---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As you get older you're told to be…"
description: "\"As you get older you're told to be sensible, but it's important for writing if you're a comic that you're able to still access that childlike thing.\" —..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a1/tim-vine-9978_able_as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensi_1794558.jpg"
---

#  As you get older you're told to be sensible, but it's…

![“As you get older you're told to be sensible, but it's important for writing if you're a comic that you're able to still access that childlike thing.” quote by Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a1/tim-vine-9978_able_as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensi_1794558.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a1/tim-vine-9978_able_as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensi_1794558.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a1/tim-vine-9978_able_as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensi_1794558.jpg)

> “As you get older you're told to be sensible, but it's important for writing if you're a comic that you're able to still access that childlike thing.”

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

## About This Quote

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

Writers should retain a childlike imagination to keep humor fresh, despite societal pressure to become serious.

**In simple terms:** Keep childlike wonder for comic writing.

Key Takeaway

Nurture playful creativity.

Themes

humor creativity growth age

Mood

playful reflective

Type

advice creative

When to use this quote

- writing jokes
- performing stand‑up
- scriptwriting for sitcoms

Key Concepts

comedy imagination authenticity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can adults protect their inner child?
- What techniques keep humor alive over time?

A Different Perspective

Maturity can suppress spontaneity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) [Childlike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childlike/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [Writing a comic book series, you're so reliant on whoever the artist is. It truly is collaboration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/writing-a-comic-book-series-you-re-so-reliant-on-whoever-the-artist/)

[James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/)

> [Everyone seems to see bleakness and despair in my books. I don't read them that way. I see myself as writing comic books, books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/everyone-seems-to-see-bleakness-and-despair-in-my-books-i-don-t-read/)

[J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/)

> [I had been writing comic books for years and I was doing them to please a publisher, who felt that comics are only read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-had-been-writing-comic-books-for-years-and-i-was-doing-them-to/)

[Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/)

> [When you're writing TV or movies your vernacular is time, it's all based on rhythms, a character takes a beat or two characters have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/when-you-re-writing-tv-or-movies-your-vernacular-is-time-it-s-all/)

[Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/)

> [When I'm writing a comic book, I'm thinking about a character that I'm going to be drawing on the page. I've never drawn a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-miller/when-i-m-writing-a-comic-book-i-m-thinking-about-a-character-that-i-m/)

[Frank Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-miller/)

> [Oh yeah, I was one of the first guys writing comic books, I wrote Captain America, with guys like Stan Lee, who became famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-spillane/oh-yeah-i-was-one-of-the-first-guys-writing-comic-books-i-wrote/)

[Mickey Spillane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-spillane/)

> [If I do foray more into writing comic books, I definitely would hope that my acceptance is based more on my ability to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/if-i-do-foray-more-into-writing-comic-books-i-definitely-would-hope/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [For screenwriting, when you're writing, you're talking to hundreds - hundreds of people who might be interpreting what you're saying. When you're writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-beacham/for-screenwriting-when-you-re-writing-you-re-talking-to-hundreds/)

[Travis Beacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-beacham/)

> [Enter the writing process with a childlike sense of wonder and discovery. Let it surprise you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ghigna/enter-the-writing-process-with-a-childlike-sense-of-wonder-and/)

[Charles Ghigna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-ghigna/)

> [“Ô, Wanderess, Wanderess When did you feel your most euphoric kiss? Was I the source of your greatest bliss?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/wanderess-wanderess-when-did-you-feel-your-most-euphoric-kiss-was-i/)

[Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/)

> [Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-pharcellus-church/yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus-he-exists-as-certainly-as-love/)

[Francis Pharcellus Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-pharcellus-church/)

> [Beautiful was this world, looking at it thus, without searching, thus simply, thus childlike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/beautiful-was-this-world-looking-at-it-thus-without-searching-thus/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [My mother spoke of Christ to my father, by her feminine and childlike virtues, and, after having borne his violence without a murmur or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/my-mother-spoke-of-christ-to-my-father-by-her-feminine-and-childlike/)

[Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/)

> [I’m cold,' Snowden said softly, 'I’m cold.' 'You’re going to be all right, kid,' Yossarian reassured him with a grin. 'You’re going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-m-cold-snowden-said-softly-i-m-cold-you-re-going-to-be-all-right/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [You've had a whole lot of experience, but everything is also radically new at each moment, and you have to bring a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/you-ve-had-a-whole-lot-of-experience-but-everything-is-also-radically/)

[Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/)

## More by Tim Vine

> [If you do weave one-liners into a story, you have to have an overall story as well, otherwise it doesn't really count as narrative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/if-you-do-weave-one-liners-into-a-story-you-have-to-have-an-overall/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [Crime in multi-storey car parks. That is wrong on so many different levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/crime-in-multi-storey-car-parks-that-is-wrong-on-so-many-different/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [I'd like to start with the chimney jokes - I've got a stack of them. The first one is on the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/i-d-like-to-start-with-the-chimney-jokes-i-ve-got-a-stack-of-them-the/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [My friend told me he was going to a fancy dress party as an Italian island. I said to him, ‘Don’t be Sicily’.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/my-friend-told-me-he-was-going-to-a-fancy-dress-party-as-an-italian/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [I was in this restaurant and I asked for something herby. They gave me a Volkswagen with no driver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/i-was-in-this-restaurant-and-i-asked-for-something-herby-they-gave-me/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [So I got home, and the phone was ringing. I picked it up, and said 'Who's speaking please?' And a voice said 'You are.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/so-i-got-home-and-the-phone-was-ringing-i-picked-it-up-and-said-who-s/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [My mate asked me "What do you think of voluntary work?" I said "I wouldn't do it if you paid me."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/my-mate-asked-me-what-do-you-think-of-voluntary-work-i-said-i-wouldn/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [So I went to the Chinese restaurant and this duck came up to me with a red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/so-i-went-to-the-chinese-restaurant-and-this-duck-came-up-to-me-with/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [You see my next door neighbour worships exhaust pipes, he's a catholic converter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/you-see-my-next-door-neighbour-worships-exhaust-pipes-he-s-a-catholic/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [Velcro: what a rip-off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/velcro-what-a-rip-off/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [I'm not someone who gets to play The O2 and places like that, but that's the kind of rock and roll venue. The popularity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/i-m-not-someone-who-gets-to-play-the-o2-and-places-like-that-but-that/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [So I went in to a pet shop. I said, "Can I buy a goldfish?" The guy said, "Do you want an aquarium?" I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/so-i-went-in-to-a-pet-shop-i-said-can-i-buy-a-goldfish-the-guy-said/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [People ask 'do you make a conscious effort not to swear?' - if you're doing silly stuff you're not tempted to put swearing in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/people-ask-do-you-make-a-conscious-effort-not-to-swear-if-you-re/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [People think that because of my act that I must have a really busy mind and I must be driven. I really am not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/people-think-that-because-of-my-act-that-i-must-have-a-really-busy/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

> [Ive decided to sell my Hoover… well, it was just collecting dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/ive-decided-to-sell-my-hoover-well-it-was-just-collecting-dust/)

[Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

[Explore all 69 Tim Vine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/)

## More Able 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/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

Greg Perry

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

Browse all 17,257 Able quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "As you get older you're told to be sensible, but it's important for writing if you're a comic that you're able to still access that childlike thing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tim Vine"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensible-but-it-s-important-for/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensible-but-it-s-important-for/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a1/tim-vine-9978_able_as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensi_1794558.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a1/tim-vine-9978_able_as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensi_1794558.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a1/tim-vine-9978_able_as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensi_1794558.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“As you get older you're told to be sensible, but it's important for writing if you're a comic that you're…” — Tim Vine",
                "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": "Tim Vine",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "As you get older you're told...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensible-but-it-s-important-for/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/as-you-get-older-you-re-told-to-be-sensible-but-it-s-important-for/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
