--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once upon a time… there was a boy named…" description: "\"“Once upon a time… there was a boy named Cole St. Clair, and he could do anything. And the weight of that possibility was so unbearable that he crushed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/maggie-stiefvater-76_cole_once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-boy-named-c_2309145.png" --- # Once upon a time… there was a boy named Cole St. Clair… ![“Once upon a time… there was a boy named Cole St. Clair, and he could do anything. And the weight of that possibility was so unbearable that he crushed himself before it had a chance to.” quote by Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/maggie-stiefvater-76_cole_once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-boy-named-c_2309145.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/maggie-stiefvater-76_cole_once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-boy-named-c_2309145.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/maggie-stiefvater-76_cole_once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-boy-named-c_2309145.png) > ““Once upon a time… there was a boy named Cole St. Clair, and he could do anything. And the weight of that possibility was so unbearable that he crushed himself before it had a chance to.”” [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A boy's limitless potential becomes crushing, leading him to self‑destruction before realizing it **In simple terms:** Overwhelming possibilities can cause self‑sabotage Key Takeaway Recognize limits and seek support Themes potential burden self‑destruction Mood somber hopeful Type literary psychological When to use this quote - mental health counseling - creative mentorship Key Concepts existential angst psychological pressure Questions to Reflect On - How can one manage overwhelming potential? - What supports prevent self‑sabotage? A Different Perspective The narrative may romanticize tragedy over resilience ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“On January 12, 1779, an eleven-year-old New England boy named John Quincy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-c-nagel/on-january-12-1779-an-eleven-year-old-new-england-boy-named-john/) Paul C. Nagel > [Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/once-upon-a-time-and-a-very-good-time-it-was-there-was-a-moocow/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [My name, my real name, is Tracy. I always thought I was like a boy named Sue. So I made my friends call me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/my-name-my-real-name-is-tracy-i-always-thought-i-was-like-a-boy-named/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [James Joyce Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/james-joyce-once-upon-a-time-and-a-very-good-time-it-was-there-was-a/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [For months, my parents had been trying to prepare me for the arrival of a real sibling. They had given me a doll to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-emanuel/for-months-my-parents-had-been-trying-to-prepare-me-for-the-arrival/) [Ezekiel Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-emanuel/) > [My first kiss was with the most chivalrous little boy I ever met in my life. It was in kindergarten. There was this kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/my-first-kiss-was-with-the-most-chivalrous-little-boy-i-ever-met-in/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Poor Harper Seven Beckham, having to live with that name all her life. It's the Boy Named Sue syndrome; at the very least it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/poor-harper-seven-beckham-having-to-live-with-that-name-all-her-life/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [“In the end, Cole St. Clair had done what he did best. Disappeared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/in-the-end-cole-st-clair-had-done-what-he-did-best-disappeared/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Cole," I said, "Don't lose this number.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/cole-i-said-don-t-lose-this-number/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Come on," Cole said. He looked back over his shoulder at Mr. Brisbane, who was looking at me with a complicated expression as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/come-on-cole-said-he-looked-back-over-his-shoulder-at-mr-brisbane-who/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Da. -Cole st. Clair”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/da-cole-st-clair/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Cole said, “You’re the only good thing I’ve ever done in my life.” I replied, “I’m sorry I’m such a wreck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/cole-said-you-re-the-only-good-thing-i-ve-ever-done-in-my-life-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Poor bastards," Cole said, his gaze still on the stars. "They must get pretty tired of watching us make the same damn mistakes all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/poor-bastards-cole-said-his-gaze-still-on-the-stars-they-must-get/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“He started to dance. And all at once, because Cole was dancing, I was dancing. And this Cole was even more persuasive than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/he-started-to-dance-and-all-at-once-because-cole-was-dancing-i-was/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Beneath me, the bed tipped as Cole edged closer. I felt him lean over me. His breath, warm and measured, hit my cheek. Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/beneath-me-the-bed-tipped-as-cole-edged-closer-i-felt-him-lean-over/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More by Maggie Stiefvater > [Sam reached his hand toward mine and I automatically put my fingers in his. With a guilty little smile he pulled my hand toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sam-reached-his-hand-toward-mine-and-i-automatically-put-my-fingers/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Once upon a time, there lived a boy, and he had to risk everything to keep what he loved. But really the story was:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/once-upon-a-time-there-lived-a-boy-and-he-had-to-risk-everything-to/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I think-I need to ask an embarrassing question. Do you think I could borrow a pair of scrubs? I-uh-my pants-" "Oh!" Cried the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-think-i-need-to-ask-an-embarrassing-question-do-you-think-i-could/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [We dance, we dance. You hold the thread of my soul. You spin, you spin. And you unravel the part from the whole. