--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He’d spent his entire exile schooling…" description: "\"“He’d spent his entire exile schooling himself to face that he would never get what he wanted. People didn’t, sometimes. So you made a life as best you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/sherwood-smith-10181_exile_he-d-spent-his-entire-exile-schooling-hi_1134193.png" --- # He’d spent his entire exile schooling himself to face that… ![“He’d spent his entire exile schooling himself to face that he would never get what he wanted. People didn’t, sometimes. So you made a life as best you could.” quote by Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/sherwood-smith-10181_exile_he-d-spent-his-entire-exile-schooling-hi_1134193.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/sherwood-smith-10181_exile_he-d-spent-his-entire-exile-schooling-hi_1134193.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/sherwood-smith-10181_exile_he-d-spent-his-entire-exile-schooling-hi_1134193.png) > ““He’d spent his entire exile schooling himself to face that he would never get what he wanted. People didn’t, sometimes. So you made a life as best you could.”” [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character learns to accept limits, focusing on personal growth rather than unattainable desires. **In simple terms:** Accept limits, grow anyway. Key Takeaway Embrace reality, build a good life. Themes acceptance personal growth resilience Mood reflective determined Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - career setbacks - relationship challenges - creative projects - health goals Key Concepts self‑actualization existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What limits can you accept today? - How can you turn constraints into opportunities? A Different Perspective It may ignore the pain of unfulfilled dreams. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Didn Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-life-272013/) [Entire Exile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entire-exile-3131049/) [Exile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exile/) [Exile Schooling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exile-schooling-3131048/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-didn-377382/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't have a life. Basically, for 40 years it was my work and my nose was to the grindstone the whole time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-murray/i-didn-t-have-a-life-basically-for-40-years-it-was-my-work-and-my/) [Anne Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-murray/) > [I had to see you off, didn't I? What's life without a little risk?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sirius-black/i-had-to-see-you-off-didn-t-i-what-s-life-without-a-little-risk/) [Sirius Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sirius-black/) > [“maybe out here, you didn’t have to move through life hopelessly alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gettleman/maybe-out-here-you-didn-t-have-to-move-through-life-hopelessly-alone/) [Jeffrey Gettleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gettleman/) > [In 10,000 years you will not regret anything you didn’t have or do in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/in-10-000-years-you-will-not-regret-anything-you-didn-t-have-or-do-in/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Is It Really Worth It? Living Life? The Answer Is Yes. God Didn't Give You Life So You Could Just Say I Quit. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-greger/is-it-really-worth-it-living-life-the-answer-is-yes-god-didn-t-give/) [Taylor Greger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-greger/) > [“He used sweet wine in place of life because he didn't have any more life to use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/he-used-sweet-wine-in-place-of-life-because-he-didn-t-have-any-more/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [I didn't show up here to give your life purpose now that your life's over. That's up to you to figure out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-didn-t-show-up-here-to-give-your-life-purpose-now-that-your-life-s/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [If I didn't have so much of this life all wrong I would have gotten it right by now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/if-i-didn-t-have-so-much-of-this-life-all-wrong-i-would-have-gotten/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [I didn't have a life until I went up onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-didn-t-have-a-life-until-i-went-up-onstage/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [We get these lives for free. I didn't do anything to get this life, and no matter what the hardships are, it is free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/we-get-these-lives-for-free-i-didn-t-do-anything-to-get-this-life-and/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“Didn't life consist of the things you did each day?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/didn-t-life-consist-of-the-things-you-did-each-day/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [“Why was he here? Why was he always, always, always around? Didn’t he have a life? Didn’t he have anything better to do?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/why-was-he-here-why-was-he-always-always-always-around-didn-t-he-have/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [I had it all - money, women, fame, cars, yachts, everything a man could want - but it didn't give my life meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-cesar-chavez-sr/i-had-it-all-money-women-fame-cars-yachts-everything-a-man-could-want/) [Julio Cesar Chavez Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-cesar-chavez-sr/) > [“I didn’t have a life before you. All of that was… was just a waste of time.” I put my hand over his heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goode/i-didn-t-have-a-life-before-you-all-of-that-was-was-just-a-waste-of/) [John Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-goode/) > [I get it now; I didn't get it then. That life is about losing and about doing it as gracefully as possible... and enjoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-farrow/i-get-it-now-i-didn-t-get-it-then-that-life-is-about-losing-and-about/) [Mia Farrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-farrow/) ## More by Sherwood Smith > [“Who in the universe halts when the enemy tells them to?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/who-in-the-universe-halts-when-the-enemy-tells-them-to/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [Except. What is normal at any given time? We change just as the seasons change, and each spring brings new growth. So nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/except-what-is-normal-at-any-given-time-we-change-just-as-the-seasons/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [It would have been funny if I had been an observer and not a participant, an idea that gave me a disconcerting insight into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/it-would-have-been-funny-if-i-had-been-an-observer-and-not-a/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [I have made number mistakes - I have such bad number dyslexia that I can look at a number and see the wrong one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/i-have-made-number-mistakes-i-have-such-bad-number-dyslexia-that-i/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“War is a convenient fix for government problems if it happens somewhere else. To other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/war-is-a-convenient-fix-for-government-problems-if-it-happens/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“If your opponent is better armed and has longer reach, then surprise is your only ally. And then you'd better hope he's half asleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/if-your-opponent-is-better-armed-and-has-longer-reach-then-surprise/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [As a kid, I pretty much got nothing but scorn, and occasionally active animus, for writing fantasy and squirreling it away in my closet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/as-a-kid-i-pretty-much-got-nothing-but-scorn-and-occasionally-active/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“The more one has, the less one desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/the-more-one-has-the-less-one-desires/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“Fall in love with heart, not head, to trouble you’re led. Fall in love with heart and mind, then true love you’ll find.