--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to write when I was young, but…" description: "\"I wanted to write when I was young, but people said it was impossible. Then my parents locked me in a mental institution - they said I was crazy and wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/paulo-coelho-10_crazy_i-wanted-to-write-when-i-was-young-but-p_665790.jpg" --- # I wanted to write when I was young, but people said it was… ![“I wanted to write when I was young, but people said it was impossible. Then my parents locked me in a mental institution - they said I was crazy and would never make a living from writing.” quote by Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/paulo-coelho-10_crazy_i-wanted-to-write-when-i-was-young-but-p_665790.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/paulo-coelho-10_crazy_i-wanted-to-write-when-i-was-young-but-p_665790.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/paulo-coelho-10_crazy_i-wanted-to-write-when-i-was-young-but-p_665790.jpg) > “I wanted to write when I was young, but people said it was impossible. Then my parents locked me in a mental institution - they said I was crazy and would never make a living from writing.” [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## 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 reflects on early creative aspirations thwarted by societal doubt and institutionalization, highlighting the tension between personal ambition and external condemnation. **In simple terms:** Young ambition blocked by others' disbelief. Key Takeaway Persist despite naysayers. Themes creativity oppression resilience Mood determined defiant Type inspirational cautionary When to use this quote - writing - personal development - overcoming adversity Key Concepts self‑expression mental health societal expectations Questions to Reflect On - What inner drive fuels your creative work? - How can you protect your vision against external negativity? A Different Perspective Critics may misinterpret unconventional paths as failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Institution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institution/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It's like, you can't have any fun, and if you do have fun, if you do your own thing, you're considered crazy and should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-glover/it-s-like-you-can-t-have-any-fun-and-if-you-do-have-fun-if-you-do/) [Crispin Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-glover/) > [There was a mental institution near my house, and I would donate time teaching mentally ill patients how to do ceramics. 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I completely shot my wad there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/i-don-t-think-i-can-ever-write-about-young-kids-anymore-i-completely/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [I had tried to write about young women in London who had jobs and boyfriends, and it was so tedious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-had-tried-to-write-about-young-women-in-london-who-had-jobs-and/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I always had a passion to write as a young girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-always-had-a-passion-to-write-as-a-young-girl/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [I think it's a mistake to think, 'Am I going to write a young adult book, or do I desperately want to write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-going-to-write-a-young-adult/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Besides being asked why I write about young characters, I am often asked how I write about young characters. 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