--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a terrible thing to learn as a…" description: "\"“It is a terrible thing to learn as a child that one is a being separate from all the world, that no one and no thing hurts along with one's burned ton..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/donna-tartt-391_aches-and-pains_it-is-a-terrible-thing-to-learn-as-a-chi_79161.jpg" --- # It is a terrible thing to learn as a child that one is a… ![“It is a terrible thing to learn as a child that one is a being separate from all the world, that no one and no thing hurts along with one's burned tongues and skinned knees, that one's aches and pains are all one's own. Even more terrible, as we grow older, to learn that no person, no matter how…” quote by Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/donna-tartt-391_aches-and-pains_it-is-a-terrible-thing-to-learn-as-a-chi_79161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/donna-tartt-391_aches-and-pains_it-is-a-terrible-thing-to-learn-as-a-chi_79161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/donna-tartt-391_aches-and-pains_it-is-a-terrible-thing-to-learn-as-a-chi_79161.jpg) > ““It is a terrible thing to learn as a child that one is a being separate from all the world, that no one and no thing hurts along with one's burned tongues and skinned knees, that one's aches and pains are all one's own. Even more terrible, as we grow older, to learn that no person, no matter how beloved, can never truly understand us. Our own selves make us most unhappy, and that's why we're so anxious to lose them, don't you think?”” [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on the painful realization of personal isolation and the impossibility of being fully understood by others, leading to existential anxiety. **In simple terms:** Isolation and misunderstood self Key Takeaway Self-awareness breeds anxiety Themes existentialism psychology self-identity loneliness human connection Mood melancholic reflective introspective Type philosophical literary existential When to use this quote - adolescence - therapy sessions - philosophical discussions - artistic creation Key Concepts subjectivity otherness empathy self-knowledge Practical Applications - counseling approaches - literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing our isolation affect relationships? - Can we ever truly know another person? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aches and pains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aches-and-pains/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ## Related quotes > [“It is a terrible thing to learn as a child that one is a being separate from all the world, that no one and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/it-is-a-terrible-thing-to-learn-as-a-child-that-one-is-a-being-2/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Sometimes, you can be your own thing that hurts you. It's you. It's like knowing too much of the game when really all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/sometimes-you-can-be-your-own-thing-that-hurts-you-it-s-you-it-s-like/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [“Could it be because it reminds us that we are alive, of our mortality, of our individual souls- which, after all, we are too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/could-it-be-because-it-reminds-us-that-we-are-alive-of-our-mortality/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“Why does that obstinate little voice in our heads torment us so? Could it be because it reminds us that we are alive, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/why-does-that-obstinate-little-voice-in-our-heads-torment-us-so-could/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [The parents exist to teach the child, but also they must learn what the child has to teach them; and the child has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-parents-exist-to-teach-the-child-but-also-they-must-learn-what/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [“As an adult, be child-like as you learn but not child-ish as you live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carew-papritz/as-an-adult-be-child-like-as-you-learn-but-not-child-ish-as-you-live/) [Carew Papritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carew-papritz/) > [Now that you've grown up, You can finally learn to be a child, We made it to the end of the world, But we'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/now-that-you-ve-grown-up-you-can-finally-learn-to-be-a-child-we-made/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [You learn more about yourself through your child, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heath-ledger/you-learn-more-about-yourself-through-your-child-i-guess/) [Heath Ledger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heath-ledger/) > [“What Can Be Learned From a Thief The saintly Rabi Zusya was originally a disciple of the tsaddik Rabbi Dov Baer of Mezritsh. Once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pinhas-sadeh/what-can-be-learned-from-a-thief-the-saintly-rabi-zusya-was/) Pinhas Sadeh > [Learning is a result of listening, which in turn leads to even better listening and attentiveness to the other person. In other words, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/learning-is-a-result-of-listening-which-in-turn-leads-to-even-better/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [2 things to be learn from a child.. (1) To be happy for no reason. (2) To be always busy doing something. Never lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/2-things-to-be-learn-from-a-child-1-to-be-happy-for-no-reason-2-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [3 Things to learn from a CHILD:-To be happy for no reason..To be always busy doing something..To know how to demand small things without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/3-things-to-learn-from-a-child-to-be-happy-for-no-reason-to-be-always/) [Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/) > [“Kids are naturally curious about the world around them. Everything is fascinating and holds their attention as they explore their new surroundings. Adults however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-murphy/kids-are-naturally-curious-about-the-world-around-them-everything-is/) [James A. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-murphy/) > [Children learn many principles of natural law at a very early age. For example: they learn that when one child has picked up an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/children-learn-many-principles-of-natural-law-at-a-very-early-age-for/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [...Next time you're faced with a choice, do the right thing. It hurts everyone less in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/next-time-you-re-faced-with-a-choice-do-the-right-thing-it-hurts/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) ## More by Donna Tartt > [I hope we're all ready to leave the phenomenal world, and enter into the sublime?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/i-hope-we-re-all-ready-to-leave-the-phenomenal-world-and-enter-into/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [And I add my own love to the history of people who have loved beautiful things, and looked out for them, and pulled them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/and-i-add-my-own-love-to-the-history-of-people-who-have-loved/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [And the flavor of Pippa's kiss--bittersweet and strange--stayed with me all the way back uptown, swaying and sleepy as I sailed home on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/and-the-flavor-of-pippa-s-kiss-bittersweet-and-strange-stayed-with-me/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“The world won't come to me...so I must go to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/the-world-won-t-come-to-me-so-i-must-go-to-it/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [There's an expectation these days that novels - like any other consumer product - should be made on a production line, with one dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/there-s-an-expectation-these-days-that-novels-like-any-other-consumer/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“A month or two before, I would have been appalled at the idea of any murder at all. But that Sunday afternoon, as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/a-month-or-two-before-i-would-have-been-appalled-at-the-idea-of-any/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Well, I think storytellers have always found murder a fascinating device.