--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One minute I was playing chess and doing…" description: "\"One minute I was playing chess and doing maths all the time, the next I had been rerouted into more 'normal' girls' activities: reading, writing storie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/scarlett-thomas-8232_chess_one-minute-i-was-playing-chess-and-doing_1736268.png" --- # One minute I was playing chess and doing maths all the… ![“One minute I was playing chess and doing maths all the time, the next I had been rerouted into more 'normal' girls' activities: reading, writing stories and worrying about my clothes.” quote by Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/scarlett-thomas-8232_chess_one-minute-i-was-playing-chess-and-doing_1736268.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/scarlett-thomas-8232_chess_one-minute-i-was-playing-chess-and-doing_1736268.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/scarlett-thomas-8232_chess_one-minute-i-was-playing-chess-and-doing_1736268.png) > “One minute I was playing chess and doing maths all the time, the next I had been rerouted into more 'normal' girls' activities: reading, writing stories and worrying about my clothes.” [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sudden shift from academic pursuits to social activities illustrates how personal interests can be redirected by external expectations. **In simple terms:** Interests can change quickly due to pressure. Key Takeaway Adapt to new interests while staying true. Themes identity change social pressure Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal social When to use this quote - school life - career decisions - social circles Key Concepts personal growth conformity Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel your interests are self-chosen? - How can you balance expectations and authenticity? A Different Perspective Pressure may cause loss of authentic self. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Playing chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-chess/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-stories/) ## Related quotes > [Schools receive 12% more per student for those doing media studies or psychology than they do for those doing maths. You could change that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/schools-receive-12-more-per-student-for-those-doing-media-studies-or/) [Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/) > [When my son Nandan was in middle school, I had a fun way of doing his maths homework. I bought another set of mathematics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suhasini-maniratnam/when-my-son-nandan-was-in-middle-school-i-had-a-fun-way-of-doing-his/) [Suhasini Maniratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suhasini-maniratnam/) > [“We're not doing maths again?' Harriet lamented. Lord Winstead looked at Anne with unconcealed curiosity. 'Mathematics? On Rotten Row?' 'We have been studying measurement,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/we-re-not-doing-maths-again-harriet-lamented-lord-winstead-looked-at/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Normal girls didn’t want their boobs mauled either, and I wholly believed if they could’ve landed a fist like I could, they would have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/normal-girls-didn-t-want-their-boobs-mauled-either-and-i-wholly/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [Sometimes I wonder why I can't be just one if those normal girls who gets to sleep next to the love of her life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-wonder-why-i-can-t-be-just-one-if-those-normal-girls-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never wanted to play a character that hated herself. I wanted people to know that those aren't the only roles for people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-riley/i-never-wanted-to-play-a-character-that-hated-herself-i-wanted-people/) [Amber Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-riley/) > [I walk around the street, black hood, jeans, shirt, and makeup. I never look up. You'll never see my full face. My hood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/i-walk-around-the-street-black-hood-jeans-shirt-and-makeup-i-never/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [I like normal girls. When I come home, I don't want to discuss films; I want to discuss what her world is like and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-dhawan/i-like-normal-girls-when-i-come-home-i-don-t-want-to-discuss-films-i/) [Varun Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-dhawan/) > [Good girls don 't lie, Bad girls don't cry , Dumb girls need air , Naughty girls need underwear, Sweet girls aren' t mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/good-girls-don-t-lie-bad-girls-don-t-cry-dumb-girls-need-air-naughty/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I want to look my best, but I'm not a model. I'm not an actress. I'm representing normal girls. It's OK to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/i-want-to-look-my-best-but-i-m-not-a-model-i-m-not-an-actress-i-m/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [I get super bored playing bland, normal girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drea-de-matteo/i-get-super-bored-playing-bland-normal-girls/) [Drea De Matteo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drea-de-matteo/) > [Being mixed race, exotic, long hair or anything, is considered beautiful. While we 'normal' girls are just sitting there like...ok.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-mixed-race-exotic-long-hair-or-anything-is-considered-beautiful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Just imagine if we, the normal girls, stood united as an enormous, hysterical and proud army. We would be unstoppable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-clarkson/just-imagine-if-we-the-normal-girls-stood-united-as-an-enormous/) Emily Clarkson > [I spend hours playing chess because I find it so much fun. The day it stops being fun is the day I give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-spend-hours-playing-chess-because-i-find-it-so-much-fun-the-day-it/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [Play on both sides of the board is my favourite strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/play-on-both-sides-of-the-board-is-my-favourite-strategy/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) ## More by Scarlett Thomas > [“Someone who has the delusion Glass, is made of, does not literally believe herself to be made of glass but rather feels fragile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/someone-who-has-the-delusion-glass-is-made-of-does-not-literally/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“Child, all books are magic. Just think,' he said, 'about what books make people do. People go to war on the basis of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/child-all-books-are-magic-just-think-he-said-about-what-books-make/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [Living for ever would be like marrying yourself, with no possibility of a divorce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/living-for-ever-would-be-like-marrying-yourself-with-no-possibility/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [But I quite like the way you can talk about science without necessarily using mathematics, but using metaphors instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/but-i-quite-like-the-way-you-can-talk-about-science-without/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“My mind now has a celebration party and a funeral going on in the same room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/my-mind-now-has-a-celebration-party-and-a-funeral-going-on-in-the/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [You can't do science in a novel, but you can do philosophy. Or, if you're really lucky, you can manage to pose a question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/you-can-t-do-science-in-a-novel-but-you-can-do-philosophy-or-if-you/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“Even if you did drop into someone's consciousness, you'd have all their memories and desires and hang-ups right there in front of you. