--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, I would have much preferred to have…" description: "\"Well, I would have much preferred to have had a normal childhood. I would have loved it if my greatest dilemma, at 14, was whether to go to Benetton fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/marjane-satrapi-1702_childhood_well-i-would-have-much-preferred-to-have_2372449.jpg" --- # Well, I would have much preferred to have had a normal… ![“Well, I would have much preferred to have had a normal childhood. I would have loved it if my greatest dilemma, at 14, was whether to go to Benetton for my pullovers. I would have preferred not to have cried all the tears I have cried.” quote by Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/marjane-satrapi-1702_childhood_well-i-would-have-much-preferred-to-have_2372449.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/marjane-satrapi-1702_childhood_well-i-would-have-much-preferred-to-have_2372449.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/marjane-satrapi-1702_childhood_well-i-would-have-much-preferred-to-have_2372449.jpg) > “Well, I would have much preferred to have had a normal childhood. I would have loved it if my greatest dilemma, at 14, was whether to go to Benetton for my pullovers. I would have preferred not to have cried all the tears I have cried.” [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on longing for a normal childhood and avoidance of pain. **In simple terms:** Wishes for simple, carefree youth. Key Takeaway Accept past, cherish present. Themes nostalgia childhood trauma Mood melancholic introspective Type literary personal When to use this quote - therapy - writing - family discussions Key Concepts memory identity healing Questions to Reflect On - What childhood memory comforts you? - How can you heal past hurts? A Different Perspective Idealizing past can hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dilemma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dilemma/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) ## Related quotes > [“The greatest dilemma man has to face is figuring out what to do with his time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-greatest-dilemma-man-has-to-face-is-figuring-out-what-to-do-with/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [It seems like a cliche, but you do grow up a lot faster when you travel a lot, go through things like this interview,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/it-seems-like-a-cliche-but-you-do-grow-up-a-lot-faster-when-you/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [I have fond memories of my childhood. I spent five wonderful years on a popular TV show, but I didn't have a normal childhood.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-schroder/i-have-fond-memories-of-my-childhood-i-spent-five-wonderful-years-on/) [Ricky Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-schroder/) > [I keep my children safe and protected from all my baggage. They get to have a normal childhood, and they're not affected by my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/i-keep-my-children-safe-and-protected-from-all-my-baggage-they-get-to/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [I didn't have a normal childhood by any means. But it was what it was, and I appreciate what my parents did for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tre-cool/i-didn-t-have-a-normal-childhood-by-any-means-but-it-was-what-it-was/) [Tre Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tre-cool/) > [Is there such a thing as a normal childhood?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-normal-childhood/) [Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/) > [My parents didn't want me to be a regular in a series. I was a working actor from time to time but they thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/my-parents-didn-t-want-me-to-be-a-regular-in-a-series-i-was-a-working/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [I had a very normal childhood, and my mother cooked very normal food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/i-had-a-very-normal-childhood-and-my-mother-cooked-very-normal-food/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [I went to a public high school that had a very small graduating class of 156 students. I lived a relatively normal childhood until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-mccartney/i-went-to-a-public-high-school-that-had-a-very-small-graduating-class/) [Jesse McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-mccartney/) > [I wanted to have a normal childhood. Normal relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/i-wanted-to-have-a-normal-childhood-normal-relationships/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Subconsciously, there was always an actor inside me. But while growing up, it was a very normal childhood because my dad never got films…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-kaushal/subconsciously-there-was-always-an-actor-inside-me-but-while-growing/) [Vicky Kaushal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicky-kaushal/) > [I feel like I had as normal a childhood as anyone, but it had a certain focus. Maybe other kids focused on sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/i-feel-like-i-had-as-normal-a-childhood-as-anyone-but-it-had-a/) [Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/) > [It was a great place to grow up. There were always kids around in our neighborhood. We had a basketball hoop in the back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/it-was-a-great-place-to-grow-up-there-were-always-kids-around-in-our/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I do get to have my normal childhood. I just love to get together with my friends and family and have a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-brien/i-do-get-to-have-my-normal-childhood-i-just-love-to-get-together-with/) Austin O'Brien > [I still had a normal childhood