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/well-i-think-storytellers-have-always-found-murder-a-fascinating/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Always remember, the person we’re really working for is the person who’s restoring the piece a hundred years from now. He’s the one we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/always-remember-the-person-we-re-really-working-for-is-the-person-who/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“The silence between us was happy and strange, connected by the cord and the icy voices thinly echoing. “You don’t have to talk,” she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/the-silence-between-us-was-happy-and-strange-connected-by-the-cord/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“You didn’t meet many people who moved freely through the world with such a vigorous contempt for it and at the same time such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/you-didn-t-meet-many-people-who-moved-freely-through-the-world-with/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“maybe that’s what’s waiting for us at the end of the journey, a majesty unimaginable until the very moment we find ourselves walking through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/maybe-that-s-what-s-waiting-for-us-at-the-end-of-the-journey-a/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“lights and moods and seasons was to see it a thousand different ways and to keep it shut in the dark—a thing made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/lights-and-moods-and-seasons-was-to-see-it-a-thousand-different-ways/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [A great sorrow, and one that I am only beginning to understand: we don’t get to choose our own hearts. We can’t make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/a-great-sorrow-and-one-that-i-am-only-beginning-to-understand-we-don/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“Upon meeting Julian Morrow, one has the impression that he is a man of extraordinary sympathy and warmth. But what you call his 'Asiatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/upon-meeting-julian-morrow-one-has-the-impression-that-he-is-a-man-of/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“—if a painting really works down in your heart and changes the way you see, and think, and feel, you don’t think, ‘oh, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/if-a-painting-really-works-down-in-your-heart-and-changes-the-way-you/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) [Explore all 590 Donna Tartt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) ## More Aches and pains quotes > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best thing I've learned is that you have to listen to your body, and you have to be your own physician. Don't ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-cruz/the-best-thing-i-ve-learned-is-that-you-have-to-listen-to-your-body/) [Valerie Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-cruz/) > [“Epsom Salt - Don't underestimate the powerful healing effects of regular Epsom salt.  Soaking in hot water infused with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) boosts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-the-veggie-goddess-matthews/epsom-salt-don-t-underestimate-the-powerful-healing-effects-of/) Gina 'The Veggie Goddess' Matthews > [Let me be clear: MMA training is tough work, and every fighter has had to enter the Octagon with aches and pains as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cain-velasquez/let-me-be-clear-mma-training-is-tough-work-and-every-fighter-has-had/) [Cain Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cain-velasquez/) > [I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman. But I am constantly thinking about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-have-never-felt-more-confident-in-myself-more-clear-on-who-i-am-as/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [“Joe hid his grin. "A little grab-ass is not accosting." At the worst of times, Luna could amuse him. And now he finally had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/joe-hid-his-grin-a-little-grab-ass-is-not-accosting-at-the-worst-of/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [It's one thing to be twenty and touring the world, but doing it in your forties, you wake up with aches and pains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wiedlin/it-s-one-thing-to-be-twenty-and-touring-the-world-but-doing-it-in/) [Jane Wiedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wiedlin/) > [If you'd asked me when I was younger what life would be like in my 50s, I'd probably have imagined someone like my grandmother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-jones/if-you-d-asked-me-when-i-was-younger-what-life-would-be-like-in-my/) [Ruth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-jones/) > [Each day it's like: 'How many more days am I going to feel young and vibrant? I feel young and vibrant now, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/each-day-it-s-like-how-many-more-days-am-i-going-to-feel-young-and/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [“This spiritual energy is what healers and other natural-health practitioners (such as acupuncturists and massage therapists) work with in the process of removing blockages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holland/this-spiritual-energy-is-what-healers-and-other-natural-health/) John Holland > [“I might as well go and sit in the Conversation Lounge downstairs. Complaining is pastime number one down there. I don’t think a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-groen/i-might-as-well-go-and-sit-in-the-conversation-lounge-downstairs/) [Hendrik Groen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-groen/) > [There are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron/there-are-two-days-in-every-week-that-we-should-not-worry-about-two/) [AaRon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron/) > [Seal my lips on aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-russell/seal-my-lips-on-aches-and-pains-they-are-increasing-and-love-of/) [Rosalind Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-russell/) > [I've seen better days, but I've also seen worse. I don't have everything I want, but I do have all I need. I woke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-seen-better-days-but-i-ve-also-seen-worse-i-don-t-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The twenty minutes or more we spend inside the ring, that's the fun part. It's the rest of our lives that's the real battle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-guerrero/the-twenty-minutes-or-more-we-spend-inside-the-ring-that-s-the-fun/) [Eddie Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-guerrero/) [Browse all 80 Aches and pains quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aches-and-pains/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is a terrible thing to learn as a child that one is a being separate from all the world, that no one and no thing hurts along with one's burned tongues and skinned knees, that one's aches and pains are all one's own. 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