---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was a kid, a book I read advised…"
description: "\"When I was a kid, a book I read advised young artist to be themselves. That decided it for me. I was a corny kind of guy, so I went in for corn.\" — Wal..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/walt-disney-722_art_when-i-was-a-kid-a-book-i-read-advised-y_3057892.jpg"
---

#  When I was a kid, a book I read advised young artist to be…

![“When I was a kid, a book I read advised young artist to be themselves. That decided it for me. I was a corny kind of guy, so I went in for corn.” quote by Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/walt-disney-722_art_when-i-was-a-kid-a-book-i-read-advised-y_3057892.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/walt-disney-722_art_when-i-was-a-kid-a-book-i-read-advised-y_3057892.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/walt-disney-722_art_when-i-was-a-kid-a-book-i-read-advised-y_3057892.jpg)

> “When I was a kid, a book I read advised young artist to be themselves. That decided it for me. I was a corny kind of guy, so I went in for corn.”

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

## About This Quote

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

A young artist was advised to stay authentic, leading the speaker to embrace their own quirky style, reinforcing the power of self-acceptance in creative pursuits.

**In simple terms:** Be yourself; authenticity guides art.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your unique voice.

Themes

creativity authenticity identity

Mood

optimistic reflective

Type

motivational creative

When to use this quote

- artistic development
- career choices
- public speaking

Key Concepts

self-expression personal branding

Questions to Reflect On

- How does staying true shape your work?
- What risks come with being unapologetically yourself?

A Different Perspective

Authenticity can be misinterpreted as lack of professionalism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Being yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-yourself/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Young artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-artists/)

## Related quotes

> [We should increase our development of alternative fuels, taking advantage of renewable resources, like using corn and sugar to produce ethanol or soybeans to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/we-should-increase-our-development-of-alternative-fuels-taking/)

[Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/)

> [U.S. corn exports to CAFTA countries will benefit from reduced tariffs and duty-free access for corn products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shimkus/u-s-corn-exports-to-cafta-countries-will-benefit-from-reduced-tariffs/)

[John Shimkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shimkus/)

> [The older, thinner, and less productive grass lands, however, frequently can be made to produce much larger yields of feed in corn than if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-houston/the-older-thinner-and-less-productive-grass-lands-however-frequently/)

[David F. Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-houston/)

> [Thanks to farm subsidies, the fine collaboration between agribusiness and Congress, soy, corn and cattle became king. And chicken soon joined them on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/thanks-to-farm-subsidies-the-fine-collaboration-between-agribusiness/)

[Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/)

> [But I do nothing that I don't like, such as "inventing" up to the arty or "down" to the corny. I happen to relish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-astaire/but-i-do-nothing-that-i-don-t-like-such-as-inventing-up-to-the-arty/)

[Fred Astaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-astaire/)

> [The Indian Corn, or Maiz, proves the most useful Grain in the World; and had it not been for the Fruitfulness of this Species,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lawson/the-indian-corn-or-maiz-proves-the-most-useful-grain-in-the-world-and/)

[John Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lawson/)

> [I was wearing corn plasters above and below my toes and taping my ankles twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-romero/i-was-wearing-corn-plasters-above-and-below-my-toes-and-taping-my/)

[Cesar Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-romero/)

> [I love to study the many things that grow below the corn stalks and bring them back to the studio to study the color.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wyeth/i-love-to-study-the-many-things-that-grow-below-the-corn-stalks-and/)

[Andrew Wyeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wyeth/)

> [You really get the most out of sweet corn if you pick the corn off the stalk and rush it to a pot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-donaldson/you-really-get-the-most-out-of-sweet-corn-if-you-pick-the-corn-off/)

[Sam Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-donaldson/)

