--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After that we went sort of crazy,” said…" description: "\"“After that we went sort of crazy,” said Jesse, grinning at the memory. “Heck, we was going to live forever. Can you picture what it felt like to find ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab9/natalie-babbitt-7335_end-of-the-world_after-that-we-went-sort-of-crazy-said-je_3236374.jpg" --- # After that we went sort of crazy,” said Jesse, grinning at… ![“After that we went sort of crazy,” said Jesse, grinning at the memory. “Heck, we was going to live forever. Can you picture what it felt like to find that out?” “But then we sat down and talked it over…” said Miles. “We’re still talking it over,” Jesse added. “And we figured it’d be very bad if…” quote by Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab9/natalie-babbitt-7335_end-of-the-world_after-that-we-went-sort-of-crazy-said-je_3236374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab9/natalie-babbitt-7335_end-of-the-world_after-that-we-went-sort-of-crazy-said-je_3236374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab9/natalie-babbitt-7335_end-of-the-world_after-that-we-went-sort-of-crazy-said-je_3236374.jpg) > ““After that we went sort of crazy,” said Jesse, grinning at the memory. “Heck, we was going to live forever. Can you picture what it felt like to find that out?” “But then we sat down and talked it over…” said Miles. “We’re still talking it over,” Jesse added. “And we figured it’d be very bad if everyone knowed about that spring,” said Mae. “We begun to see what it would mean.” She peered at Winnie. “Do you understand, child? That water--it stops you right where you are. If you’d had a drink of it today, you’d stay a little girl forever. You’d never grow up, not ever.” “We don’t know how it works, or even why,” said Miles. “Pa thinks it’s something left over from--well, from some other plan for the way the world should be,” said Jesse. “Some plan that didn’t work out too good. And so everything was changed. Except that the spring was passed over, somehow or other. Maybe he’s right. I don’t know. But you see, Winnie Foster, when I told you before I’m a hundred and four years old, I was telling the truth. But I’m really only seventeen. And, so far as I know, I’ll stay seventeen till the end of the world.”” [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage explores the temptation of eternal youth versus the natural progression of life, highlighting fear of change and the unknown. **In simple terms:** Eternal youth sounds appealing but stops growth. Key Takeaway Accept life's cycles, cherish growth. Themes mortality youth change time Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - coming of age - family dynamics - ethical dilemmas - personal reflection Key Concepts philosophy fiction existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What would you sacrifice for eternal youth? - How do you embrace change? A Different Perspective Clinging to youth can prevent meaningful experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [End of the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-world/) [Little girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-girl/) [Live forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-forever/) [Telling the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-the-truth/) ## Related quotes > [Only the Dead stay seventeen forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/only-the-dead-stay-seventeen-forever/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“But this I do know that since you have told me that ten years have elapsed since I departed from this earth I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/but-this-i-do-know-that-since-you-have-told-me-that-ten-years-have/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) > [Especially with 'Be Alright,' that's about a bunch of relationships and some people that I'd never even met, there was some stories friend and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-lewis/especially-with-be-alright-that-s-about-a-bunch-of-relationships-and/) [Dean Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-lewis/) > [I was also told some years ago that I shouldn't 'waste my time' with female-centric films because the audience was not ready for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/i-was-also-told-some-years-ago-that-i-shouldn-t-waste-my-time-with/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [Someone once told me years ago that there was nothing so dead as a warmed-over love affair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-tuten/someone-once-told-me-years-ago-that-there-was-nothing-so-dead-as-a/) [Frederic Tuten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-tuten/) > [Conscience is what your mother told you before you were six years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-chisholm/conscience-is-what-your-mother-told-you-before-you-were-six-years-old/) [Brock Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-chisholm/) > [“She told me, years later, that it was the lack of adult interaction that was really driving her nuts. All those hours with nursery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mckenzie/she-told-me-years-later-that-it-was-the-lack-of-adult-interaction/) [Catherine McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mckenzie/) > [“For the first time I understood something my grandmother told me years before, that it's not our deeds that hurt us, but what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-m-wilson/for-the-first-time-i-understood-something-my-grandmother-told-me/) [Catherine M. