--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How do you know?\" She shrugged. \"Once…" description: "\"“How do you know?\" She shrugged. \"Once you’ve been around for a bit, you get to know stuff.\" I kicked a stone. \"By 'a bit' do you mean 'a really long t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/055/neil-gaiman-29_asked_how-do-you-know-she-shrugged-once-you-ve_2617030.jpg" --- # How do you know?" She shrugged. "Once you’ve been around… ![“How do you know?" She shrugged. "Once you’ve been around for a bit, you get to know stuff." I kicked a stone. "By 'a bit' do you mean 'a really long time'?" She nodded. "How old are you, really?" I asked. "Eleven." I thought for a bit. Then I asked, "How long have you been eleven for?" She smiled…” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/055/neil-gaiman-29_asked_how-do-you-know-she-shrugged-once-you-ve_2617030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/055/neil-gaiman-29_asked_how-do-you-know-she-shrugged-once-you-ve_2617030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/055/neil-gaiman-29_asked_how-do-you-know-she-shrugged-once-you-ve_2617030.jpg) > ““How do you know?" She shrugged. "Once you’ve been around for a bit, you get to know stuff." I kicked a stone. "By 'a bit' do you mean 'a really long time'?" She nodded. "How old are you, really?" I asked. "Eleven." I thought for a bit. Then I asked, "How long have you been eleven for?" She smiled at me.”” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neil Gaiman **In simple terms:** Understanding comes with time and experience; age is a measure of lived moments, not just years. Key Takeaway Patience reveals deeper knowledge. Themes growth experience wisdom Mood contemplative curious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - learning a new skill - mentoring youth - self‑reflection Key Concepts time learning age perception Questions to Reflect On - What does age mean to you beyond numbers? - How can you accelerate learning without waiting? A Different Perspective Experience alone doesn't guarantee insight; quality of reflection matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“She shrugged. "Once you've been around for a bit, you get to know stuff." I kicked a stone. "By 'a bit' do you mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/she-shrugged-once-you-ve-been-around-for-a-bit-you-get-to-know-stuff/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“How old are you, really?” I asked. “Eleven.” I thought for a bit. Then I asked, “How long have you been eleven for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/how-old-are-you-really-i-asked-eleven-i-thought-for-a-bit-then-i/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“You seem very sure of yourself, Daniel.' I, who was never even sure what the time was, nodded with the conviction of the ignorant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/you-seem-very-sure-of-yourself-daniel-i-who-was-never-even-sure-what/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“How old are you, really?’ I asked. ‘Eleven.’ I thought for a while. Then I asked, ‘How long have you been eleven for?’ She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/how-old-are-you-really-i-asked-eleven-i-thought-for-a-while-then-i/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“A son," the Queen said, and her smile lit up the room. "Will I give birth soon?" The old woman nodded. "When?" The old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wheeler-scott/a-son-the-queen-said-and-her-smile-lit-up-the-room-will-i-give-birth/) Wheeler Scott > [I always try to do a bit more than I am asked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/i-always-try-to-do-a-bit-more-than-i-am-asked/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [“I passed the friendship centre and nodded to an old couple on the porch. Kookum smiled back and nodded, a cotton kerchief on her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/i-passed-the-friendship-centre-and-nodded-to-an-old-couple-on-the/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [Someone asked me, 'How long do you intend to do 'Deadwood'?' And part of my sociopathology, I say, 'Well, when does my contract run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-milch/someone-asked-me-how-long-do-you-intend-to-do-deadwood-and-part-of-my/) [David Milch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-milch/) > [“How long do you want me?" he asked. How long can I have you? I thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/how-long-do-you-want-me-he-asked-how-long-can-i-have-you-i-thought/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [If you asked me how long I'll love you, my answer would be I don't know. Only because I don't know which is longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/if-you-asked-me-how-long-i-ll-love-you-my-answer-would-be-i-don-t/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Someone once asked me, 'How long does it take to do your hair.' I said, 'I don't know, I'm never there.