> [There is nothing wrong with good schmaltz, nothing wrong with good heart... The critics think I'm kind of corny. Well, I am corny. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-good-schmaltz-nothing-wrong-with-good/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [If I can't find a theme, I can't make a film anyone else will feel. I can't laugh at intellectual humor. I'm just corny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/if-i-can-t-find-a-theme-i-can-t-make-a-film-anyone-else-will-feel-i/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [All right. I'm corny. But I think there's just about a-hundred-and-forty-million people in this country that are just as corny as I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/all-right-i-m-corny-but-i-think-there-s-just-about-a-hundred-and/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [I'm just corny enough to like to have a story hit me over the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-m-just-corny-enough-to-like-to-have-a-story-hit-me-over-the-heart/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [I haven't talked to any young artists for a long time. But if we did sit down, I'd definitely tell them my viewpoint. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-haven-t-talked-to-any-young-artists-for-a-long-time-but-if-we-did/)

[Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/)

> [When a young artist asks me a question, I want to do what I can to give them an answer if I have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tait/when-a-young-artist-asks-me-a-question-i-want-to-do-what-i-can-to/)

[Michael Tait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tait/)

## More by Walt Disney

> [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/of-all-of-our-inventions-for-mass-communication-pictures-still-speak/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Here is the world of imagination, hopes, and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment, the age of chivalry, magic and make-believe are reborn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/here-is-the-world-of-imagination-hopes-and-dreams-in-this-timeless/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [I have a great love of animals and laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-a-great-love-of-animals-and-laughter/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/there-is-more-treasure-in-books-than-in-all-the-pirate-s-loot-on/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [I just needed to get out on my own, live my own life. And I did, and it's great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-just-needed-to-get-out-on-my-own-live-my-own-life-and-i-did-and-it/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [I am not influenced by the techniques or fashions of any other motion picture company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-am-not-influenced-by-the-techniques-or-fashions-of-any-other-motion/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Women are the best judges of anything we turn out. Their taste is very important. They are the theatergoers; they are the ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/women-are-the-best-judges-of-anything-we-turn-out-their-taste-is-very/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Who says we have to grow up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/who-says-we-have-to-grow-up/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Forever is a long long time and time has a way of changing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/forever-is-a-long-long-time-and-time-has-a-way-of-changing-things/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [If I depended on critics and children to make a living I'd grow broke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/if-i-depended-on-critics-and-children-to-make-a-living-i-d-grow-broke/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [“To the youngsters of today, I say believe in the future, the world is getting better; there still is plenty of opportunity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/to-the-youngsters-of-today-i-say-believe-in-the-future-the-world-is/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Do a good job. You don't have to worry about the money; it will take care of itself. Just do your best work then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/do-a-good-job-you-don-t-have-to-worry-about-the-money-it-will-take/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [If watching is all you're going to do, then you're going to watch your life go by without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/if-watching-is-all-you-re-going-to-do-then-you-re-going-to-watch-your/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

[Explore all 392 Walt Disney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

## More Art quotes

> [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/)

[Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/)

> [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/)

[Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/)

> [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/)

[Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/)

> [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/)

Taf Teh

> [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/)

[Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/)

> [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/)

[Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/)

[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/)

> [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/)

[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/)

> [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

[Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I was a kid, a book I read advised young artist to be themselves. That decided it for me. I was a corny kind of guy, so I went in for corn.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Walt Disney"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/when-i-was-a-kid-a-book-i-read-advised-young-artist-to-be-themselves/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Art"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/when-i-was-a-kid-a-book-i-read-advised-young-artist-to-be-themselves/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/walt-disney-722_art_when-i-was-a-kid-a-book-i-read-advised-y_3057892.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/walt-disney-722_art_when-i-was-a-kid-a-book-i-read-advised-y_3057892.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/walt-disney-722_art_when-i-was-a-kid-a-book-i-read-advised-y_3057892.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I was a kid, a book I read advised young artist to be themselves. That decided it for me. I was a corny…” — Walt Disney",
                "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": "Walt Disney",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I was a kid, a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/when-i-was-a-kid-a-book-i-read-advised-young-artist-to-be-themselves/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/when-i-was-a-kid-a-book-i-read-advised-young-artist-to-be-themselves/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
