--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Honestly. Adults. How do they live in the…" description: "\"“Honestly. Adults. How do they live in the world? (Or maybe that is how they live in the world.)”\" — Patrick Ness" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/patrick-ness-449_adults_honestly-adults-how-do-they-live-in-the_536476.jpg" --- # Honestly. Adults. How do they live in the world? (Or maybe… ![“Honestly. Adults. How do they live in the world? (Or maybe that is how they live in the world.)” quote by Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/patrick-ness-449_adults_honestly-adults-how-do-they-live-in-the_536476.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/patrick-ness-449_adults_honestly-adults-how-do-they-live-in-the_536476.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/patrick-ness-449_adults_honestly-adults-how-do-they-live-in-the_536476.jpg) > ““Honestly. Adults. How do they live in the world? (Or maybe that is how they live in the world.)”” [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adults often seem disconnected from authentic living, perhaps because they conform to societal expectations. **In simple terms:** Adults may live in a scripted way. Key Takeaway Seek genuine experiences beyond social scripts. Themes adulthood authenticity societal norms disconnection Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career choices - personal relationships - mental health - creative pursuits Key Concepts existential questioning social critique Questions to Reflect On - What does “living in the world” mean to you? - How can you model authenticity for others? A Different Perspective Adults can also embody authenticity and wisdom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Adults Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults-live-4495210/) [Honestly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honestly/) [Honestly Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honestly-adults-4495209/) [World Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-maybe-881569/) ## Related quotes > [“Now, he was free to go forth and make a name for himself in the wide, wide world. And maybe, just maybe, he'd come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/now-he-was-free-to-go-forth-and-make-a-name-for-himself-in-the-wide/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [Anytime you go digging around on the internet and into your world, maybe you don't want to find out where your name pops up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/anytime-you-go-digging-around-on-the-internet-and-into-your-world/) [Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/) > [. . . crazy world or maybe it's just the view we have of it, looking through a crack in the door, never being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/crazy-world-or-maybe-it-s-just-the-view-we-have-of-it-looking-through/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [I know this is maybe naive, but one day I hope there will be peace in the world. Maybe one day the flowers will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katarina-witt/i-know-this-is-maybe-naive-but-one-day-i-hope-there-will-be-peace-in/) [Katarina Witt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katarina-witt/) > [All over the world, maybe besides literature, there's nothing that touches many people as movies do. People see them everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-levy/all-over-the-world-maybe-besides-literature-there-s-nothing-that/) [Jane Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-levy/) > [“Maybe you'll get onto the other side of that mirror in the new clean world. Maybe you'll look through from the other side and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/maybe-you-ll-get-onto-the-other-side-of-that-mirror-in-the-new-clean/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [If you're never gonna change the world, If you're never gonna be a movie star. If you're never gonna change the world, maybe you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-posner/if-you-re-never-gonna-change-the-world-if-you-re-never-gonna-be-a/) [Mike Posner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-posner/) > [There is no third world, there is no first world. There maybe many tongues, beliefs & races, but there is only one family; human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/there-is-no-third-world-there-is-no-first-world-there-maybe-many/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [“Music is the only form of magic in this world, except maybe for love. Not that I’d know much about love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-knight/music-is-the-only-form-of-magic-in-this-world-except-maybe-for-love/) [J.J. Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-knight/) > [Should there be double standards in the world? Maybe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harrison/should-there-be-double-standards-in-the-world-maybe/) [Chris Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harrison/) > [If you look at the world, there's only maybe only Brazil or Argentina that can win a World Cup that aren't in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/if-you-look-at-the-world-there-s-only-maybe-only-brazil-or-argentina/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [“A feeling that I know so little about the world. And maybe the tiniest bit of excitement that there are real possibilities in life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/a-feeling-that-i-know-so-little-about-the-world-and-maybe-the-tiniest/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [Change the world is maybe Obama's job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/change-the-world-is-maybe-obama-s-job/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [When we all start to wake up and realize that our comforts are fleeting, and more money is never going to save this world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-jauregui/when-we-all-start-to-wake-up-and-realize-that-our-comforts-are/) [Lauren Jauregui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-jauregui/) > [Women have always run the world; maybe it's time to give them a chance at ruling it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goulston/women-have-always-run-the-world-maybe-it-s-time-to-give-them-a-chance/) [Mark Goulston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goulston/) ## More by Patrick Ness > [“I rub the ears of my dog, my stupid goddam ruddy great dog that I never wanted but who hung around anyway and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-rub-the-ears-of-my-dog-my-stupid-goddam-ruddy-great-dog-that-i/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“The Prince had fallen in love. She was only a farmer's daughter, but she was was beautiful, and also smart, as the daughters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/the-prince-had-fallen-in-love-she-was-only-a-farmer-s-daughter-but/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Here is the boy, drowning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/here-is-the-boy-drowning/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“This is it. This is goodbye. A goodbye I wasn't even looking for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/this-is-it-this-is-goodbye-a-goodbye-i-wasn-t-even-looking-for/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“ But what is a dream, Conor O'Malley? the monster said, bending down so it's face was close to Conor's. Who is to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/but-what-is-a-dream-conor-o-malley-the-monster-said-bending-down-so/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“And I feel her against me - And I think Viola - I think VIOLA! - I think VIOLA!!!! ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/and-i-feel-her-against-me-and-i-think-viola-i-think-viola-i-think/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“But I'm still thinking about being born on a spaceship, an honest to badness spaceship. Growing up while flying along the stars, able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/but-i-m-still-thinking-about-being-born-on-a-spaceship-an-honest-to/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“When luck ain't with you, it's against you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/when-luck-ain-t-with-you-it-s-against-you/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“You starting to feel hope yet?" Viola asks, her voice curious. "No," I say, fuddling my noise. "You?" Her eyebrows are up but she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/you-starting-to-feel-hope-yet-viola-asks-her-voice-curious-no-i-say/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“I have two maxims that I believe, dear girl. One, if you can control yourself, you can control others. Two, if you can control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-have-two-maxims-that-i-believe-dear-girl-one-if-you-can-control/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [To live is to fight, to preserve life is to fight everything that man stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/to-live-is-to-fight-to-preserve-life-is-to-fight-everything-that-man/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Because he KNEW he was doing wrong. He felt the PAIN of his actions'-- 'But he did not amen them,' shows the Sky. 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/because-he-knew-he-was-doing-wrong-he-felt-the-pain-of-his-actions/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“This was a kingdom. (“What?” Conor said, looking around his backyard. “Here?”) (The monster cocked its head at him curiously. You have not heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/this-was-a-kingdom-what-conor-said-looking-around-his-backyard-here/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [If you ever see a war," she says, not looking up from her clipboard, "you'll learn that war only destroys. No one escapes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/if-you-ever-see-a-war-she-says-not-looking-up-from-her-clipboard-you/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) [Explore all 527 Patrick Ness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) [One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Honestly. Adults. How do they live in the world? 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