--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hardest part of growing up is…" description: "\"The hardest part of growing up is learning how to wait\" — Leo Rosten" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/leo-rosten-9943_growing_the-hardest-part-of-growing-up-is-learni_2556815.jpg" --- # The hardest part of growing up is learning how to wait ![“The hardest part of growing up is learning how to wait” quote by Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/leo-rosten-9943_growing_the-hardest-part-of-growing-up-is-learni_2556815.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/leo-rosten-9943_growing_the-hardest-part-of-growing-up-is-learni_2556815.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/leo-rosten-9943_growing_the-hardest-part-of-growing-up-is-learni_2556815.jpg) > “The hardest part of growing up is learning how to wait” [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growing up requires patience; the hardest lesson is learning to wait for outcomes and maturity. **In simple terms:** Patience is the toughest part of maturing. Key Takeaway Practice waiting calmly. Themes growth patience coming‑of‑age Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - relationship development - academic milestones - financial investments Key Concepts Emotional regulation future planning Questions to Reflect On - What are you currently waiting for? - How can you make waiting productive? A Different Perspective Waiting can be stressful and uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-learning/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Hardest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Learning Wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-wait-1570358/) [Wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) ## Related quotes > [School is about learning to wait your turn, however long it takes to come, if ever. And how to submit with a show of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/school-is-about-learning-to-wait-your-turn-however-long-it-takes-to/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [But the important thing about learning to wait, I feel sure, is to know what you are waiting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-neagle/but-the-important-thing-about-learning-to-wait-i-feel-sure-is-to-know/) [Anna Neagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-neagle/) > [We are a country that is always growing and learning in soccer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/we-are-a-country-that-is-always-growing-and-learning-in-soccer/) [Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/) > [Life is not all about accomplishment; it's all about doing, participating, progressing, growing, learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-hernacki/life-is-not-all-about-accomplishment-it-s-all-about-doing/) [Mike Hernacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-hernacki/) > [Life is about growing, learning, and becoming. You can not grow, learn, or become if you can not embrace the changes in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rizzo/life-is-about-growing-learning-and-becoming-you-can-not-grow-learn-or/) [Steve Rizzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rizzo/) > [The whole point of growing up is learning to stay on the laughing side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/the-whole-point-of-growing-up-is-learning-to-stay-on-the-laughing-side/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I'm trying and growing and learning! Again, loveee what I do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendall-jenner/i-m-trying-and-growing-and-learning-again-loveee-what-i-do/) [Kendall Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendall-jenner/) > [True taste is forever growing, learning, reading, worshipping, laying its hand upon its mouth because it is astonished, casting its shoes from off its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/true-taste-is-forever-growing-learning-reading-worshipping-laying-its/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [If you're not enjoying your life...And growing, learning, experiencing, loving, and smiling...then what are you doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo/if-you-re-not-enjoying-your-life-and-growing-learning-experiencing/) [JoJo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo/) > [“I think it is a part of growing up, learning to control our suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-think-it-is-a-part-of-growing-up-learning-to-control-our-suffering/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Part of growing up is learning to be your own Best Friend :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marano/part-of-growing-up-is-learning-to-be-your-own-best-friend-d/) [Laura Marano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marano/) > [Potomac School proved to be my first big adjustment - one that helped me with a basic lesson of growing up: learning to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/potomac-school-proved-to-be-my-first-big-adjustment-one-that-helped/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [Now, everyone is excited about food - cooking, growing, learning - watching it on TV, buying books, trying things at home. It's the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/now-everyone-is-excited-about-food-cooking-growing-learning-watching/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [The No 1 deadly virus in growing & learning yourself to be successful is when you have the I KNOW virus. Be careful! because,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendra-hilman/the-no-1-deadly-virus-in-growing-learning-yourself-to-be-successful/) [Hendra Hilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendra-hilman/) > [Too many people get caught up in the idea that they are experts in their field and forget to keep growing and learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williamson/too-many-people-get-caught-up-in-the-idea-that-they-are-experts-in/) [Kit Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williamson/) ## More by Leo Rosten > [Truth is stranger than fiction; fiction has to make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/truth-is-stranger-than-fiction-fiction-has-to-make-sense/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [There was no answer, no solution, no sop, no deliverance. What, then, did I do? I read faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/there-was-no-answer-no-solution-no-sop-no-deliverance-what-then-did-i/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [People