Maturity Threshold Quotes

When I was very young, it was all, 'Here's little Johnny,' and I got stuck with it, but I prefer John. There comes a time in a man's life when he shouldn't have a name ending in 'y'.

The age of eighteen, far more than the age of twenty-one, has been and is the age of maturity in America—and never more than now.

One year Halloween came on October 24, three hours after midnight. At that time, James Nightshade of 97 Oak Street was thirteen years, eleven months, twenty-three days old. Next door, William Halloway was thirteen years, eleven months, and twenty-four days old. Both touched toward fourteen; it almost trembled in their hands. And that was the October week when they grew up overnight, and were never so young any more.

There are some things children cannot know, because once they learn them they are no longer children.

I just came into my own sexuality at thirty. I don't think it's something you can deeply experience at 18 or any time before that.

A woman, till five-and-thirty, is only looked upon as a raw girl, and can possibly make no noise in the world till about forty.

I don't think naturally I tend toward anything that's really distinctly branded as adult. I feel like I sort of write for myself as I would've been at 12 or 13 years old.

I've always been anti-marriage for men until they become mature. As a species we don't mature until we're in our 60s.

The realisation of one's own death is the point at which one becomes adult.

Forty is the line of demarcation that says you're an adult now. You're an adult, so don't pretend you're a kid anymore.

What is youth except a man or woman before it is ready or fit to be seen?

The last birthday that's any good is 23.