--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was very young every grownup was a…" description: "\"When I was very young every grownup was a hero. It's been all downhill since then, and I have only two left.\" — Peter S. Beagle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/peter-s-beagle-1665_grownup_when-i-was-very-young-every-grownup-was_1065963.png" --- # When I was very young every grownup was a hero. It's been… ![“When I was very young every grownup was a hero. It's been all downhill since then, and I have only two left.” quote by Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/peter-s-beagle-1665_grownup_when-i-was-very-young-every-grownup-was_1065963.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/peter-s-beagle-1665_grownup_when-i-was-very-young-every-grownup-was_1065963.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/peter-s-beagle-1665_grownup_when-i-was-very-young-every-grownup-was_1065963.png) > “When I was very young every grownup was a hero. It's been all downhill since then, and I have only two left.” [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on childhood hero worship fading, leaving only a few true heroes. **In simple terms:** Childhood heroes fade, few remain. Key Takeaway Cherish lasting influences. Themes nostalgia heroism growth Mood reflective bittersweet Type literary personal When to use this quote - memoirs - speeches - fan conventions - writing workshops - personal essays Key Concepts coming of age literary reflection personal loss Questions to Reflect On - Who are your remaining heroes? - How do you honor them? A Different Perspective May romanticize past, ignoring present role models. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grownup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grownup/) [Grownup Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grownup-hero-2220807/) [Grownups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grownups/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Hero Downhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero-downhill-2628895/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young Grownup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-grownup-2628896/) ## Related quotes > [I think being young in a grownup world, I think it stunted me a little bit. I had to grow up too fast on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/i-think-being-young-in-a-grownup-world-i-think-it-stunted-me-a-little/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [I'm glad Phil Jackson got the rings for Chicago. You traded me away from New York, cool. It's all business; it's all love, whatever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/i-m-glad-phil-jackson-got-the-rings-for-chicago-you-traded-me-away/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [Election night is the easiest time to act like a grownup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/election-night-is-the-easiest-time-to-act-like-a-grownup/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [One foot in front of the other, wasn't that the grownup way of solving problems? Surely he ought to be a grownup at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/one-foot-in-front-of-the-other-wasn-t-that-the-grownup-way-of-solving/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [When you're a child you never figure a grownup is going to be jealous of you. It's the grownups who seem to have everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/when-you-re-a-child-you-never-figure-a-grownup-is-going-to-be-jealous/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“Grownups know things, said Piggy. They ain't afraid of the dark. They'd meet and have tea and discuss. Then things 'ud be alright--- They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/grownups-know-things-said-piggy-they-ain-t-afraid-of-the-dark-they-d/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [All any grownup expects of an adolescent is that he act like an adult and be satisfied to be treated like a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grant/all-any-grownup-expects-of-an-adolescent-is-that-he-act-like-an-adult/) [John Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grant/) > [Dave couldn't remember the last time a grownup had apologized to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/dave-couldn-t-remember-the-last-time-a-grownup-had-apologized-to-him/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [Don't forget that compared to a grownup person every baby is a genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/don-t-forget-that-compared-to-a-grownup-person-every-baby-is-a-genius/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Embracing the fear of freedom, deciding to determine your own path, this is the work of a grownup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/embracing-the-fear-of-freedom-deciding-to-determine-your-own-path/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Adults who use big words in order to seem intelligent are annoying, especially those who are not intelligent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/adults-who-use-big-words-in-order-to-seem-intelligent-are-annoying/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [The moment you decide that you're a grownup now, and therefore must put away foolish things like staying out all night or cruising down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-heimel/the-moment-you-decide-that-you-re-a-grownup-now-and-therefore-must/) [Cynthia Heimel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-heimel/) > [Life, just as we first thought, is playing grownup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/life-just-as-we-first-thought-is-playing-grownup/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [if a book is not good enough for a grownup, it is not good enough for a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/if-a-book-is-not-good-enough-for-a-grownup-it-is-not-good-enough-for/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [That's what my books are, now that I'm a grownup - mosaics of jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/that-s-what-my-books-are-now-that-i-m-a-grownup-mosaics-of-jokes/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More by Peter S. Beagle > [Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/your-name-is-a-golden-bell-hung-in-my-heart-i-would-break-my-body-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Farewell,' she said. 