Come, my child," I said, trying to lead her away. "Wish…
“Come, my child," I said, trying to lead her away. "Wish good-bye to the poor hare, and come and look for blackberries." "Good-bye, poor hare!" Sylvie obediently repeated, looking over her shoulder at it as we turned away. And then, all in a moment, her self-command gave way. Pulling her hand out of mine, she ran back to where the dead hare was lying, and flung herself down at its side in such an agony of grief as I could hardly have believed possible in so young a child. "Oh, my darling, my darling!" she moaned, over and over again. "And God meant your life to be so beautiful!”
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 deep empathy can override rational instruction, leading to spontaneous grief over a small creature.
In simple terms: Children can feel intense sorrow for even tiny beings.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and respect a child's emotional depth.
Themes
empathy
innocence
grief
Mood
tender
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
emotional
psychological
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- animal welfare
- therapy
- storytelling
Key Concepts
psychology
developmental
emotional intelligence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can adults guide empathy without suppressing it?
- What does this reveal about the nature of compassion?
A Different Perspective
Children may act irrationally when emotions dominate, challenging adult expectations.