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/fall-in-love-with-heart-not-head-to-trouble-you-re-led-fall-in-love/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [I had seen ardency in men's eyes, but I had only felt it once. With Flauvic, false and therefore easy to dismiss. I suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/i-had-seen-ardency-in-men-s-eyes-but-i-had-only-felt-it-once-with/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [Everyone is an idiot," I stated. "Except me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/everyone-is-an-idiot-i-stated-except-me/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [Despite how entertaining certain stories were, at the bottom of every item of gossip there was someone getting hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/despite-how-entertaining-certain-stories-were-at-the-bottom-of-every/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [They're safe,'' he said. "And you're not made of glass". He swept me up in his arms. I laughed. "And I'm not made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/they-re-safe-he-said-and-you-re-not-made-of-glass-he-swept-me-up-in/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“Who can ever know what turns the spark into flame? Vidanric's initial interest in me might well have been kindled by the fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/who-can-ever-know-what-turns-the-spark-into-flame-vidanric-s-initial/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“For the first time, I comprehended that love, at least for me, had nothing to do with sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/for-the-first-time-i-comprehended-that-love-at-least-for-me-had/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) [Explore all 67 Sherwood Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) ## More Exile quotes > [Were you indeed not blinded by the Curse Of Self-exile, that still grows worse and worse, Yourselves would know that, though you see him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farid-al-din-attar/were-you-indeed-not-blinded-by-the-curse-of-self-exile-that-still/) [Farid al-Din Attar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farid-al-din-attar/) > [What can my enemies do to me? My paradise is in my heart, it is with me wherever I go. To imprison me is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-taymiyyah/what-can-my-enemies-do-to-me-my-paradise-is-in-my-heart-it-is-with-me/) [Ibn Taymiyyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-taymiyyah/) > [To live is to hurt others, and through others, to hurt oneself. Cruel earth! How can we manage not to touch anything? To find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/to-live-is-to-hurt-others-and-through-others-to-hurt-oneself-cruel/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I had severed relations with the Romanian exiles who had become politically conservative and even extremely right wing; I was giving chess lessons to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dumitru-tepeneag/i-had-severed-relations-with-the-romanian-exiles-who-had-become/) [Dumitru Tepeneag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dumitru-tepeneag/) > [They came to know the incorrigible sorrow of all prisoners and exiles, which is to live in company with a memory that serves no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/they-came-to-know-the-incorrigible-sorrow-of-all-prisoners-and-exiles/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Independence didn't have to be exile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/independence-didn-t-have-to-be-exile/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [In our culture of constant access and nonstop media, nothing feels more like a curse from God than time in the wilderness. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-martin/in-our-culture-of-constant-access-and-nonstop-media-nothing-feels/) [Jonathan Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-martin/) > [“The growth of his power and fame was matched, in my imagination, by the degree of the punishment I would have liked to inflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabokov-i-tyrants-destroyed-i/the-growth-of-his-power-and-fame-was-matched-in-my-imagination-by-the/) [Nabokov i Tyrants Destroyed i](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabokov-i-tyrants-destroyed-i/) > [I turned what was a wonderful case of self-reliance into a case of self-exile. Which is not uncommon, I think, in people who grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/i-turned-what-was-a-wonderful-case-of-self-reliance-into-a-case-of/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [Humor is widely used by Indians to deal with life. Indian gatherings are marked by laughter and jokes, many directed at the horrors of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-gunn-allen/humor-is-widely-used-by-indians-to-deal-with-life-indian-gatherings/) [Paula Gunn Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-gunn-allen/) > [The Gnostics believed that exile was the essential condition of man. Do you agree? I do. The artist and the addict both wrestle with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-gnostics-believed-that-exile-was-the-essential-condition-of-man/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [The perpetuation of slavery, the exile and extermination of American Indians, and the passage of Jim Crow laws weren't carried out at the bidding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-perpetuation-of-slavery-the-exile-and-extermination-of-american/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In New York City, everyone is an exile, none more so than the Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/in-new-york-city-everyone-is-an-exile-none-more-so-than-the-americans/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [I have always seen the Clinton Foundation - yes, they do a lot of charitable good works. But by my lights, the charitable good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/i-have-always-seen-the-clinton-foundation-yes-they-do-a-lot-of/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [We live in an era where masses of people come and go across a hostile planet, desolate and violent. Refugees, emigrants, exiles, deportees. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/we-live-in-an-era-where-masses-of-people-come-and-go-across-a-hostile/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) [Browse all 512 Exile quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exile/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He’d spent his entire exile schooling himself to face that he would never get what he wanted. People didn’t, sometimes. 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