--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This was a time of life, she understood…" description: "\"“This was a time of life, she understood, in which you might not know what you were, but that was all right. You judged people not on their success - a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/meg-wolitzer-2224_expensive-clothes_this-was-a-time-of-life-she-understood-i_163502.jpg" --- # This was a time of life, she understood, in which you… ![“This was a time of life, she understood, in which you might not know what you were, but that was all right. You judged people not on their success - almost no one they knew was successful at age twenty-two, and no one had a nice apartment, owned anything of value, dressed in expensive clothes, or…” quote by Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/meg-wolitzer-2224_expensive-clothes_this-was-a-time-of-life-she-understood-i_163502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/meg-wolitzer-2224_expensive-clothes_this-was-a-time-of-life-she-understood-i_163502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/meg-wolitzer-2224_expensive-clothes_this-was-a-time-of-life-she-understood-i_163502.jpg) > ““This was a time of life, she understood, in which you might not know what you were, but that was all right. You judged people not on their success - almost no one they knew was successful at age twenty-two, and no one had a nice apartment, owned anything of value, dressed in expensive clothes, or had any interest in making money - but on their appeal. The time period between the ages of, roughly, twenty to thirty was often amazingly fertile. Great work might get done during this ten-year slice of time. Just out of college, they were geraing up, ambitious not in a calculating way, but simply eager, not yet tired.”” [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Youthful uncertainty can be embraced; value people for their appeal and potential rather than material success. **In simple terms:** Early adulthood is a fertile, uncertain time focused on growth. Key Takeaway Embrace the decade of exploration and focus on personal appeal. Themes growth uncertainty potential values career development Mood reflective optimistic Type advice observational When to use this quote - college graduation - first jobs - creative projects - networking Key Concepts identity formation social capital creative ambition Questions to Reflect On - How can you support peers lacking material success? - What defines appeal beyond achievements? A Different Perspective Not all young adults have resources, which can limit opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-nice-1789256/) [Ages Roughly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ages-roughly-1789258/) [Expensive clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expensive-clothes/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Making money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-money/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [People Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-success/) [Roughly Thirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roughly-thirty-1789257/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-age-1789255/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [One of the many things nobody ever tells you about middle age is that it's such a nice change from being young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-many-things-nobody-ever-tells-you-about-middle-age-is-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nice to be here? At my age it's nice to be anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/nice-to-be-here-at-my-age-it-s-nice-to-be-anywhere/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [“​I’m thirty years old and this December, I’ll be thirty-one. I thought I’d be married and successful by this age. I’m neither”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/i-m-thirty-years-old-and-this-december-i-ll-be-thirty-one-i-thought-i/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [People assume that I'm wiser than I am because I'm somewhat successful. Age does not bring you wisdom, age brings you wrinkles. If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle-getty/people-assume-that-i-m-wiser-than-i-am-because-i-m-somewhat/) [Estelle Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle-getty/) > [I've been extraordinarily successful for my age. I think for probably anyone's age, I'm very fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/i-ve-been-extraordinarily-successful-for-my-age-i-think-for-probably/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I don't waste money on smart, expensive clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-gallacher/i-don-t-waste-money-on-smart-expensive-clothes/) [Kirsty Gallacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-gallacher/) > [What does she have that I don't, could it be she's prettier, popular, more talented, wear expensive clothes, always dressed to impress, because theres…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-does-she-have-that-i-don-t-could-it-be-she-s-prettier-popular/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Answering the question 'How would you like to smell?' by saying 'I'd rather I didn't' is also no longer acceptable. It's not playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/answering-the-question-how-would-you-like-to-smell-by-saying-i-d/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“I knew something was wrong with me that summer, because all I could think about was the Rosenbergs and how stupid I'd been to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-knew-something-was-wrong-with-me-that-summer-because-all-i-could/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [You don't have to wear expensive clothes to look good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/you-don-t-have-to-wear-expensive-clothes-to-look-good/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [I would say, if you're buying less expensive clothes, buy two sizes bigger. They'll hang better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-sims/i-would-say-if-you-re-buying-less-expensive-clothes-buy-two-sizes/) [Molly Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-sims/) > [Drunk people and expensive clothes do not mix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/drunk-people-and-expensive-clothes-do-not-mix/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-the-apostle/and-i-want-women-to-be-modest-in-their-appearance-they-should-wear/) [Paul the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-the-apostle/) > [I wasn't one to go out and buy a new car and stereo system and expensive clothes. My mom helped keep me grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-applegate/i-wasn-t-one-to-go-out-and-buy-a-new-car-and-stereo-system-and/) [Christina Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-applegate/) > [I don't really buy expensive clothes. I love good bags!