--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Parents, it seems, have an almost…" description: "\"Parents, it seems, have an almost Olympian persistence when it comes to suggesting more secure and lucrative lines of work for their children who have ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/susan-orlean-2207_children_parents-it-seems-have-an-almost-olympian_716718.jpg" --- # Parents, it seems, have an almost Olympian persistence… ![“Parents, it seems, have an almost Olympian persistence when it comes to suggesting more secure and lucrative lines of work for their children who have the notion that writing is an actual profession. I say this from experience.” quote by Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/susan-orlean-2207_children_parents-it-seems-have-an-almost-olympian_716718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/susan-orlean-2207_children_parents-it-seems-have-an-almost-olympian_716718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/susan-orlean-2207_children_parents-it-seems-have-an-almost-olympian_716718.jpg) > “Parents, it seems, have an almost Olympian persistence when it comes to suggesting more secure and lucrative lines of work for their children who have the notion that writing is an actual profession. I say this from experience.” [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents often push children toward stable, high‑earning careers, doubting creative pursuits like writing. **In simple terms:** Parents favor secure jobs over artistic dreams. Key Takeaway Balance practical advice with support for passion. Themes family expectations career choices creativity financial security Mood reflective concerned Type advice observational When to use this quote - college major selection - career counseling - family discussions - budget planning Key Concepts parental influence risk aversion artistic validation Questions to Reflect On - How can families support artistic ambitions responsibly? - What practical steps can aspiring writers take? A Different Perspective Not all creative work is financially viable without effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Olympian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympian/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Olympian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-olympian-5641274/) [Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence/) [Persistence Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence-comes-5641275/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) [Secure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secure/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Suggesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggesting/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Actual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-actual-2040392/) ## Related quotes > [Be ruthless about protecting writing days…althoug h writing has been my actual job for several years now, I still seem to have to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days-althoug-h-writing-has-been/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Never mistake talking about writing for actual writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/never-mistake-talking-about-writing-for-actual-writing/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I'm very interested in writing an actual series, that doesn't have too much to do with my music - a world I create that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-m-very-interested-in-writing-an-actual-series-that-doesn-t-have-too/) [Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/) > [I spend a huge amount of time writing about the book instead of writing the actual text.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pavone/i-spend-a-huge-amount-of-time-writing-about-the-book-instead-of/) [Chris Pavone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pavone/) > [I would say my life experiences are my poetry, whether I'm writing about those actual, factual experiences or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorianne-laux/i-would-say-my-life-experiences-are-my-poetry-whether-i-m-writing/) [Dorianne Laux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorianne-laux/) > [NECTAR, n. A drink served at banquets of the Olympian deities. The secret of its preparation is lost, but the modern Kentuckians believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/nectar-n-a-drink-served-at-banquets-of-the-olympian-deities-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Becoming an Olympian is the ultimate reward for any athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-diamond/becoming-an-olympian-is-the-ultimate-reward-for-any-athlete/) [Michael Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-diamond/) > [You have to train your mind like you train your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/you-have-to-train-your-mind-like-you-train-your-body/) [Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/) > [In a way, it's nice to know that there are Greek gods out there, because you have somebody to blame when things go wrong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/in-a-way-it-s-nice-to-know-that-there-are-greek-gods-out-there/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Well, my mom was an Olympian, so we have some good genes on that front.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivanka-trump/well-my-mom-was-an-olympian-so-we-have-some-good-genes-on-that-front/) [Ivanka Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivanka-trump/) > [I grew up playing softball, and at the age of nine, I decided I was going to be an Olympian. I didn't really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elana-meyers/i-grew-up-playing-softball-and-at-the-age-of-nine-i-decided-i-was/) [Elana Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elana-meyers/) > [I had dreams in 2000 of being an Olympian for boxing. I never talk about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/i-had-dreams-in-2000-of-being-an-olympian-for-boxing-i-never-talk/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [But I like it when my patients are impressed not knowing that I was an Olympian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/but-i-like-it-when-my-patients-are-impressed-not-knowing-that-i-was/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [An athlete gains so much knowledge by just participating in a sport. Focus, discipline, hard work, goal setting and, of course, the thrill of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-yamaguchi/an-athlete-gains-so-much-knowledge-by-just-participating-in-a-sport/) [Kristi Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-yamaguchi/) > [Apollo?” I guessed… He put a finger to his lips. “I’m incognito. Call me Fred.” A god named Fred?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/apollo-i-guessed-he-put-a-finger-to-his-lips-i-m-incognito-call-me/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More by Susan Orlean > [I've used Twitter now and again to try to figure something out; it's an amazing resource. But I think you have to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-ve-used-twitter-now-and-again-to-try-to-figure-something-out-it-s/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [Who on earth is going to use 'utilize' in a text message, a whopping seven characters including the always-hard-to-type 'z,' when you can say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/who-on-earth-is-going-to-use-utilize-in-a-text-message-a-whopping/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [When my son was born, and after a day of lying-in I was told that I could leave the hospital and take him home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/when-my-son-was-born-and-after-a-day-of-lying-in-i-was-told-that-i/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I'm happy to be reminded that an ordinary day full of nothing but nothingness can make you feel like you've won the lottery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-m-happy-to-be-reminded-that-an-ordinary-day-full-of-nothing-but/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I once had a boyfriend who couldn't write unless he was wearing a necktie and a dress shirt, which I thought was really weird,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-once-had-a-boyfriend-who-couldn-t-write-unless-he-was-wearing-a/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [“I, too, had set out to be remembered. I had wanted to create something permanent in my life- some proof that everything in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-too-had-set-out-to-be-remembered-i-had-wanted-to-create-something/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I think of myself as something of a connoisseur of procrastination, creative and dogged in my approach to not getting things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-think-of-myself-as-something-of-a-connoisseur-of-procrastination/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I'm very excited about my new Spotify account, which gives me access to twenty gazillion songs any time, all the time. The day I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-m-very-excited-about-my-new-spotify-account-which-gives-me-access/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I approach stories as a private educational enterprise: I want to learn about something. I teach myself through research, reporting, and thinking, and then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-approach-stories-as-a-private-educational-enterprise-i-want-to/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [We're fascinated by animals because it's almost like having Martians living among us. We can see some familiarity in them, but they're entirely different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/we-re-fascinated-by-animals-because-it-s-almost-like-having-martians/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [My inspiration is really very simple: I'm struck by things that I want to know more about. I really do react just as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/my-inspiration-is-really-very-simple-i-m-struck-by-things-that-i-want/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I am dismayed to realize that much of the advice I used to parcel out to aspiring writers has passed its sell-by date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-am-dismayed-to-realize-that-much-of-the-advice-i-used-to-parcel-out/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I wish I had coined the phrase 'tyranny of choice,' but someone beat me to it. The counterintuitive truth is that have an abundance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-wish-i-had-coined-the-phrase-tyranny-of-choice-but-someone-beat-me/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [My ace in the hole as a human being used to be my capacity for remembering birthdays. I worked at it. Whenever I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/my-ace-in-the-hole-as-a-human-being-used-to-be-my-capacity-for/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [Sometimes I think I've figured out some order in the universe, but then I find myself in Florida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/sometimes-i-think-i-ve-figured-out-some-order-in-the-universe-but/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) [Explore all 179 Susan Orlean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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