--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We infrequently contemplate the harms…" description: "\"We infrequently contemplate the harms that await any new-born child—pain, disappointment, anxiety, grief, and death. For any given child we cannot pred..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/david-benatar-19400_anxiety_we-infrequently-contemplate-the-harms-th_2091169.jpg" --- # We infrequently contemplate the harms that await any… ![“We infrequently contemplate the harms that await any new-born child—pain, disappointment, anxiety, grief, and death. For any given child we cannot predict what form these harms will take or how severe they will be, but we can be sure that at least some of them will occur. None of this befalls the…” quote by David Benatar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/david-benatar-19400_anxiety_we-infrequently-contemplate-the-harms-th_2091169.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/david-benatar-19400_anxiety_we-infrequently-contemplate-the-harms-th_2091169.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/david-benatar-19400_anxiety_we-infrequently-contemplate-the-harms-th_2091169.jpg) > “We infrequently contemplate the harms that await any new-born child—pain, disappointment, anxiety, grief, and death. For any given child we cannot predict what form these harms will take or how severe they will be, but we can be sure that at least some of them will occur. None of this befalls the nonexistent. Only existers suffer harm.” [David Benatar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-benatar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life inevitably includes suffering; even newborns will experience pain, disappointment, anxiety, grief, and death, which are unavoidable for those who exist. **In simple terms:** All living beings face some harm. Key Takeaway Recognize and mitigate suffering where possible. Themes philosophy existentialism ethics Mood somber reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - parenting - healthcare policy - bioethics - philosophical counseling Key Concepts negativeism suffering existence Questions to Reflect On - How can societies reduce unavoidable harms? - What responsibilities do we have toward future generations? A Different Perspective Suffering is not optional for the living, but its intensity varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Grief and death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief-and-death/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [You don't change people's hearts by making them suffer. 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