Sally Jackson (about Percy): I want him to know who he is before your family tries to tell him who they want him to be. He is better than that. He has better things in him than that.
Poseidon: Then I think you have your answer. He’s going to go to school. And he’s gonna learn things that you can’t teach him there. And it’s gonna be hard for the both of you. It’s gonna be torture for the both of you. But he will be stronger for it on the other side. His mother raised him well.
Where does this quote come from? (Source)
This quote comes from a TV series ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’. The scene where this moment comes from is in Season 1 Episode 7, with the title of ‘We Find Out the Truth, Sort Of’ (1×07). Percy Jackson is based on a book series of the same name written by Rick Riordan. The series Percy Jackson and the Olympians is produced by Disney Branded Television and 20th Television (Disney+)
- TV Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)
- Season: 1
- Episode: 7
- Episode Name: We Find Out the Truth, Sort Of
- Production: Disney Branded Television, 20th Television (Disney+)
Why we collected this quote
We chose this because it’s a brave stance from Sally. It perfectly captures her parenting philosophy: she wants Percy to define himself before the world (or the gods) tries to force an identity on him.
What does this quote mean? (Meaning & Context)
In a flashback, Sally and Poseidon are discussing Percy’s future. They decide to keep him in the “normal” world as long as possible. Sally fights for his right to grow up without the burden of his lineage, believing that his human upbringing is what will make him “better” than the gods.
Book vs TV Series
This quote is a beautiful blending of the separate hopes held by both Sally and Poseidon. Sally always wanted Percy to embrace his “singular” true self. Poseidon always maintained that Percy must find his destiny alone. The show combines these desires, emphasizing that Percy’s true strength comes from self-knowledge and acceptance, rather than being told who he is. It perfectly synthesizes the show’s focus on identity and destiny.
