--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was eight, an uncle, great uncle…" description: "\"When I was eight, an uncle, great uncle, gave a violin to me, and my father took me off to have lessons. After about six weeks, the violin teacher told..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/roger-moore-3059_father_when-i-was-eight-an-uncle-great-uncle-ga_3087823.png" --- # When I was eight, an uncle, great uncle, gave a violin to… ![“When I was eight, an uncle, great uncle, gave a violin to me, and my father took me off to have lessons. After about six weeks, the violin teacher told my father he was wasting his money, wasting his time, and wasting my time, and it's one of my big regrets.” quote by Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/roger-moore-3059_father_when-i-was-eight-an-uncle-great-uncle-ga_3087823.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/roger-moore-3059_father_when-i-was-eight-an-uncle-great-uncle-ga_3087823.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/roger-moore-3059_father_when-i-was-eight-an-uncle-great-uncle-ga_3087823.png) > “When I was eight, an uncle, great uncle, gave a violin to me, and my father took me off to have lessons. After about six weeks, the violin teacher told my father he was wasting his money, wasting his time, and wasting my time, and it's one of my big regrets.” [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) ## 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 regrets forcing a child into costly violin lessons that were deemed a waste, reflecting on the impact of imposing expectations on children. **In simple terms:** Regret over imposing expensive violin lessons on a child. Key Takeaway Consider a child's interests before investing in activities. Themes regret parenting music education financial decisions child autonomy Mood reflective thoughtful educational Type advice parenting reflection When to use this quote - parent‑child activities - music lessons - budgeting - career choices - life lessons Key Concepts interest alignment financial prudence early education Questions to Reflect On - How could you assess a child's interest? - What alternatives exist for nurturing talent? A Different Perspective May ignore benefits of discipline and skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Gave Violin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave-violin-4594778/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Took Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-lessons-712778/) [Violin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violin/) [Violin Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violin-father-5296227/) [Violin Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violin-teacher-4876496/) [Wasting my time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-my-time/) ## Related quotes > [“It puzzled him that she did not mourn all the things she could have been. 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Then one day, I hit a drive that was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-found-golf-late-in-life-in-1990-i-took-some-lessons-and-struggled/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [I used to lie in bed and imagine I was performing at the Albert Hall, not that I'd ever been there. I took lessons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-reid/i-used-to-lie-in-bed-and-imagine-i-was-performing-at-the-albert-hall/) [Anne Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-reid/) > [I learned to read music when I was 10 and did piano and took lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-learned-to-read-music-when-i-was-10-and-did-piano-and-took-lessons/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I never took any guitar lessons or anything; I never really learned to play covers. I'm actually happy that I never took lessons as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-tuff/i-never-took-any-guitar-lessons-or-anything-i-never-really-learned-to/) [King Tuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-tuff/) > [I took lessons for about everything you could imagine - gymnastics to karate to flute and piano. My mom always definitely kept me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-varner/i-took-lessons-for-about-everything-you-could-imagine-gymnastics-to/) [Elle Varner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-varner/) > [I've always dabbled on guitar, but never took lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-jones/i-ve-always-dabbled-on-guitar-but-never-took-lessons/) [Adam Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-jones/) ## More by Roger Moore > [Lana Turner taught me how to kiss on the set of the movie 'Diane' in the early Fifties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/lana-turner-taught-me-how-to-kiss-on-the-set-of-the-movie-diane-in/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [I'd occasionally do some exercises at home, but I never cared for gyms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-d-occasionally-do-some-exercises-at-home-but-i-never-cared-for-gyms/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [The wonderful thing about age is that your knees don't work as well, you can't run down steps quite as easily and obviously you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/the-wonderful-thing-about-age-is-that-your-knees-don-t-work-as-well/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [I never liked guns, I hate them, I always blink before they go off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-never-liked-guns-i-hate-them-i-always-blink-before-they-go-off/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [When I started 70 odd years ago I was told that to be a success you've got to have talent, personality and luck. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/when-i-started-70-odd-years-ago-i-was-told-that-to-be-a-success-you/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [Learning a play is one thing, but to learn to play Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' without music: that's brilliant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/learning-a-play-is-one-thing-but-to-learn-to-play-vivaldi-s-four/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [I wouldn't like to meet Daniel Craig on a dark night if I'd said anything bad about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-wouldn-t-like-to-meet-daniel-craig-on-a-dark-night-if-i-d-said/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [I'm sorry to say that no, I do not play the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-m-sorry-to-say-that-no-i-do-not-play-the-piano/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [Kristina has been to the Maldives but never to Venice, and I have been to Venice but never to the Maldives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/kristina-has-been-to-the-maldives-but-never-to-venice-and-i-have-been/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [I play one role until I take on another, which is exactly what a professional actor should do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-play-one-role-until-i-take-on-another-which-is-exactly-what-a/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [I am privileged to be at the right end of violins: not the end holding it but to listen to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-am-privileged-to-be-at-the-right-end-of-violins-not-the-end-holding/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [My James Bond wasn't any different to my Saint or my Persuaders or anything else I've done. I've just made everything that I play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/my-james-bond-wasn-t-any-different-to-my-saint-or-my-persuaders-or/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [I would love to be remembered as one of the greatest Lears or Hamlets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-would-love-to-be-remembered-as-one-of-the-greatest-lears-or-hamlets/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [Go out there and row faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/go-out-there-and-row-faster/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [I replaced Jim Garner in 'Maverick.' I replaced George Sanders in 'The Saint.' I've replaced everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-replaced-jim-garner-in-maverick-i-replaced-george-sanders-in-the/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) [Explore all 141 Roger Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) ## More Father quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [“My father called twice and left a voicemail—who does that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/my-father-called-twice-and-left-a-voicemail-who-does-that/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [“I don’t know. We all have to bear things, Ari. All of us. Your father has to bear the war and what it did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-we-all-have-to-bear-things-ari-all-of-us-your-father-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This was, I sometimes thought, the last gift my father gave me. 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They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Browse all 19,784 Father quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was eight, an uncle, great uncle, gave a violin to me, and my father took me off to have lessons. 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