--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: while an adult could rarely be…" description: "\"“while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone could love the right kid.”\" — Neal Shusterman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/neal-shusterman-412_universally_while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universal_55705.png" --- # while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone… ![“while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone could love the right kid.” quote by Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/neal-shusterman-412_universally_while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universal_55705.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/neal-shusterman-412_universally_while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universal_55705.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/neal-shusterman-412_universally_while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universal_55705.png) > ““while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone could love the right kid.”” [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adults rarely earn universal affection, but each person can find a child who resonates deeply with them. **In simple terms:** Universal love for adults is rare; love for a particular child is possible. Key Takeaway Finding a special child can bring profound connection. Themes affection relationships individuality family connection Mood warmth hopeful Type observation reflection When to use this quote - parenting - mentoring - teaching - counseling Key Concepts human nature empathy Practical Applications - building trust with a child - guiding youth development Questions to Reflect On - What makes a child stand out as 'the right' one? - How does this perspective affect adult relationships? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adult Rarely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adult-rarely-774881/) [Rarely Universally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rarely-universally-774880/) [Right Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-kid-774882/) [Universally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universally/) [Universally Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universally-loved-774879/) ## Related quotes > [The problem often is that aspiring brands wish to be universally loved. Unfortunately, universal love is neither achievable nor desirable. Instead, great brands are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmalya-kumar/the-problem-often-is-that-aspiring-brands-wish-to-be-universally/) [Nirmalya Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmalya-kumar/) > [For many years, people would say, "Only child? Must have been terrible," and I wanted to say, "You are mentally ill, because it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/for-many-years-people-would-say-only-child-must-have-been-terrible/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I've never been universally loved from the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-ve-never-been-universally-loved-from-the-beginning/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [A shame really, because putting the right book in the right kid’s hands is kind of like giving that kid superpowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-castellucci/a-shame-really-because-putting-the-right-book-in-the-right-kid-s/) [Cecil Castellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-castellucci/) > [“That's right, kid. Never play an ace if a two will do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-smith/that-s-right-kid-never-play-an-ace-if-a-two-will-do/) [Jeff Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-smith/) > [I used to have a lot of envy for those musicians who have been universally loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-used-to-have-a-lot-of-envy-for-those-musicians-who-have-been/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I've always wanted to make some kind of music that was universally appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wilson/i-ve-always-wanted-to-make-some-kind-of-music-that-was-universally/) [Steven Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wilson/) > [ There is no other article for individual use so universally known or widely distributed. In my travels I have found \[the safety razor\] in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-c-gillette/there-is-no-other-article-for-individual-use-so-universally-known-or/) [King C. Gillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-c-gillette/) > [The United States is too big and we are too involved with too many people for any president to be able to take actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-united-states-is-too-big-and-we-are-too-involved-with-too-many/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I think it's important that 'Star Wars' characters speak universally, to kids and to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/i-think-it-s-important-that-star-wars-characters-speak-universally-to/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [“Whisky was almost universally used.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ketcham/whisky-was-almost-universally-used/) [Henry Ketcham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ketcham/) > [Rejection is a universally embarrassing topic and 'Electra Heart' is my response to that. It is a frank album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/rejection-is-a-universally-embarrassing-topic-and-electra-heart-is-my/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [The morality of scholarship, as currently practiced, is to encourage everyone to replace difficult pleasures by pleasures universally accessible precisely because they are easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/the-morality-of-scholarship-as-currently-practiced-is-to-encourage/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [I'm really excited about anything that is able to address the really big markets, so anything that's universally appealing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/i-m-really-excited-about-anything-that-is-able-to-address-the-really/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/of-all-of-our-inventions-for-mass-communication-pictures-still-speak/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) ## More by Neal Shusterman > [“Picking locks was not a skill he had ever cultivated, but he persisted day after day, turning the tip of his talon into different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/picking-locks-was-not-a-skill-he-had-ever-cultivated-but-he-persisted/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“If you come anywhere near my daughter, I will see to it that you are taken apart piece by bloody piece. Do I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-come-anywhere-near-my-daughter-i-will-see-to-it-that-you-are/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Dead kids are put on pedestals, but mentally ill kids get hidden under the rug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/dead-kids-are-put-on-pedestals-but-mentally-ill-kids-get-hidden-under/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“The fear of not living is a deep, abiding dread of watching your own potential decompose into irredeemable disappointment when “should be” gets crushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-fear-of-not-living-is-a-deep-abiding-dread-of-watching-your-own/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [That's wisdom you can take to the grave, and dig up when you need it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/that-s-wisdom-you-can-take-to-the-grave-and-dig-up-when-you-need-it/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“And you know the darkness beyond despair, just as intimately as you know the soaring heights. Because in this and all universes, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/and-you-know-the-darkness-beyond-despair-just-as-intimately-as-you/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [You