--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was younger, I'd wanted someone to…" description: "\"When I was younger, I'd wanted someone to promise me that things would work out and nothing bad would ever happen again. But I understood now that that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/laurell-k-hamilton-199_children_when-i-was-younger-i-d-wanted-someone-to_2354493.jpg" --- # When I was younger, I'd wanted someone to promise me that… ![“When I was younger, I'd wanted someone to promise me that things would work out and nothing bad would ever happen again. But I understood now that that was a child's wish. No one could promise that. No one. The grown-ups could try, but they couldn't promise, not and mean it.” quote by Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/laurell-k-hamilton-199_children_when-i-was-younger-i-d-wanted-someone-to_2354493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/laurell-k-hamilton-199_children_when-i-was-younger-i-d-wanted-someone-to_2354493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/laurell-k-hamilton-199_children_when-i-was-younger-i-d-wanted-someone-to_2354493.jpg) > “When I was younger, I'd wanted someone to promise me that things would work out and nothing bad would ever happen again. But I understood now that that was a child's wish. No one could promise that. No one. The grown-ups could try, but they couldn't promise, not and mean it.” [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## 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 hopes for certainty, but adulthood teaches that certainty is impossible and promises are unreliable. **In simple terms:** Children crave certainty; adults accept uncertainty. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and focus on resilience. Themes growth certainty resilience expectations Mood reflective somber Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - family relationships - career planning - health challenges - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism psychology developmental stages Questions to Reflect On - How do you cope when expectations fail? - What strategies build resilience in uncertain times? A Different Perspective Promises can create false security and hinder adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Wanted someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-someone/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/) ## Related quotes > [“I want you to remember that it’s better to look back on life and say, ‘I can’t believe I did that!’ than it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carina-adams/i-want-you-to-remember-that-it-s-better-to-look-back-on-life-and-say/) Carina Adams > [If I wasn't from Philly, I couldn't promise you that I would have the same drive and the same ambition because, as a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/if-i-wasn-t-from-philly-i-couldn-t-promise-you-that-i-would-have-the/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [“She couldn't promise Chandler Caillou more than she was willing to give.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-johnson/she-couldn-t-promise-chandler-caillou-more-than-she-was-willing-to/) [Suzanne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-johnson/) > [I'm just a poor boy nobody loves me but,if you wish to be with me I promise to give you the only thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayjay-guillermo/i-m-just-a-poor-boy-nobody-loves-me-but-if-you-wish-to-be-with-me-i/) [Jayjay Guillermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayjay-guillermo/) > [“She was talking about the future. About their future, as if it were settled and agreed upon that they would be together. As if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-wilks/she-was-talking-about-the-future-about-their-future-as-if-it-were/) [eileen wilks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-wilks/) > [“She was thinking of the girls who'd escaped with Pipkin, and hoped that they ran in the grass with bare feet, laughing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-henry/she-was-thinking-of-the-girls-who-d-escaped-with-pipkin-and-hoped/) [Christina Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-henry/) > [“Promise me something,' she said. 'I'll promise you anything I can without lying to you again.' Pearl nodded. 'If magic really does exist, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-t-rzs/promise-me-something-she-said-i-ll-promise-you-anything-i-can-without/) [Emma Törzs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-t-rzs/) > [“You wished for time,” Aldrik explained. “I heard each utterance when you beseeched time to stop, for mornings not to come. I want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elise-kova/you-wished-for-time-aldrik-explained-i-heard-each-utterance-when-you/) [Elise Kova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elise-kova/) > [I'm sorry I can't give you the normal life you wanted, but I promise to adore you every day for the rest of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-sorry-i-can-t-give-you-the-normal-life-you-wanted-but-i-promise/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [I promise things will get better, and the scars will heal. One day we'll meet in person and fall in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie/i-promise-things-will-get-better-and-the-scars-will-heal-one-day-we/) [Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie/) > [I don't want to beg or promise you things I can't give you. There isn't much of me to give, but what I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/i-don-t-want-to-beg-or-promise-you-things-i-can-t-give-you-there-isn/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [So if you just, hold my hand Baby, I promise that I do all I can Things will get better if you just hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/so-if-you-just-hold-my-hand-baby-i-promise-that-i-do-all-i-can-things/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [“It is easy to overlook the fact that the promise that “in all things God works for the good” is made only to “those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-j-keller/it-is-easy-to-overlook-the-fact-that-the-promise-that-in-all-things/) [Timothy J. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-j-keller/) > [I can promise you none of these things. No sphere of usefulness; you are not needed there at all. No scope of your talents;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-promise-you-none-of-these-things-no-sphere-of-usefulness-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't promise that things won't be broken, but I swear that I will never leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sleeping-with-sirens/i-can-t-promise-that-things-won-t-be-broken-but-i-swear-that-i-will/) [Sleeping With Sirens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sleeping-with-sirens/) ## More by Laurell K. Hamilton > [“Edward: I don't know whether to put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la or find more of your guards so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/edward-i-don-t-know-whether-to-put-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-go-la-la/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [So many wonderful books to write, and not enough hours in the day. An embarrassment of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/so-many-wonderful-books-to-write-and-not-enough-hours-in-the-day-an/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Money doesn't spend in hell… The devil deals in a different coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/money-doesn-t-spend-in-hell-the-devil-deals-in-a-different-coin/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-comes-a-point-when-you-either-embrace-who-and-what-you-are-or/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I slowed, just a little, one to save energy, and one to let Russell catch up sooner. I took a big breath and prepared.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-slowed-just-a-little-one-to-save-energy-and-one-to-let-russell/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“It wasn't just my beast's hunger, but Jean-Claude's blood thirst and Richard's craving for flesh. It was all that and the ardeur running through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/it-wasn-t-just-my-beast-s-hunger-but-jean-claude-s-blood-thirst-and/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I know that look, Blake. You are a drowning woman, and the only way out is down the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-that-look-blake-you-are-a-drowning-woman-and-the-only-way-out/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Just another day in my life. This was one of those days when I thought that maybe a new life, a different life, wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/just-another-day-in-my-life-this-was-one-of-those-days-when-i-thought/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“What is that old children’s rhyme, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’? Anyone who says that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/what-is-that-old-children-s-rhyme-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [...you don't need ghosts to be haunted. Memory does that just fine without any supernatural help at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-don-t-need-ghosts-to-be-haunted-memory-does-that-just-fine/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I hated missing the end of anything. I was always convinced that the bit I'd miss would be the best part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-hated-missing-the-end-of-anything-i-was-always-convinced-that-the/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [He made a small sigh, as he swallowed the first blood, then his mouth closed over my earlobe, mouth working at the wound, tongue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-made-a-small-sigh-as-he-swallowed-the-first-blood-then-his-mouth/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [He gave a small nod, and I smiled back, and that was it. He understood that I'd understood that he'd understood. It took us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-gave-a-small-nod-and-i-smiled-back-and-that-was-it-he-understood/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [ \[T\]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/t-hese-last-few-days-where-i-ve-moped-around-damn-near-depressed-for/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) [Explore all 921 Laurell K. Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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