Both my mom and my dad have always included me in intelligent

"Both my mom and my dad have always included me in intelligent conversations about people, about characters, about how people work. My dad and my mom still read all scripts that I find interesting. I send them an e-mail, and I'm like, 'Okay, I have my eye on this,' or whatever." — Alicia Vikander

In these tender and thoughtful words, Alicia Vikander unveils the quiet foundation upon which her artistry stands: the wisdom and presence of her parents. She speaks not of wealth or privilege, but of something far more enduring—intelligent conversation, shared understanding, and the passing of insight from one generation to another. It is a portrait of a family bound not only by love, but by intellect and curiosity. From such roots grow the souls who see deeply into the world, who understand that true knowledge is not memorized from books, but born from dialogue—living, breathing, evolving.

The origin of this quote lies in Vikander’s upbringing in Sweden, where both her mother, a stage actress, and her father, a psychiatrist, shaped her early worldview. Through them, she learned to study not only the lines of a script but the lines of the human soul. The home she describes was a place of inquiry, where even as a child she was invited into the great human conversation about character, emotion, and motivation—about why people do what they do. In this sacred exchange between parent and child, a young mind is not filled, but awakened. It is through such nurturing that greatness begins: when wisdom is not imposed from above, but shared in trust and respect.

There is something profoundly ancient in this picture—a reflection of the philosopher’s hearth, where elders and youth gather to explore the nature of humankind. In the schools of Socrates and Plato, conversation was not a pastime but a path to truth. And so it is here. When Alicia speaks of being “included in intelligent conversations,” she recalls this timeless tradition—the passing of understanding through dialogue, where hearts and minds meet without hierarchy. Such conversations shape not only knowledge but character, for to listen and to reason together is to practice humility, empathy, and discernment.

Her story echoes that of Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-king of Rome, who often credited his teachers and family for his discipline of thought. He wrote in his Meditations: “From my mother, piety and generosity; from my tutors, the habit of considering carefully before action.” So too did Alicia learn from her parents the art of reflection. Each script she sends them is more than a professional decision—it is an act of reverence, a continuation of the sacred dialogue that shaped her. By seeking their counsel, she honors the lineage of thoughtfulness that runs through her blood. It is a reminder that wisdom is not a solitary achievement but a shared inheritance.

To be included in such a family exchange is to grow up in a world where ideas are alive, where curiosity is encouraged, where no question is too small to explore. In such a household, a child learns that intellect is not cold, but warm and human; that intelligence is not arrogance, but awareness. And this is the secret of great artists and thinkers—they do not merely study the world; they feel it deeply, and then reflect upon it with clarity. Through her parents’ guidance, Alicia learned to see beyond appearances—to look into the heart of human nature, the way an ancient sage might study the stars, seeking meaning in their movements.

There is also humility in her words. Though acclaimed and accomplished, she continues to seek her parents’ insight, to share her creative journey with them. This reveals a profound truth: that the wise never outgrow their teachers. The greatest minds remain students of life, forever reaching back to the roots that first nourished them. Such humility keeps greatness grounded, reminding us that knowledge is a river that flows through generations—it begins before us, and continues beyond us.

So, my child of the future, take this lesson from Alicia Vikander: value conversation over proclamation, and connection over pride. Speak often with those who love you, and listen deeply. Seek out the wisdom of your elders, and when you gain wisdom of your own, pass it on in turn. Keep your heart open to learning, for the mind that stops listening begins to die. Build your life, as she did, upon dialogue—upon shared inquiry into what makes us human. For when intelligent conversation becomes the breath of the household, every word becomes a bridge between generations, and every life a living story in the great dialogue of humanity.