'I hope you hear many more songs' - which was the best way she could think of to say good-bye to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/farewell-she-said-i-hope-you-hear-many-more-songs-which-was-the-best/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [He is a great enough magician to tap our most common nightmares, daydreams and twilight fancies, but he never invented them either: he found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/he-is-a-great-enough-magician-to-tap-our-most-common-nightmares/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [...no place is more enchanted than where a unicorn has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/no-place-is-more-enchanted-than-where-a-unicorn-has-been-born/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“...and it's not my place to chase around after you, fixing stuff. What I know's what I know, and it don't include putting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/and-it-s-not-my-place-to-chase-around-after-you-fixing-stuff-what-i/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The most professional curse ever snarled or croaked or thundered can have no effect on a pure heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-most-professional-curse-ever-snarled-or-croaked-or-thundered-can/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“The baloney weighed the raven down, and the shopkeeper almost caught him as he whisked out the delicatessen door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-baloney-weighed-the-raven-down-and-the-shopkeeper-almost-caught/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Men have to have heroes, but no man can ever be as big as the need, and so a legend grows around a grain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/men-have-to-have-heroes-but-no-man-can-ever-be-as-big-as-the-need-and/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [A Clock is not time; it's numbers and springs. Pay it no mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/a-clock-is-not-time-it-s-numbers-and-springs-pay-it-no-mind/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Heroes know that things must happen when it is time for them to happen. A quest may not simply be abandoned; unicorns may go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/heroes-know-that-things-must-happen-when-it-is-time-for-them-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The Lady Amalthea beckoned, and the cat wriggled all over, like a dog, but he would not come near... She was offering her open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-lady-amalthea-beckoned-and-the-cat-wriggled-all-over-like-a-dog/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“Where have you been?" she cried. "Damn you, where have you been?" She took a few steps toward Schmendrick, but she was looking beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/where-have-you-been-she-cried-damn-you-where-have-you-been-she-took-a/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Unicorns are not to be forgiven." The magician felt himself growing giddy with jealousy, not only of the touch but of something like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/unicorns-are-not-to-be-forgiven-the-magician-felt-himself-growing/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The magician stood erect, menacing the attackers with demons, metamorphoses, paralyzing ailments, and secret judo holds. Molly picked up a rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-magician-stood-erect-menacing-the-attackers-with-demons/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [You pile of stones, you waste, you desolation, I'll stuff you with misery till it comes out of your eyes. I'll change your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/you-pile-of-stones-you-waste-you-desolation-i-ll-stuff-you-with/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) [Explore all 218 Peter S. Beagle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) ## More Grownup quotes > ['In Memoriam' has been my companion for all my grownup life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-n-wilson/in-memoriam-has-been-my-companion-for-all-my-grownup-life/) [A. N. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-n-wilson/) > [That's what my books are, now that I'm a grownup - mosaics of jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/that-s-what-my-books-are-now-that-i-m-a-grownup-mosaics-of-jokes/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I've gone through several cycles. When I was little, I was the cute kid with missing teeth and funny one-liners. Then I moved on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-smith/i-ve-gone-through-several-cycles-when-i-was-little-i-was-the-cute-kid/) [Gregory Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-smith/) > [if a book is not good enough for a grownup, it is not good enough for a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/if-a-book-is-not-good-enough-for-a-grownup-it-is-not-good-enough-for/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Life, just as we first thought, is playing grownup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/life-just-as-we-first-thought-is-playing-grownup/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“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/) > [I think being young in a grownup world, I think it stunted me a little bit. I had to grow up too fast on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/i-think-being-young-in-a-grownup-world-i-think-it-stunted-me-a-little/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [Someday perhaps I'll have to get a grownup job... but for now I'm having too much fun being a reporter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-mitchell/someday-perhaps-i-ll-have-to-get-a-grownup-job-but-for-now-i-m-having/) [Andrea Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-mitchell/) > [A grownup is a child with layers on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/a-grownup-is-a-child-with-layers-on/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [Being a grownup means assuming responsibility for yourself, for your children, and - here's the big curve - for your parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wasserstein/being-a-grownup-means-assuming-responsibility-for-yourself-for-your/) [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) > [The moment you decide that you're a grownup now, and therefore must put away foolish things like staying out all night or cruising down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-heimel/the-moment-you-decide-that-you-re-a-grownup-now-and-therefore-must/) [Cynthia Heimel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-heimel/) > [“Adults who use big words in order to seem intelligent are annoying, especially those who are not intelligent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/adults-who-use-big-words-in-order-to-seem-intelligent-are-annoying/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [It's a very hard thing for all of us to accept ourselves at all the different stages - the horrible side, the wonderful side,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-greene/it-s-a-very-hard-thing-for-all-of-us-to-accept-ourselves-at-all-the/) [Ellen Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-greene/) > [“I would, quite often, like to be grownup, wise, and sophisticated. But these gifts are not mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-would-quite-often-like-to-be-grownup-wise-and-sophisticated-but/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“How strange it is that when I was a child I tried to be like a grownup, yet as soon as I ceased to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/how-strange-it-is-that-when-i-was-a-child-i-tried-to-be-like-a/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Browse all 46 Grownup quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grownup/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was very young every grownup was a hero. It's been all downhill since then, and I have only two left.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter S. 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