Perhaps I may record here my protest against the efforts…
“Perhaps I may record here my protest against the efforts, so often made, to shield children and young people from all that has to do with death and sorrow, to give them a good time at all hazards on the assumption that the ills of life will come soon enough. Young people themselves often resent this attitude on the part of their elders; they feel set aside and belittled as if they were denied the common human experiences.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
She argues that shielding youth from death and sorrow deprives them of essential human experience and growth.
In simple terms: Protecting kids from pain limits their learning.
Allow youth to encounter hardship responsibly.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Family discussions
- school curricula
- mental health programs
- media content creation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance protection with exposure?
- What experiences are essential for mature empathy?
Overprotective environments may cause emotional fragility later.