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-siriano/i-don-t-really-buy-expensive-clothes-i-love-good-bags/) [Christian Siriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-siriano/) ## More by Meg Wolitzer > [New teachers were just a part of life, for a few days after one arrived, squawks of interest were emitted from various corners, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/new-teachers-were-just-a-part-of-life-for-a-few-days-after-one/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“It was exhausting being a schizophrenic, which he was still convinced he was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/it-was-exhausting-being-a-schizophrenic-which-he-was-still-convinced/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [I always thought it was the saddest and most devastating ending. How you could have these enormous dreams that never get met. How without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-always-thought-it-was-the-saddest-and-most-devastating-ending-how/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [But clearly life took people and shook them around until finally they were unrecognizable even to those who had once known them well. Still,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/but-clearly-life-took-people-and-shook-them-around-until-finally-they/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [I don't write autobiographically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-don-t-write-autobiographically/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“...the Iraq war was the Ishtar of wars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/the-iraq-war-was-the-ishtar-of-wars/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“Another spell had been thrust upon her so long ago...She hadn't been able to see it but it was real. Otherwise why would you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/another-spell-had-been-thrust-upon-her-so-long-ago-she-hadn-t-been/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [Even if you yourself were unhappy and anxious, whenever you glimpsed happiness in your child, you suddenly became happy too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/even-if-you-yourself-were-unhappy-and-anxious-whenever-you-glimpsed/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“The world of law was filled with the fallen, but theater wasn't. No one ever "fell back" onto theater. You had to really, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/the-world-of-law-was-filled-with-the-fallen-but-theater-wasn-t-no-one/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“Crema Seamans," Ethan repeated thoughtfully. "It's like a soup made from ... various semens. A medley of semens. It's a flavour of Campbell's soup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/crema-seamans-ethan-repeated-thoughtfully-it-s-like-a-soup-made-from/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [I've always been drawn to writing for young readers. The books that I read growing up remain in my mind very strongly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-writing-for-young-readers-the-books-that-i/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“No one ever told you that in moment of crisis, family was allowed to trump friendship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/no-one-ever-told-you-that-in-moment-of-crisis-family-was-allowed-to/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [You had only one chance for a signature in life, but most people left no impression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/you-had-only-one-chance-for-a-signature-in-life-but-most-people-left/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“Part of the beauty of love was that you didn't need to explain it to anyone else. You could refuse to explain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/part-of-the-beauty-of-love-was-that-you-didn-t-need-to-explain-it-to/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [To be anorexic...she thought, amounted to wanting to shed yourself of some of the imperfect mosaic of pieces that made you who you were.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/to-be-anorexic-she-thought-amounted-to-wanting-to-shed-yourself-of/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) [Explore all 178 Meg Wolitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) ## More Expensive clothes quotes > [I don't really buy expensive clothes. I love good bags!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-siriano/i-don-t-really-buy-expensive-clothes-i-love-good-bags/) [Christian Siriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-siriano/) > [I wasn't one to go out and buy a new car and stereo system and expensive clothes. My mom helped keep me grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-applegate/i-wasn-t-one-to-go-out-and-buy-a-new-car-and-stereo-system-and/) [Christina Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-applegate/) > [And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-the-apostle/and-i-want-women-to-be-modest-in-their-appearance-they-should-wear/) [Paul the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-the-apostle/) > [Drunk people and expensive clothes do not mix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/drunk-people-and-expensive-clothes-do-not-mix/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would say, if you're buying less expensive clothes, buy two sizes bigger. They'll hang better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-sims/i-would-say-if-you-re-buying-less-expensive-clothes-buy-two-sizes/) [Molly Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-sims/) > [You don't have to wear expensive clothes to look good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/you-don-t-have-to-wear-expensive-clothes-to-look-good/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [“I knew something was wrong with me that summer, because all I could think about was the Rosenbergs and how stupid I'd been to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-knew-something-was-wrong-with-me-that-summer-because-all-i-could/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“Answering the question 'How would you like to smell?' by saying 'I'd rather I didn't' is also no longer acceptable. It's not playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/answering-the-question-how-would-you-like-to-smell-by-saying-i-d/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [What does she have that I don't, could it be she's prettier, popular, more talented, wear expensive clothes, always dressed to impress, because theres…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-does-she-have-that-i-don-t-could-it-be-she-s-prettier-popular/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't waste money on smart, expensive clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-gallacher/i-don-t-waste-money-on-smart-expensive-clothes/) [Kirsty Gallacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-gallacher/) > [Seven complicated facts about Women: 1. They believe in saving. 2. Believe in saving but buy expensive clothes. 3. Buy expensive clothes but never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-rivera/seven-complicated-facts-about-women-1-they-believe-in-saving-2/) [Maria Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-rivera/) > [I have a wardrobe full of expensive clothes, but wear the same two T-shirts. I've never found a look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-stevenson/i-have-a-wardrobe-full-of-expensive-clothes-but-wear-the-same-two-t/) [Juliet Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-stevenson/) > [I have no expensive clothes, but I wear your love! I have no car, but I can take you to your wildest fantasy! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-ceaser/i-have-no-expensive-clothes-but-i-wear-your-love-i-have-no-car-but-i/) [Evan Ceaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-ceaser/) > [To reinvent a newly impeccable you in the most modern of outfits, don't skip on makeup and be sure to have flawless skin and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/to-reinvent-a-newly-impeccable-you-in-the-most-modern-of-outfits-don/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [“Expensive clothes and high status had little effect on Frankie. But their money and popularity made life extremely easy for Matthew, Dean, Alpha, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/expensive-clothes-and-high-status-had-little-effect-on-frankie-but/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) [Browse all 50 Expensive clothes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expensive-clothes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This was a time of life, she understood, in which you might not know what you were, but that was all right. You judged people not on their success - almost no one they knew was successful at age twenty-two, and no one had a nice apartment, owned anything of value, dressed in expensive clothes, or had any interest in making money - but on their appeal. The time period between the ages of, roughly, twenty to thirty was often amazingly fertile. Great work might get done during this ten-year slice of time. 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