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/we-dance-we-dance-you-hold-the-thread-of-my-soul-you-spin-you-spin/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [It was the way she felt when she looked at the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/it-was-the-way-she-felt-when-she-looked-at-the-stars/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Mum once told Dad that vices are only vices when looked at through the frame of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/mum-once-told-dad-that-vices-are-only-vices-when-looked-at-through/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Why'd she leave so early? It's practically yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/why-d-she-leave-so-early-it-s-practically-yesterday/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [How long it takes us, each day, to know each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/how-long-it-takes-us-each-day-to-know-each-other/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“At least when he was at Aglionby he could turn over his papers to see the grades, concrete proof of his success at something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/at-least-when-he-was-at-aglionby-he-could-turn-over-his-papers-to-see/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I'll cook the water...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-ll-cook-the-water/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“That's the one." In Puck Connolly's custody. That might be the last I see of that jacket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/that-s-the-one-in-puck-connolly-s-custody-that-might-be-the-last-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I asked,”Are you going to pick up next time I call you?” ”I did this time didn’t I?” “Say yes.” “Yes. Conditionally yes.”…... …”What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-asked-are-you-going-to-pick-up-next-time-i-call-you-i-did-this-time/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Tell me what it's like. The race." "What it's like is a battle. A mess of horses and men and blood. The fastest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/tell-me-what-it-s-like-the-race-what-it-s-like-is-a-battle-a-mess-of/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I felt a tickle on my skin; it took me a moment to realize that Cole was driving his die-cast Mustang up my arm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-felt-a-tickle-on-my-skin-it-took-me-a-moment-to-realize-that-cole/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Happiness isn't something this island yields easily; the ground is too rocky and the sun too sparse for it to flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/happiness-isn-t-something-this-island-yields-easily-the-ground-is-too/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) [Explore all 1,564 Maggie Stiefvater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More Cole quotes > [“Tell me,” Cole coaxed again, “how would you handle me?” “Well,” she began hesitantly, her eyes locked on his, “I suppose I’d begin by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-lynne/tell-me-cole-coaxed-again-how-would-you-handle-me-well-she-began/) [Victoria Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-lynne/) > [“But as the day went on and Cole hadn’t returned, I’d sensed the same worry in him that was going through me. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/but-as-the-day-went-on-and-cole-hadn-t-returned-i-d-sensed-the-same/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [Michael Cole is a visionary!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-miz/michael-cole-is-a-visionary/) [The Miz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-miz/) > [With Andy Cole up front they can score at any time. We'll be watching him very closely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-laurent/with-andy-cole-up-front-they-can-score-at-any-time-we-ll-be-watching/) [Robert Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-laurent/) > [“Beneath me, the bed tipped as Cole edged closer. I felt him lean over me. His breath, warm and measured, hit my cheek. Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/beneath-me-the-bed-tipped-as-cole-edged-closer-i-felt-him-lean-over/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Suck me, Rachel. Put those sticky lips around my cock and suck it good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/suck-me-rachel-put-those-sticky-lips-around-my-cock-and-suck-it-good/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [Cole World, No devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cole-world-no-devil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Thank you for my surprise. Now, I won't be able to eat a caramel without thinking about being balls deep inside your sweet, warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/thank-you-for-my-surprise-now-i-won-t-be-able-to-eat-a-caramel/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“You own me,” Cole continued, his voice lowering, “you own every fucking part of me, and I won't back off this time ... Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-edwards/you-own-me-cole-continued-his-voice-lowering-you-own-every-fucking/) [Nicole Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-edwards/) > [“Cole gets up and then says, “Adam. Five texts. I can read them to you.” He pauses. “Unless they’re personal.” I roll my eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/cole-gets-up-and-then-says-adam-five-texts-i-can-read-them-to-you-he/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [He has always been a slippery little git! (on Joe Cole)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rio-ferdinand/he-has-always-been-a-slippery-little-git-on-joe-cole/) [Rio Ferdinand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rio-ferdinand/) > [J. Cole is definitely one of my favorite artists, but I like a lot of different music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/j-cole-is-definitely-one-of-my-favorite-artists-but-i-like-a-lot-of/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) > [“I love you, Cole. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like you were second best or that I didn't love you or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/i-love-you-cole-i-m-sorry-if-i-ever-made-you-feel-like-you-were/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“I’d do it all over again, knowing that you were going to be there at the end. I’d walk through the sadness and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-lauren/i-d-do-it-all-over-again-knowing-that-you-were-going-to-be-there-at/) [Kimberly Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-lauren/) > [“In the end, Cole St. Clair had done what he did best. Disappeared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/in-the-end-cole-st-clair-had-done-what-he-did-best-disappeared/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) Browse all 214 Cole quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Once upon a time… there was a boy named Cole St. Clair, and he could do anything. 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