--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My parents were intelligent and…" description: "\"My parents were intelligent and encouraging, but at the same time, they were displeased at me becoming a wandering troubadour and wire walker.\" — Phili..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/philippe-petit-3697_becoming_my-parents-were-intelligent-and-encourag_3022137.jpg" --- # My parents were intelligent and encouraging, but at the… ![“My parents were intelligent and encouraging, but at the same time, they were displeased at me becoming a wandering troubadour and wire walker.” quote by Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/philippe-petit-3697_becoming_my-parents-were-intelligent-and-encourag_3022137.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/philippe-petit-3697_becoming_my-parents-were-intelligent-and-encourag_3022137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/philippe-petit-3697_becoming_my-parents-were-intelligent-and-encourag_3022137.jpg) > “My parents were intelligent and encouraging, but at the same time, they were displeased at me becoming a wandering troubadour and wire walker.” [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Family expectations clash with artistic wanderlust, causing tension over unconventional paths. **In simple terms:** Parents disapprove of my wandering artistic life. Key Takeaway Balance personal passion with family concerns. Themes family art nonconformity Mood thoughtful hopeful Type personal creative When to use this quote - career choices - family gatherings - artistic pursuits Key Concepts creativity independence Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor both your art and family? - What compromises are possible? A Different Perspective Potential strain on relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Encouraging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouraging/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I am a wire-walker. I can walk any time, anywhere - I'm indestructible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-am-a-wire-walker-i-can-walk-any-time-anywhere-i-m-indestructible/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [It would be very, very dangerous for a wire walker to experience fear while he is balancing on the wire. Fear has its place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/it-would-be-very-very-dangerous-for-a-wire-walker-to-experience-fear/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [As a high wire walker, I do not allow myself to 'leave the wire' during a performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/as-a-high-wire-walker-i-do-not-allow-myself-to-leave-the-wire-during/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I remember studying so hard for so long and saying to my parents, 'I will be a teacher.' And they were looking at me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-and-the-queens/i-remember-studying-so-hard-for-so-long-and-saying-to-my-parents-i/) [Christine and the Queens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-and-the-queens/) > [When I was learning by myself, despite my parents, despite my teachers, despite society, when I was fighting for building my life as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-i-was-learning-by-myself-despite-my-parents-despite-my-teachers/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [If you see how carefully I prepare for any kind of walk, legal or illegal, small or big, you will see that, actually, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-you-see-how-carefully-i-prepare-for-any-kind-of-walk-legal-or/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I have been performing in the street for more than 50 years: magic for basically 60 years, and the high wire 45 years. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-have-been-performing-in-the-street-for-more-than-50-years-magic-for/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [The wire is a safe place for me to be. The street is not. Life is not. It's a rigorous and simple path. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/the-wire-is-a-safe-place-for-me-to-be-the-street-is-not-life-is-not/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [If I have to make a self-portrait, I would put poetry and rebellion on the list. To be able to walk on a wire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-have-to-make-a-self-portrait-i-would-put-poetry-and-rebellion-on/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [If I am practicing on the wire, and you pushed me, I would not move, and if you take a piece of wood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-am-practicing-on-the-wire-and-you-pushed-me-i-would-not-move-and/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I started putting a wire up in secret and performing without permission. Notre Dame, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the World Trade Center. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-started-putting-a-wire-up-in-secret-and-performing-without/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [It's very normal - when you're not used to the world of the high wire, it's very normal to be simply terrified. The reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/it-s-very-normal-when-you-re-not-used-to-the-world-of-the-high-wire/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I've been arrested many times for illegal high wire walking and illegal street performing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-ve-been-arrested-many-times-for-illegal-high-wire-walking-and/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I walk on the wire; it's my profession, and there are no two high wire walks alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-walk-on-the-wire-it-s-my-profession-and-there-are-no-two-high-wire/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [If I had been born in the circus, my parents would have pushed me on that little high wire at four years old. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-had-been-born-in-the-circus-my-parents-would-have-pushed-me-on/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) ## More by Philippe Petit > [If I look at the performance of another friend Sting, whenever I hear him take over a stage and share his art with millions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-look-at-the-performance-of-another-friend-sting-whenever-i-hear/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I am a wire-walker. I can walk any time, anywhere - I'm indestructible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-am-a-wire-walker-i-can-walk-any-time-anywhere-i-m-indestructible/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I have been performing in the street for more than 50 years: magic for basically 60 years, and the high wire 45 years. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-have-been-performing-in-the-street-for-more-than-50-years-magic-for/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I needed more knowledge in rigging and knotting. I started collecting books on knots and really learning more and more. That's how it started.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-needed-more-knowledge-in-rigging-and-knotting-i-started-collecting/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [To be able to create fully, it's maybe fine that you learn the rules, but you have to forget and to rebel against those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/to-be-able-to-create-fully-it-s-maybe-fine-that-you-learn-the-rules/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When a loved one disappears, you continue to live with the accompaniment of that person. One has to find a balance between joy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-a-loved-one-disappears-you-continue-to-live-with-the/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [You must not fall. / When you lose your balance, resist for a long time before turning yourself toward the earth. Then jump. /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/you-must-not-fall-when-you-lose-your-balance-resist-for-a-long-time/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When I was six years old, I fell in love with magic. For Christmas, I got a magic box and a very old book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-i-was-six-years-old-i-fell-in-love-with-magic-for-christmas-i/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I don't like to risk my life, so I prepare sometimes for months or sometimes for years. But sometimes after a walk, I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-don-t-like-to-risk-my-life-so-i-prepare-sometimes-for-months-or/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When I perform outside, the major problem that could arise is strong wind.I spend months preparing for the types of wind that occur in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-i-perform-outside-the-major-problem-that-could-arise-is-strong/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [If I have to make a self-portrait, I would put poetry and rebellion on the list. To be able to walk on a wire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-have-to-make-a-self-portrait-i-would-put-poetry-and-rebellion-on/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Whenever other worlds invite us, whenever we are balancing on the boundaries of our limited human condition, that’s where life starts, that’s where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/whenever-other-worlds-invite-us-whenever-we-are-balancing-on-the/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I have walked many times around the world and each time it's different from the last one. It feels a little bit like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-have-walked-many-times-around-the-world-and-each-time-it-s/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I am a thief of knowledge, and in a survival way, I had to solve all the problems around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-am-a-thief-of-knowledge-and-in-a-survival-way-i-had-to-solve-all/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Metaphorically speaking, of course, if I put a problem behind my pillow and fall asleep, very often because my brain went to sleep with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/metaphorically-speaking-of-course-if-i-put-a-problem-behind-my-pillow/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) [Explore all 124 Philippe Petit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) ## More Becoming quotes > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. 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It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. I'm learning how to stand onstage for two hours and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-getting-to-a-point-where-everything-is-becoming-streamlined-in-my/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [The term 'Pre-Raphaelite' is in danger of becoming one of the most misused tags in art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wood/the-term-pre-raphaelite-is-in-danger-of-becoming-one-of-the-most/) Christopher Wood > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. 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