One ought not to judge her: all children are Heartless…
““One ought not to judge her: all children are Heartless. They have not grown a heart yet, which is why they can climb high trees and say shocking things and leap so very high grown-up hearts flutter in terror. Hearts weigh quite a lot. That is why it takes so long to grow one. But, as in their reading and arithmetic and drawing, different children proceed at different speeds. (It is well known that reading quickens the growth of a heart like nothing else.) Some small ones are terrible and fey, Utterly Heartless. Some are dear and sweet and Hardly Heartless At All. September stood very generally in the middle on the day the Green Wind took her, Somewhat Heartless, and Somewhat Grown.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Children lack fully formed hearts, making them both vulnerable and daring; growth varies.
In simple terms: Kids are heartless, growing hearts slowly.
Key Takeaway
Nurture empathy in youth.
Themes
growth
innocence
vulnerability
Mood
thoughtful
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- parenting
- mental health programs
Key Concepts
developmental psychology
empathy
learning rates
Questions to Reflect On
- How does empathy develop?
- Why do some children mature faster?
A Different Perspective
Assumes heartlessness is literal.