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-m-wilson/) > [When I was younger, if someone had told me I had only two years to live, I'd have gone to an island that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cagney/when-i-was-younger-if-someone-had-told-me-i-had-only-two-years-to/) [James Cagney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cagney/) > [“She, too, could become someone else. Eventually. 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'Eliza, you won’t ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erynn-mangum/she-pats-my-knee-i-m-going-to-tell-you-something-my-grandmother-told/) [Erynn Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erynn-mangum/) > [If you had told me ten years ago that I would be able to go and make out with Will Forte one day and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-daddario/if-you-had-told-me-ten-years-ago-that-i-would-be-able-to-go-and-make/) [Alexandra Daddario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-daddario/) > [“The details of what I told him were with me all the years in the same way as my hands or my arms were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/the-details-of-what-i-told-him-were-with-me-all-the-years-in-the-same/) [Colm Tóibín](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/) > [“How old are you, anyway?' she asked, squinting at him. There was a pause. At last he said, 'Why do you want to know?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/how-old-are-you-anyway-she-asked-squinting-at-him-there-was-a-pause/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Do not fear death... only the unlived life. You don't have to live forever; You just have to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/do-not-fear-death-only-the-unlived-life-you-don-t-have-to-live/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) ## More by Natalie Babbitt > [Like all magnificent things, it's very simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/like-all-magnificent-things-it-s-very-simple/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“He knows you?” said Mae, her frown deepening. “But you didn’t call out to him, child. Why not?” “I was too scared to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/he-knows-you-said-mae-her-frown-deepening-but-you-didn-t-call-out-to/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“He wasn't crazy. How could he be? He was just -- amazing. But she was struck dumb. All she could do was stare at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/he-wasn-t-crazy-how-could-he-be-he-was-just-amazing-but-she-was/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [My mother was an artist, and I was fairly good at art as a child. I was always the best drawer in class, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/my-mother-was-an-artist-and-i-was-fairly-good-at-art-as-a-child-i-was/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Do not fear death... only the unlived life. You don't have to live forever; You just have to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/do-not-fear-death-only-the-unlived-life-you-don-t-have-to-live/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“You can't have living without dying. So you can't call it living, what we got. We just are, we just be, like rocks beside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/you-can-t-have-living-without-dying-so-you-can-t-call-it-living-what/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“I’m not exactly sure what I’d do, you know, but something interesting—something that’s all mine. Something that would make some kind of difference in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/i-m-not-exactly-sure-what-i-d-do-you-know-but-something-interesting/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“Miles said softly, “Ma. We’ll get you out right away.” “Sure, Ma,” said Jesse. “Don’t worry about me none,” said Mae in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/miles-said-softly-ma-we-ll-get-you-out-right-away-sure-ma-said-jesse/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [But dying's part of the wheel, right there next to being born. You can't pick out the pieces you like and leave the rest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/but-dying-s-part-of-the-wheel-right-there-next-to-being-born-you-can/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“There’s a pretty good old rowboat. I’ll take you out for a row after supper.” “No, I will,” said Jesse. “Let me . I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/there-s-a-pretty-good-old-rowboat-i-ll-take-you-out-for-a-row-after/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Don't be afraid of death; be afraid of an unlived life. You don't have to live forever, you just have to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/don-t-be-afraid-of-death-be-afraid-of-an-unlived-life-you-don-t-have/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Readers are lucky - they will never be bored or lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/readers-are-lucky-they-will-never-be-bored-or-lonely/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“...with white dawns and glaring moons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/with-white-dawns-and-glaring-moons-and-sunsets-smeared-with-too-much/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [in reading ... stories, you can be many different people in many different places, doing things you would never have a chance to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/in-reading-stories-you-can-be-many-different-people-in-many-different/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Time is like a wheel. Turning and turning - never stopping. And the woods are the center; the hub of the wheel. It began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/time-is-like-a-wheel-turning-and-turning-never-stopping-and-the-woods/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) [Explore all 90 Natalie Babbitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) ## More End of the world quotes > [“Is it necessary to recall that the earth is not infinite, and that our civilization is close to having invaded all of it? