On the one hand maybe I’ve remained infantile, while on the other I matured quickly, because at a young age I was very aware of suffering and fear.

Hepburn contrasts two simultaneous outcomes of childhood trauma: a lingering “infantile” quality (a preserved innocence, playfulness, or emotional vulnerability) and an accelerated maturity forced by early exposure to danger. The quote suggests that suffering can produce a split development—parts of the self remain childlike while other parts become prematurely adult, vigilant, and serious. In Hepburn’s case, the implied background is wartime fear and deprivation, which can heighten sensitivity to others’ pain and shape a lifelong mixture of fragility and resilience. The statement also frames maturity not as a steady progression but as an adaptive response to circumstances.