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/someone-once-asked-me-how-long-does-it-take-to-do-your-hair-i-said-i/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Several years ago, as I was transitioning from film finance to film production and writing again, someone asked me how long I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-campisi/several-years-ago-as-i-was-transitioning-from-film-finance-to-film/) [Gabriel Campisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-campisi/) > [I do remember, one time, a man came to me after the students began to work in Mississippi and he said the white people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/i-do-remember-one-time-a-man-came-to-me-after-the-students-began-to/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [Someone asked me how long I planned on keeping you in my life.i smiled and said how do I choose between and forever and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-chhabra/someone-asked-me-how-long-i-planned-on-keeping-you-in-my-life-i/) [Shubham Chhabra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-chhabra/) > [A couple of months ago, I was down in Florida for the Food and Wine Festival. And this journalist grabbed me and said, 'How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/a-couple-of-months-ago-i-was-down-in-florida-for-the-food-and-wine/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Asked quotes > [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... I would spend every moment of every day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/are-you-sure-he-asked-in-a-low-voice-because-if-i-had-the-chance-i/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [“Who tricked me into this whole thing and leaves me standing here? Who am I? How did I get into the world? Why was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/who-tricked-me-into-this-whole-thing-and-leaves-me-standing-here-who/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“The best questions are ones never asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cory-molloy/the-best-questions-are-ones-never-asked/) Robert Cory Molloy > [A lot of people think I'm snotty. So what? They never asked me out when I was serving cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-snotty-so-what-they-never-asked-me-out-when/) [Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/) > [I've been so lucky with the people I've worked with, but I'm such a fan girl. When I moved to London at 16, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-ve-been-so-lucky-with-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-but-i-m-such-a/) [Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/) > [For me to even be talking about bikini confidence is crazy. If you had asked me a couple of months ago, I probably would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/for-me-to-even-be-talking-about-bikini-confidence-is-crazy-if-you-had/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The only thing Steve Jobs has ever asked me in all the years we've been together and have been partners, the only thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-only-thing-steve-jobs-has-ever-asked-me-in-all-the-years-we-ve/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“A girl likes to be asked, dumbass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/a-girl-likes-to-be-asked-dumbass/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [I've been asked to school dances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-ve-been-asked-to-school-dances/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [“Which to you have?' Mel asked, blocking the entry with his body. 'Talent or issues?' I paused for a moment, thought about this. 'Both,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/which-to-you-have-mel-asked-blocking-the-entry-with-his-body-talent/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Did you find someone who makes you feel all those things?” she asked, not wanting to think of her own failed union. He locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/did-you-find-someone-who-makes-you-feel-all-those-things-she-asked/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [At first, I asked, Why me? Then I thought, Why not me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/at-first-i-asked-why-me-then-i-thought-why-not-me/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) Browse all 2,259 Asked quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How do you know?\" She shrugged. \"Once you’ve been around for a bit, you get to know stuff.\" I kicked a stone. \"By 'a bit' do you mean 'a really long time'?\" She nodded. \"How old are you, really?\" I asked. \"Eleven.\" I thought for a bit. Then I asked, \"How long have you been eleven for?\" She smiled at me.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Gaiman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/how-do-you-know-she-shrugged-once-you-ve-been-around-for-a-bit-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asked" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/how-do-you-know-she-shrugged-once-you-ve-been-around-for-a-bit-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/055/neil-gaiman-29_asked_how-do-you-know-she-shrugged-once-you-ve_2617030.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/055/neil-gaiman-29_asked_how-do-you-know-she-shrugged-once-you-ve_2617030.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/055/neil-gaiman-29_asked_how-do-you-know-she-shrugged-once-you-ve_2617030.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How do you know?\" She shrugged. \"Once you’ve been around for a bit, you get to know stuff.\" I kicked a…” — Neil Gaiman", "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": "Neil Gaiman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“How do you know?\" She shrugged....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/how-do-you-know-she-shrugged-once-you-ve-been-around-for-a-bit-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/how-do-you-know-she-shrugged-once-you-ve-been-around-for-a-bit-you/#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 } } ] } ```