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-tarde/is-it-necessary-to-recall-that-the-earth-is-not-infinite-and-that-our/) Gabriel Tarde > [“Will this generation be able to turn things around and learn a valuable lesson from all of this? I hope so, but I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-b-powell/will-this-generation-be-able-to-turn-things-around-and-learn-a/) [Aaron B. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-b-powell/) > [The end of the world is on people's minds. We have the power to destroy or save ourselves, but the question is what do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/the-end-of-the-world-is-on-people-s-minds-we-have-the-power-to/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [People always wonder when the world is going to end. I believe that the world will end when everyone stops loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichole-fickes/people-always-wonder-when-the-world-is-going-to-end-i-believe-that/) [Nichole Fickes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichole-fickes/) > [End-of-the-world stories tend to ring true. I've always been drawn to them, but as I wrote my own, I found surprising pleasure in creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/end-of-the-world-stories-tend-to-ring-true-i-ve-always-been-drawn-to/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [The end of the world begins the moment you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-end-of-the-world-begins-the-moment-you-die/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [When I come home from work, if I just played a really good game and I'm on top of the world, I think changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cousins/when-i-come-home-from-work-if-i-just-played-a-really-good-game-and-i/) [Kirk Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cousins/) > [When I wrote 'The Good Body,' I turned 40 and suddenly had this stomach. It seemed like the end of the world. Because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/when-i-wrote-the-good-body-i-turned-40-and-suddenly-had-this-stomach/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Funerals and weddings were commonplace, and nothing could have been so interesting to them as the coming of the end of the world ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-eggleston/funerals-and-weddings-were-commonplace-and-nothing-could-have-been-so/) [Edward Eggleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-eggleston/) > [“Even my Buddhist friends have been feeling despair and when they go bad, you know the end is nigh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/even-my-buddhist-friends-have-been-feeling-despair-and-when-they-go/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Let the end of the world be inside you, then you don't need to fear the end of the world out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/let-the-end-of-the-world-be-inside-you-then-you-don-t-need-to-fear/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The planets survival has become so uncertain that any effort, any thought that presupposes an assured future amounts to a mad gamble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-planets-survival-has-become-so-uncertain-that-any-effort-any/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [Listen, we've drafted guys that wouldn't come in for workouts before. It's not the end of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-ainge/listen-we-ve-drafted-guys-that-wouldn-t-come-in-for-workouts-before/) [Danny Ainge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-ainge/) > [There was one part of my life where I would go out every night. Ha-ha, if I missed going out to the club, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-electra/there-was-one-part-of-my-life-where-i-would-go-out-every-night-ha-ha/) [Carmen Electra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-electra/) > [Oh my gosh, I'd give so much advice to a younger version of myself. I would say it really does get better as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/oh-my-gosh-i-d-give-so-much-advice-to-a-younger-version-of-myself-i/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) [Browse all 976 End of the world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“After that we went sort of crazy,” said Jesse, grinning at the memory. “Heck, we was going to live forever. Can you picture what it felt like to find that out?” “But then we sat down and talked it over…” said Miles. “We’re still talking it over,” Jesse added. “And we figured it’d be very bad if everyone knowed about that spring,” said Mae. “We begun to see what it would mean.” She peered at Winnie. “Do you understand, child? That water--it stops you right where you are. If you’d had a drink of it today, you’d stay a little girl forever. You’d never grow up, not ever.” “We don’t know how it works, or even why,” said Miles. “Pa thinks it’s something left over from--well, from some other plan for the way the world should be,” said Jesse. “Some plan that didn’t work out too good. And so everything was changed. Except that the spring was passed over, somehow or other. Maybe he’s right. I don’t know. But you see, Winnie Foster, when I told you before I’m a hundred and four years old, I was telling the truth. But I’m really only seventeen. 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