One of the great things about books is you can afford to do anything.
George R. R. MartinRead
We're children. We're supposed to be childish.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sense of wonder and playfulness throughout life.
George R. R. Martin's quote suggests that embracing our inner child and the qualities associated with it—such as curiosity, creativity, and playfulness—is integral to our existence. It reminds us that adult responsibilities should not diminish our ability to experience joy and wonder, reinforcing the idea that being 'childish' can be a powerful aspect of living fully and authentically.
Themes
ChildishWonderPlayfulnessCreativityLife
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about embracing creativity in the workplace, you could say, 'As George R. R. Martin said, We're supposed to be childish.'
More from George R. R. Martin
All quotes →I hate outlines. I have a broad sense of where the story is going; I know the end, I know the end of the principal characters, and I know the major turning points and events from the books, the climaxes for each book, but I don't necessarily know each twist and turn along the way. That's something I discover in the course of writing and that's what makes writing enjoyable. I think if I outlined comprehensively and stuck to the outline the actual writing would be boring.
George R. R. MartinRead
There is only one god and his name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: “Not today.
George R. R. MartinRead
I did not do it. Yet now I wish I had.’ He turned to face the hall, that sea of pale faces. ‘I wish I had enough poison for you all. You make me sorry that I am not the monster you would have me be, yet there it is. I am innocent, but I will get no justice here.
George R. R. MartinRead
But a voice inside her whispered, There are no heroes, and she remembered what Lord Petyr had said to her, here in this very hall. 'Life is not a song, sweetling,' he'd told her, 'You may learn that one day to your sorrow.' In life, the monsters win, she told herself.
George R. R. MartinRead
I write from this tight third-person viewpoint, where each chapter is seen through the eyes of one individual character. When I'm writing that character, I become that character and identify with that character.
George R. R. MartinRead
Similar quotes
Somehow we are going to have to develop a concept of enough for those at the top and at the bottom so that the necessities of the many are not sacrificed for the luxuries of the few.
Marian Wright EdelmanRead
We should not be so taken up in the search for truth, as to neglect the needful duties of active life; for it is only action that gives a true value and commendation to virtue.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
All this shouldn't last; but it will, always; the human 'always' of course, a century, two centuries... and after that it will be different, but worse. We were the Leopards, the Lions; those who'll take our place will be little jackals, hyenas; and the whole lot of us, Leopards, jackals, and sheep, we'll all go on thinking ourselves the salt of the earth.
Giuseppe Tomasi Di LampedusaRead
The difference between treason and patriotism is only a matter of dates.
Alexandre DumasRead
I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
C. S. LewisRead
What's real? What's not? That's what I do in my act, test how other people deal with reality.
Andy KaufmanRead