I would be a teacher, since I so admired many of my teachers. And though I loved writing, I did not ever think of myself as a writer.” [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected paths can emerge when we stay open to new possibilities, even if they differ from early expectations. **In simple terms:** Life can take unexpected creative turns. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected opportunities. Themes career selfdiscovery creativity Mood inspirational thoughtful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal growth - creative pursuits Key Concepts identity vocational development literary ambition Questions to Reflect On - What hidden talents might you be overlooking? - How can you honor past aspirations while embracing new ones? A Different Perspective One may feel conflicted when passions shift. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When I went to high school, I wanted to be a designer of airplanes. 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In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/a-woman-who-has-lost-her-husband-is-invalid-thus-an-invalid-in/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Running! 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Any idiot can be happy in a happy place, but moral courage is required to be happy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-challenge-is-to-resist-circumstances-any-idiot-can-be-happy-in-a/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [The first sentence cant be written until the final sentence is written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-first-sentence-cant-be-written-until-the-final-sentence-is-written/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“Did you know, Marianne: how by breaking the code that day, you broke it forever? For us all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/did-you-know-marianne-how-by-breaking-the-code-that-day-you-broke-it/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > ['The Accursed' is very much a novel about social injustice as the consequence of the terrible, tragic division of classes - the exploitation not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-accursed-is-very-much-a-novel-about-social-injustice-as-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Keep a light, hopeful heart. But expect the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/keep-a-light-hopeful-heart-but-expect-the-worst/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [And this is the forbidden truth, the unspeakable taboo - that evil is not always repellent but frequently attractive; that it has the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/and-this-is-the-forbidden-truth-the-unspeakable-taboo-that-evil-is/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I don't think that writer's block exists really. I think that when you're trying to do something prematurely, it just won't come. 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