Beautiful Quote by Angela Thirkell
“It has been noticed that people who are not parents often have a peculiar fondness for children. This is sometimes attributed to a very beautiful nostalgia for a gift denied to them - dream-children, flowers that have only bloomed in imagination - but we think it is rather because they have not the faintest idea how dreadful children are.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: "The Unfortunate Marriage" by Angela Thirkell, 1935
Notes that childless adults often idealize children, but this stems from ignorance of real parenting challenges.
In simple terms: Childless people idealize kids due to ignorance.
Recognize the reality of parenting.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- parenting advice
- social expectations
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does nostalgia shape our view of parenthood?
- What can non‑parents learn about childrearing?
Idealization can be unrealistic and dismissive.