may feel a tugging sensation near your ankles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/you-may-feel-a-tugging-sensation-near-your-ankles/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“It's like art, you know? Picasso had to prove to the world he can paint the right way, before he goes putting both eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/it-s-like-art-you-know-picasso-had-to-prove-to-the-world-he-can-paint/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [The way I see it, the impossible happens all the time; but we're so good at taking it for granted, we forget it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-way-i-see-it-the-impossible-happens-all-the-time-but-we-re-so/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“a true leader never puts his ego ahead of his assets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/a-true-leader-never-puts-his-ego-ahead-of-his-assets/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [If you have to ask then you don't deserve an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-have-to-ask-then-you-don-t-deserve-an-answer/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“There was never anything wrong with my life. Perhaps that was the problem... The crack in my life was the fact that I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/there-was-never-anything-wrong-with-my-life-perhaps-that-was-the/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“But fate is a freak when it comes to messing with your future in ways you don't see coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/but-fate-is-a-freak-when-it-comes-to-messing-with-your-future-in-ways/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“The sad truth about humanity, Risa was quick to realize, is that people believe what they are told. Maybe not the first time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-sad-truth-about-humanity-risa-was-quick-to-realize-is-that-people/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Would you rather die, or be unwound?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/would-you-rather-die-or-be-unwound/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) [Explore all 573 Neal Shusterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## More Universally quotes > [Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/of-all-of-our-inventions-for-mass-communication-pictures-still-speak/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I'm really excited about anything that is able to address the really big markets, so anything that's universally appealing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/i-m-really-excited-about-anything-that-is-able-to-address-the-really/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [The morality of scholarship, as currently practiced, is to encourage everyone to replace difficult pleasures by pleasures universally accessible precisely because they are easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/the-morality-of-scholarship-as-currently-practiced-is-to-encourage/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [Rejection is a universally embarrassing topic and 'Electra Heart' is my response to that. It is a frank album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/rejection-is-a-universally-embarrassing-topic-and-electra-heart-is-my/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [“Whisky was almost universally used.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ketcham/whisky-was-almost-universally-used/) [Henry Ketcham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ketcham/) > [I think it's important that 'Star Wars' characters speak universally, to kids and to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/i-think-it-s-important-that-star-wars-characters-speak-universally-to/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [The United States is too big and we are too involved with too many people for any president to be able to take actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-united-states-is-too-big-and-we-are-too-involved-with-too-many/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [ There is no other article for individual use so universally known or widely distributed. In my travels I have found \[the safety razor\] in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-c-gillette/there-is-no-other-article-for-individual-use-so-universally-known-or/) [King C. Gillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-c-gillette/) > [I've always wanted to make some kind of music that was universally appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wilson/i-ve-always-wanted-to-make-some-kind-of-music-that-was-universally/) [Steven Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wilson/) > [Once you've been on tour six, seven years, you get an idea of what works and what doesn't work universally. There will be some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/once-you-ve-been-on-tour-six-seven-years-you-get-an-idea-of-what/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [It's always more interesting to make a movie about what is relevant in your society. What's the political global backdrop? What are our threats?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-butler/it-s-always-more-interesting-to-make-a-movie-about-what-is-relevant/) [Gerard Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-butler/) > [I've got a feeling that with the best coppers - and in fact the best people in any field of work - what sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/i-ve-got-a-feeling-that-with-the-best-coppers-and-in-fact-the-best/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [A universal sound is about having everybody be able to relate to it whether you're in New York, LA, London or Australia. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario/a-universal-sound-is-about-having-everybody-be-able-to-relate-to-it/) [Mario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario/) > [The year 2100 will see eugenics universally established. In past ages, the law governing the survival of the fittest roughly weeded out the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/the-year-2100-will-see-eugenics-universally-established-in-past-ages/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [I believe it is universally understood and acknowledged that all men will ever act correctly, unless they have a motive to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-believe-it-is-universally-understood-and-acknowledged-that-all-men/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Browse all 90 Universally quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universally/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone could love the right kid.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal Shusterman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universally-loved-everyone-could-love/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Universally" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universally-loved-everyone-could-love/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/neal-shusterman-412_universally_while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universal_55705.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/neal-shusterman-412_universally_while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universal_55705.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/neal-shusterman-412_universally_while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universal_55705.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone could love the right kid.” — Neal Shusterman", "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": "Neal Shusterman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“while an adult could rarely be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universally-loved-everyone-could-love/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universally-loved-everyone-could-love/#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 } } ] } ```