---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always had the idea that when I was…"
description: "\"“I always had the idea that when I was older I'd get frightfully clever. I'd get awfully learned, I'd get jolly sage. People would come to me for advic..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/ralph-richardson-36297_advice-comes_i-always-had-the-idea-that-when-i-was-ol_301799.jpg"
---

#  I always had the idea that when I was older I'd get…

![“I always had the idea that when I was older I'd get frightfully clever. I'd get awfully learned, I'd get jolly sage. People would come to me for advice. But nobody comes to me for anything, and I don't know a bloody thing.” quote by Ralph Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/ralph-richardson-36297_advice-comes_i-always-had-the-idea-that-when-i-was-ol_301799.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/ralph-richardson-36297_advice-comes_i-always-had-the-idea-that-when-i-was-ol_301799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/ralph-richardson-36297_advice-comes_i-always-had-the-idea-that-when-i-was-ol_301799.jpg)

> ““I always had the idea that when I was older I'd get frightfully clever. I'd get awfully learned, I'd get jolly sage. People would come to me for advice. But nobody comes to me for anything, and I don't know a bloody thing.””

[Ralph Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-richardson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He expected wisdom with age but feels clueless and ignored, exposing the gap between self‑expectation and reality.

**In simple terms:** Expected wisdom, but feels ignorant.

Key Takeaway

Seek humility, not validation.

Themes

expectation self‑doubt age wisdom

Mood

wistful introspective humorous

Type

personal philosophical

When to use this quote

- career advice sessions
- mentor relationships
- personal reflection
- aging gracefully

Key Concepts

identity social perception humility

Questions to Reflect On

- What assumptions about aging hold you back?
- How can you find value beyond external advice?

A Different Perspective

May cause over‑critical self‑assessment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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Browse all 23 Advice Comes quotes

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