“When I was a child, my mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk, you'll end up as the Pope.' Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.”

Simplified Meaning:

This quote is about having high aspirations and achieving great success, no matter what path you choose. When the speaker was young, their mother encouraged them to aim for the top in whatever they decided to do. She believed that her child had the potential to be the best in any field, whether it was becoming a soldier or a religious leader. Instead of following those paths, the speaker chose to be an artist and achieved extraordinary fame and recognition as Picasso. To understand this better, think of a kid who is told by their parents they can become anything they want, like the president or a top scientist. The kid grows up believing in themselves and works hard, eventually becoming one of the most famous artists in the world. This shows that with determination and belief in yourself, you can reach high levels of success in any career. In your own life, it suggests you should aim high and believe in your abilities. Whether you want to be a doctor, teacher, or anything else, strive to be the best you can. With hard work and confidence, you might even surpass what you once thought was possible.