say: idle curiosity. The one thing that curiosity cannot be is idle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/people-say-idle-curiosity-the-one-thing-that-curiosity-cannot-be-is/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [Everyone, in some small sacred sanctuary of the self, is nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/everyone-in-some-small-sacred-sanctuary-of-the-self-is-nuts/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [ What's green, hangs on a wall and whistles? \[A Herring\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/what-s-green-hangs-on-a-wall-and-whistles-a-herring/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [Dogs are getting bigger, according to a leading dog manufacturer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/dogs-are-getting-bigger-according-to-a-leading-dog-manufacturer/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [Acting is a form of deception, and actors can mesmerize themselves almost as easily as an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/acting-is-a-form-of-deception-and-actors-can-mesmerize-themselves/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [Her cooking suggested she had attended the Cordon Noir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/her-cooking-suggested-she-had-attended-the-cordon-noir/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [“The purpose of life is not to be happy—but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/the-purpose-of-life-is-not-to-be-happy-but-to-matter-to-be-productive/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [For some not to be martyrs is martyrdom indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/for-some-not-to-be-martyrs-is-martyrdom-indeed/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [“Anybody who hates dogs and babies can't be all bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/anybody-who-hates-dogs-and-babies-can-t-be-all-bad/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [O, to be sure, we laugh less and play less and wear uncomfortable disguises like adults, but beneath the costume is the child we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/o-to-be-sure-we-laugh-less-and-play-less-and-wear-uncomfortable/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [Where was it ever promised us that life on this earth can ever be easy, free from conflict and uncertainty, devoid of anguish and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/where-was-it-ever-promised-us-that-life-on-this-earth-can-ever-be/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [First-rate people hire first-rate people; second-rate people hire third-rate people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/first-rate-people-hire-first-rate-people-second-rate-people-hire/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [The purpose of life is not to be happy, the purpose of life is to matter..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/the-purpose-of-life-is-not-to-be-happy-the-purpose-of-life-is-to/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) [Explore all 69 Leo Rosten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) ## More Growing quotes > [I have a strong feeling about this quick movement and changing of society and populations growing - something scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-a-strong-feeling-about-this-quick-movement-and-changing-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I became a bit of a teacher's pet, and it became known in the school by both faculty and students that I really excelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/i-became-a-bit-of-a-teacher-s-pet-and-it-became-known-in-the-school/) [Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I always feel like I'm struggling to become someone else. Like I'm trying to find a new place, grab hold of a new life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-always-feel-like-i-m-struggling-to-become-someone-else-like-i-m/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [I think kids growing up, if they were picked on and feeling inferior at 12, they're going to feel that way at 72. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-think-kids-growing-up-if-they-were-picked-on-and-feeling-inferior/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-the-effect-of-her-being-on-those-around-her-was-incalculably/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I wasn't a kid growing up thinking, 'One day I'll get an Oscar and make a speech.' That wasn't on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/i-wasn-t-a-kid-growing-up-thinking-one-day-i-ll-get-an-oscar-and-make/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [I was young, but to me that was underground music. I had never heard anything like Venom or any of that stuff growing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pajo/i-was-young-but-to-me-that-was-underground-music-i-had-never-heard/) [David Pajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pajo/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) [Browse all 7,266 Growing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The hardest part of growing up is learning how to wait", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Rosten" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/the-hardest-part-of-growing-up-is-learning-how-to-wait/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Growing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/the-hardest-part-of-growing-up-is-learning-how-to-wait/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/leo-rosten-9943_growing_the-hardest-part-of-growing-up-is-learni_2556815.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/leo-rosten-9943_growing_the-hardest-part-of-growing-up-is-learni_2556815.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/leo-rosten-9943_growing_the-hardest-part-of-growing-up-is-learni_2556815.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The hardest part of growing up is learning how to wait” — Leo Rosten", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leo Rosten", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The hardest part of growing up...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/the-hardest-part-of-growing-up-is-learning-how-to-wait/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/the-hardest-part-of-growing-up-is-learning-how-to-wait/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```