When I was nine, I had a babysitter who didn't want to…
![“When I was nine, I had a babysitter who didn't want to hurt anything. She put it just like that when I asked her why she wasn't having chicken with my older brother and me: "I don't want to hurt anything." [...] What our babysitter said made sense to me, not only because it seemed true, but…” quote by Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/c17/jonathan-safran-foer-136_family_when-i-was-nine-i-had-a-babysitter-who-d_3228667.jpg)
““When I was nine, I had a babysitter who didn't want to hurt anything. She put it just like that when I asked her why she wasn't having chicken with my older brother and me: "I don't want to hurt anything." [...] What our babysitter said made sense to me, not only because it seemed true, but because it was the extension to food of everything my parents had taught me. We don't hurt family members. We don't hurt friends or strangers. We don't even hurt upholstered furniture. My not having thought to include animals in that list didn't make them the exceptions to it. It just made me a child, ignorant of the world's workings. Until I wasn't. At which point I had to change my life.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A child's early lesson about not harming anything expands to a broader ethical stance on all living beings, prompting moral growth.
In simple terms: Early teachings about non‑harm evolve into broader ethics.
Key Takeaway
Reevaluate how we treat all life.
Themes
ethics
animal rights
personal growth
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- dietary choices
- activism
- education curricula
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
environmentalism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does early moral teaching shape adult choices?
- What steps can broaden empathy beyond family?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated habits can be socially challenging.