--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You want a child because it is a link in…" description: "\"“You want a child because it is a link in the bridge that you are building between the past and the future, a cantilever that holds you, so that you ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/dan-chaon-2729_bridge_you-want-a-child-because-it-is-a-link-in_2155899.png" --- # You want a child because it is a link in the bridge that… ![“You want a child because it is a link in the bridge that you are building between the past and the future, a cantilever that holds you, so that you are not alone.” quote by Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/dan-chaon-2729_bridge_you-want-a-child-because-it-is-a-link-in_2155899.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/dan-chaon-2729_bridge_you-want-a-child-because-it-is-a-link-in_2155899.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/dan-chaon-2729_bridge_you-want-a-child-because-it-is-a-link-in_2155899.png) > ““You want a child because it is a link in the bridge that you are building between the past and the future, a cantilever that holds you, so that you are not alone.”” [Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Having a child creates a personal bridge linking past and future, providing support and preventing isolation. **In simple terms:** A child connects generations and offers companionship. Key Takeaway Value the relational continuity a child provides. Themes family legacy connection loneliness future planning Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - parenting decisions - life planning - mental health counseling - community building - legacy projects Key Concepts Intergenerational bonds psychological support existential meaning Questions to Reflect On - What does the bridge symbolize for you? - How does this view influence family planning? A Different Perspective Raising a child also brings financial and emotional challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Past And The Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-and-the-future/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I just love when I'm playing Northumberland and I'm on the back nine and I see the water and the link bridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-murray/i-just-love-when-i-m-playing-northumberland-and-i-m-on-the-back-nine/) [Anne Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-murray/) > [I always said if it gets to a point where I really want a child, I would adopt; kids are amazing, so I'm getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-always-said-if-it-gets-to-a-point-where-i-really-want-a-child-i/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I have two boys, so I don't want any more child to suffer like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-have-two-boys-so-i-don-t-want-any-more-child-to-suffer-like-me/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [When we found out we were having a child, I was like I want the child to be healthy, but when asked do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommaso-ciampa/when-we-found-out-we-were-having-a-child-i-was-like-i-want-the-child/) [Tommaso Ciampa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommaso-ciampa/) > [People will say that it's some kind of evasion, but I would never want to have a kid for me. 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For both the storyteller and their audience, a new bridge to understanding is created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/telling-your-story-is-transformative-for-both-the-storyteller-and/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [The real test of a bridge player isn’t in keeping out of trouble, but in escaping once he’s in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-sheinwold/the-real-test-of-a-bridge-player-isn-t-in-keeping-out-of-trouble-but/) [Alfred Sheinwold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-sheinwold/) > [“Mr Benz, the parapet of an Italian bridge doesn’t look like the proper place for you,” said Chase.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefania-mattana/mr-benz-the-parapet-of-an-italian-bridge-doesn-t-look-like-the-proper/) [Stefania Mattana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefania-mattana/) > [I find that it's best to take one step at a time and cross each bridge as they come to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-find-that-it-s-best-to-take-one-step-at-a-time-and-cross-each/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [“Houses built on bridges are scandals. 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This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-remember-many-years-ago-coming-over-the-brooklyn-bridge-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [My parents wielded disposal cameras and Polaroids with the best of them, occasionally begging for at least one decent photo of my brother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pilon/my-parents-wielded-disposal-cameras-and-polaroids-with-the-best-of/) [Mary Pilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pilon/) > [“Love is a bridge between your future and mine. 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I like the idea of living over the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-broad/tower-bridge-would-make-a-cool-house-i-like-the-idea-of-living-over/) [Stuart Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-broad/) Browse all 736 Bridge quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You want a child because it is a link in the bridge that you are building between the past and the future, a cantilever that holds you, so that you are not alone.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Chaon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/you-want-a-child-because-it-is-a-link-in-the-bridge-that-you-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bridge" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/you-want-a-child-because-it-is-a-link-in-the-bridge-that-you-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/dan-chaon-2729_bridge_you-want-a-child-because-it-is-a-link-in_2155899.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/dan-chaon-2729_bridge_you-want-a-child-because-it-is-a-link-in_2155899.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/dan-chaon-2729_bridge_you-want-a-child-because-it-is-a-link-in_2155899.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You want a child because it is a link in the bridge that you are building between the past and the future, a…” — Dan Chaon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dan Chaon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You want a child because it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/you-want-a-child-because-it-is-a-link-in-the-bridge-that-you-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/you-want-a-child-because-it-is-a-link-in-the-bridge-that-you-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```