--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I became a man, I put away childish…" description: "\"When I became a man, I put away childish things and got more elaborate and expensive childish things from France and Japan.\" — P. J. O'Rourke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/p-j-o-rourke-184_childish_when-i-became-a-man-i-put-away-childish_457439.png" --- # When I became a man, I put away childish things and got… ![“When I became a man, I put away childish things and got more elaborate and expensive childish things from France and Japan.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/p-j-o-rourke-184_childish_when-i-became-a-man-i-put-away-childish_457439.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/p-j-o-rourke-184_childish_when-i-became-a-man-i-put-away-childish_457439.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/p-j-o-rourke-184_childish_when-i-became-a-man-i-put-away-childish_457439.png) > “When I became a man, I put away childish things and got more elaborate and expensive childish things from France and Japan.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker humorously notes that adulthood replaces simple childhood toys with sophisticated, costly gadgets from foreign cultures. **In simple terms:** Adults trade simple toys for fancy foreign gadgets. Key Takeaway Recognize the irony of adult consumerism. Themes consumerism humor adulthood Mood wry ironic playful Type satirical observational. When to use this quote - shopping for tech - travel souvenirs - gift buying - home décor Key Concepts cultural appropriation materialism satire Questions to Reflect On - Do you buy status symbols to feel grown‑up? - How does humor reveal our spending habits? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook genuine cultural appreciation in favor of mockery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childish things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childish-things/) [France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/france/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [When I was a child, I thought as a child. But now I have put away childish things. ... I must be scientific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/when-i-was-a-child-i-thought-as-a-child-but-now-i-have-put-away/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“away childish things. You’s a grown woman now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-n-joy/away-childish-things-you-s-a-grown-woman-now/) [E.N. Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-n-joy/) > [“The reluctance to put away childish things may be a requirement of genius.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-pepper-sinkler/the-reluctance-to-put-away-childish-things-may-be-a-requirement-of/) Rebecca Pepper Sinkler > [It's always great to have things from France at a wedding. It's symbolic of style, of culture, of taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-leon-talley/it-s-always-great-to-have-things-from-france-at-a-wedding-it-s/) [Andre Leon Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-leon-talley/) > [“Romance is showing my new husband the places and things that mean the most to me. 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Black or white. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/when-i-was-a-little-girl-everything-in-the-world-fell-into-either-of/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“We were still children, for all that we thought we weren’t. We were in that in-between place, the twilight between childish things and grown-up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-henry/we-were-still-children-for-all-that-we-thought-we-weren-t-we-were-in/) [Christina Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-henry/) > [I do have a childlike enthusiasm at times. I certainly enjoy life and get pleasure sometimes in childish things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-baumgartner/i-do-have-a-childlike-enthusiasm-at-times-i-certainly-enjoy-life-and/) [Brian Baumgartner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-baumgartner/) > [Those who tread 'adult' as a term of approval cannot hope to be considered adult themselves. When I became a man I put away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-tread-adult-as-a-term-of-approval-cannot-hope-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its a time when you gotta push the childish things aside & realize it happened but its over now & keep right on living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-a-time-when-you-gotta-push-the-childish-things-aside-realize-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If it seems a childish thing to do, do it in remembrance that you are a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/if-it-seems-a-childish-thing-to-do-do-it-in-remembrance-that-you-are/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“I am still every age that I have been. Because I was once a child, I am always a child. Because I was once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-am-still-every-age-that-i-have-been-because-i-was-once-a-child-i-am/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [My whole family can talk. They are all car salesmen. They are all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-whole-family-can-talk-they-are-all-car-salesmen-they-are-all-funny/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Childish quotes > [I wasted my time on your childish games. But don't worry I will not even try to hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-f-b-mora/i-wasted-my-time-on-your-childish-games-but-don-t-worry-i-will-not/) Cynthia F B Mora > [Childish egocentrism is, in its essence, an inability to differentiate between the ego and the social environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/childish-egocentrism-is-in-its-essence-an-inability-to-differentiate/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [In a meat-eating world, wearing leather for shoes and clothes and even handbags, the discussion of fur is childish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/in-a-meat-eating-world-wearing-leather-for-shoes-and-clothes-and-even/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [“KINGDOM OF THE WOMB From her thighs, she gives you life And how you treat she who gives you life Shows how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/kingdom-of-the-womb-from-her-thighs-she-gives-you-life-and-how-you/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Age doesn’t make us childish, as they say, It finds that we’re still children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/age-doesn-t-make-us-childish-as-they-say-it-finds-that-we-re-still/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [When we're in that kind of childish space, we're more genuine and feel more comfortable with our friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-spiegel/when-we-re-in-that-kind-of-childish-space-we-re-more-genuine-and-feel/) [Evan Spiegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-spiegel/) > [“Mockery is childish, Beatrice,' She says. 'It does not become you'. 'Mockery is childish, Beatric,' I repeat in my best imitation of her voice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mockery-is-childish-beatrice-she-says-it-does-not-become-you-mockery/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [The naive is what is or appears to be natural, individual, or classical to the point of irony or to the point of continuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/the-naive-is-what-is-or-appears-to-be-natural-individual-or-classical/) [Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/) > [The most powerful men were those who most effectively used the power of adult competence to enforce childish agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-s-trow/the-most-powerful-men-were-those-who-most-effectively-used-the-power/) [George W. S. Trow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-s-trow/) > [“Growing up is childish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/growing-up-is-childish/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [It was childish to feel disappointed, but childishness comes almost as naturally to a man as to a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-was-childish-to-feel-disappointed-but-childishness-comes-almost-as/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Don't you understand that we need to be childish in order to understand? Only a child sees things with perfect clarity, because it hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/don-t-you-understand-that-we-need-to-be-childish-in-order-to/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I think it is important to learn to distinguish between being childlike and being childish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-it-is-important-to-learn-to-distinguish-between-being/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I don't respect thinking that is dangerous, prejudicial, childish, and could get me killed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-don-t-respect-thinking-that-is-dangerous-prejudicial-childish-and/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“In a meat-eating world, wearing leather for shoes and even clothes, the discussion of fur is childish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/in-a-meat-eating-world-wearing-leather-for-shoes-and-even-clothes-the/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) Browse all 299 Childish quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I became a man, I put away childish things and got more elaborate and expensive childish things from France and Japan.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. 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