with my friends from school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-still-had-a-normal-childhood-with-my-friends-from-school/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) ## More by Marjane Satrapi > [I became the voice of a generation in a very surprising way, because many Iranians recognize themselves in it. But that is not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-became-the-voice-of-a-generation-in-a-very-surprising-way-because/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [With live-action I think we'd have lost the universal appeal of the Persepolis story. With live-action, it would have turned into a story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/with-live-action-i-think-we-d-have-lost-the-universal-appeal-of-the/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [I don't like the word 'autobiography.' I rather like the term 'autofiction.' The second you make a script out of the story of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-don-t-like-the-word-autobiography-i-rather-like-the-term/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [I don't think that I have ever been rebellious. The thing is that I don't believe in people - what people tell me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-don-t-think-that-i-have-ever-been-rebellious-the-thing-is-that-i/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [Drawing is the first language of the human being before writing. It's a transcription of how the human being sees reality, not reality itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/drawing-is-the-first-language-of-the-human-being-before-writing-it-s/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [I was a westerner in Iran, an Iranian in the West. I had no identity. I didn't even know anymore why I was living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-was-a-westerner-in-iran-an-iranian-in-the-west-i-had-no-identity-i/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [I'm not a politician. I don't know how to solve the problems of the world. But as an artist, I have one duty: to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-m-not-a-politician-i-don-t-know-how-to-solve-the-problems-of-the/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [A cat can never be well-trained because they're too independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/a-cat-can-never-be-well-trained-because-they-re-too-independent/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [It's fear that makes us lose our conscience. It's also what transforms us into cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/it-s-fear-that-makes-us-lose-our-conscience-it-s-also-what-transforms/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [I am absolutely not a feminist, I am against stupidity, and if it comes from males or females, it doesn't change anything. If it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-am-absolutely-not-a-feminist-i-am-against-stupidity-and-if-it-comes/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [I was a child who had a life, who had hopes, and I wished that a bomb would not fall on my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-was-a-child-who-had-a-life-who-had-hopes-and-i-wished-that-a-bomb/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [There are things that I love in Iranian cinema and things that I don't. In Iranian cinema, you have to use metaphor because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/there-are-things-that-i-love-in-iranian-cinema-and-things-that-i-don/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [I had learned that you should always shout louder than your aggressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/i-had-learned-that-you-should-always-shout-louder-than-your-aggressor/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [In the West, people don't have any real problems. It's all based on bad conscience, a very Christian notion. I don't have any bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/in-the-west-people-don-t-have-any-real-problems-it-s-all-based-on-bad/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [When we're afraid, we lose all sense of analysis and reflection. Our fear paralyzes us. Besides, fear has always been the driving force behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/when-we-re-afraid-we-lose-all-sense-of-analysis-and-reflection-our/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) [Explore all 204 Marjane Satrapi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) ## More Childhood quotes > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-childhood-s-hour-i-have-not-been-as-others-were-i-have-not-seen/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [I had a rough upbringing. Group homes. Foster homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-had-a-rough-upbringing-group-homes-foster-homes/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [On paper, it looks rough, but I had a great childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/on-paper-it-looks-rough-but-i-had-a-great-childhood/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I always knew that I was kind of bored; the regular life of a child didn't fit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-always-knew-that-i-was-kind-of-bored-the-regular-life-of-a-child/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Children are not a zoo of entertainingly exotic creatures, but an array of mirrors in which the human predicament leaps out at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/children-are-not-a-zoo-of-entertainingly-exotic-creatures-but-an/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) [Browse all 5,837 Childhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, I would have much preferred to have had a normal childhood. I would have loved it if my greatest dilemma, at 14, was whether to go to Benetton for my pullovers. 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