--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was a child, I did always feel…" description: "\"When I was a child, I did always feel that people were hiding things, and that they weren't expressing their true feelings. When adults are too complic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/wallace-shawn-7437_adult_when-i-was-a-child-i-did-always-feel-tha_544067.jpg" --- # When I was a child, I did always feel that people were… ![“When I was a child, I did always feel that people were hiding things, and that they weren't expressing their true feelings. When adults are too complicated, and cover their emotions with layers of well-intentioned subterfuge, the child isn't seeing reality clearly enough and gets upset.” quote by Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/wallace-shawn-7437_adult_when-i-was-a-child-i-did-always-feel-tha_544067.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/wallace-shawn-7437_adult_when-i-was-a-child-i-did-always-feel-tha_544067.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/wallace-shawn-7437_adult_when-i-was-a-child-i-did-always-feel-tha_544067.jpg) > “When I was a child, I did always feel that people were hiding things, and that they weren't expressing their true feelings. When adults are too complicated, and cover their emotions with layers of well-intentioned subterfuge, the child isn't seeing reality clearly enough and gets upset.” [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children perceive adult emotional complexity as deception, leading to confusion and distress. **In simple terms:** Kids see hidden feelings as lies, causing upset. Key Takeaway Help children understand adult emotions. Themes emotional honesty child development communication Mood empathetic reflective Type advice insightful When to use this quote - parenting - education - mental health counseling Key Concepts psychology family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can adults model authentic expression? - What simple steps clarify emotions for children? A Different Perspective Adults may unintentionally mask feelings, deepening misunderstanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adult/) [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Adults Complicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults-complicated-4543079/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clearly/) [Complicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicated/) [Cover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cover/) [Cover Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cover-emotions-3934678/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Emotions Layers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions-layers-4543078/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Expressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressing/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feelings Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-adults-4543077/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Gets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gets/) [Hiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiding/) [Hiding things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiding-things/) [Layers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/layers/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Subterfuge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subterfuge/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [True feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-feelings/) [Upset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upset/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) ## Related quotes > [“He usually gets what he wants. 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I don't know... maybe everybody who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/i-am-recognized-a-lot-for-clueless-but-i-am-recognized-a-great-deal/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [Sleep: a poor substitute for caffeine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/sleep-a-poor-substitute-for-caffeine/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [I'm a very lucky man. It's a beautiful thing for a writer, to see people allowing your words to enter their own unconscious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/i-m-a-very-lucky-man-it-s-a-beautiful-thing-for-a-writer-to-see/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [And my singing, I don't think I could sing Wagner or opera, but I could probably carry a tune. 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