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/even-if-you-did-drop-into-someone-s-consciousness-you-d-have-all/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [I erased the thought from my mind, but I couldn't undo the fact that I'd had the thought in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/i-erased-the-thought-from-my-mind-but-i-couldn-t-undo-the-fact-that-i/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“They really do have nothing in common on paper, these people and him. But yet there are so many common reference points; even some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/they-really-do-have-nothing-in-common-on-paper-these-people-and-him/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“Aquinas wondered what would happen if God wanted to achieve universal resurrection. In other words, bringing everybody who had ever lived back to life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/aquinas-wondered-what-would-happen-if-god-wanted-to-achieve-universal/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“There's something romantic about it, of course, in the way only other people's lives can be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/there-s-something-romantic-about-it-of-course-in-the-way-only-other/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [Routine kills creative thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/routine-kills-creative-thought/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [You tell them what a happy ending consists of, which is always individual success. You tell them that nothing irrational exists in this world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/you-tell-them-what-a-happy-ending-consists-of-which-is-always/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [I hate stereotypes and I hate cliche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/i-hate-stereotypes-and-i-hate-cliche/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“Not all events are stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/not-all-events-are-stories/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) [Explore all 81 Scarlett Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) ## More Chess quotes > [I have known many chess players, but among them there has been only one genius - Capablanca!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/i-have-known-many-chess-players-but-among-them-there-has-been-only/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [Real chessplayers think about chess more or less 24 hours a day. It is a passion and a fate that one has to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simen-agdestein/real-chessplayers-think-about-chess-more-or-less-24-hours-a-day-it-is/) Simen Agdestein > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [“Relationships are chess for women," he said. "They can see the whole board, plan way ahead. They're the queens, after all. We're the kings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/relationships-are-chess-for-women-he-said-they-can-see-the-whole/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Playing for complications is an extreme measure that a player should adopt only when he cannot find a clear and logical plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/playing-for-complications-is-an-extreme-measure-that-a-player-should/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [“the shadows. “Why do you think they invented chess?” “He’s got you there,” said the captain, following Fletcher. Jake jogged slightly to catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-blake/the-shadows-why-do-you-think-they-invented-chess-he-s-got-you-there/) [Russell Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-blake/) > [ \[Photographer Julian Wasser\] had this great idea that I should play chess naked with Marcel Duchamp and it seem to be such a great… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-babitz/photographer-julian-wasser-had-this-great-idea-that-i-should-play/) [Eve Babitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-babitz/) > [Chess is a good mistress but a bad master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-abrahams/chess-is-a-good-mistress-but-a-bad-master/) [Gerald Abrahams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-abrahams/) > [I am not some sort of freak. I might be very good at chess but I'm just a normal person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-am-not-some-sort-of-freak-i-might-be-very-good-at-chess-but-i-m/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [Some sacrifices are sound; the rest are mine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-tal/some-sacrifices-are-sound-the-rest-are-mine/) [Mikhail Tal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-tal/) > [My parents were very supportive of my chess. When I got home after a game of chess, having missed school or something, they always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/my-parents-were-very-supportive-of-my-chess-when-i-got-home-after-a/) [Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/) > [Amberley excelled at chess - a mark, Watson, of a scheming mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/amberley-excelled-at-chess-a-mark-watson-of-a-scheming-mind/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [In high school, my sister went out with the captain of the chess team. My parents loved him... They figured that any guy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kiley/in-high-school-my-sister-went-out-with-the-captain-of-the-chess-team/) [Brian Kiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kiley/) > [The King is a fighting piece. Use it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/the-king-is-a-fighting-piece-use-it/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) [Browse all 2,003 Chess quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One minute I was playing chess and doing maths all the time, the next I had been rerouted into more 'normal' girls' activities: reading, writing stories and worrying about my clothes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scarlett Thomas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/one-minute-i-was-playing-chess-and-doing-maths-all-the-time-the-next/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chess" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/one-minute-i-was-playing-chess-and-doing-maths-all-the-time-the-next/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/scarlett-thomas-8232_chess_one-minute-i-was-playing-chess-and-doing_1736268.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/scarlett-thomas-8232_chess_one-minute-i-was-playing-chess-and-doing_1736268.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/scarlett-thomas-8232_chess_one-minute-i-was-playing-chess-and-doing_1736268.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One minute I was playing chess and doing maths all the time, the next I had been rerouted into more 'normal'…” — Scarlett Thomas", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Scarlett Thomas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One minute I was playing chess...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/one-minute-i-was-playing-chess-and-doing-maths-all-the-time-the-next/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/one-minute-i-was-playing-chess-and-doing-maths-all-the-time-the-next/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```