---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...for if we try to go on protecting them…"
description: "\"“...for if we try to go on protecting them we prevent them from growing up to be ordinary, confident adults, capable of looking after themselves.”\" — D..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/dorothy-rowe-39667_child_for-if-we-try-to-go-on-protecting-them-w_1341162.png"
---

#  ...for if we try to go on protecting them we prevent them…

![“...for if we try to go on protecting them we prevent them from growing up to be ordinary, confident adults, capable of looking after themselves.” quote by Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/dorothy-rowe-39667_child_for-if-we-try-to-go-on-protecting-them-w_1341162.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/dorothy-rowe-39667_child_for-if-we-try-to-go-on-protecting-them-w_1341162.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/dorothy-rowe-39667_child_for-if-we-try-to-go-on-protecting-them-w_1341162.png)

> ““...for if we try to go on protecting them we prevent them from growing up to be ordinary, confident adults, capable of looking after themselves.””

[Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Overprotecting children hinders their development into self‑reliant, confident adults.

**In simple terms:** Too much protection blocks growth into independence.

Key Takeaway

Allow children to face challenges and learn.

Themes

parenting independence growth

Mood

concerned reflective

Type

advice psychological

When to use this quote

- raising teens
- teaching responsibility
- encouraging problem solving

Key Concepts

psychology developmental theory

Questions to Reflect On

- How can parents gauge appropriate levels of protection?
- What risks arise from too much independence?

A Different Perspective

Balancing safety and autonomy is difficult.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/)

## Related quotes

> [In California, of all places, entertainment is the key to a vibrant economy. If we do not develop young adults capable of entering that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cassidy/in-california-of-all-places-entertainment-is-the-key-to-a-vibrant/)

[David Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cassidy/)

> [The primary aim of our schools should be to help children grow into happy, healthy and confident adults, equipped with the skills to achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/the-primary-aim-of-our-schools-should-be-to-help-children-grow-into/)

[Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/)

> [Secondly, security. Both the challenges we face in the world and the responsibilities that our country has in protecting our people, are major issues.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/secondly-security-both-the-challenges-we-face-in-the-world-and-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Before computers, telephone lines and television connect us, we all share the same air, the same oceans, the same mountains and rivers. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-louis-dreyfus/before-computers-telephone-lines-and-television-connect-us-we-all/)

[Julia Louis-Dreyfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-louis-dreyfus/)

> [“Stop using him, and start protecting him. I know he thinks he doesn't need it, but sometimes he does. Sometimes we all do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/stop-using-him-and-start-protecting-him-i-know-he-thinks-he-doesn-t/)

[Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/)

> [We will remain vigilant, and we will not forget that protecting America means that we will defend the principles on which it was founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-will-remain-vigilant-and-we-will-not-forget-that-protecting/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [The Affordable Care Act has been designed to provide health security by driving competition, lowering premiums, and protecting families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/the-affordable-care-act-has-been-designed-to-provide-health-security/)

[Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/)

> [We should be working for protecting unity and integrity of the country... We should all strive to maintain a conducive atmosphere among the different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/we-should-be-working-for-protecting-unity-and-integrity-of-the/)

[Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/)

> [I care about the people saying they're protecting us not protecting us. That's a big zero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boosie/i-care-about-the-people-saying-they-re-protecting-us-not-protecting/)

[Boosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boosie/)

> [Protecting the rights of service members was an important part of my work as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/protecting-the-rights-of-service-members-was-an-important-part-of-my/)

[Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/)

> [Protecting our planet is a moral imperative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-rockstrom/protecting-our-planet-is-a-moral-imperative/)

[Johan Rockstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-rockstrom/)

> [The one person my heart needs protecting from is the only person trying to protect it. Who's going to stop YOU from hurting me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/universalclockwork/the-one-person-my-heart-needs-protecting-from-is-the-only-person/)

[UniversalClockwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/universalclockwork/)

> [The thing about gay people is that until we come out of the closet, we're always protecting other people: 'I can't do this, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/the-thing-about-gay-people-is-that-until-we-come-out-of-the-closet-we/)

[Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/)

> [Be ruthless about protecting writing days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days/)

[J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/)

> [I've said before, the number one thing that we have to work on is protecting the gay community from sharia law. Now, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foster-friess/i-ve-said-before-the-number-one-thing-that-we-have-to-work-on-is/)

[Foster Friess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foster-friess/)

## More by Dorothy Rowe

> [We would like to believe that we are not in the business of surviving but in being good, and we do not like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/we-would-like-to-believe-that-we-are-not-in-the-business-of-surviving/)

[Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

> [Depression is a prison where you are both the suffering prisoner and the cruel jailer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/depression-is-a-prison-where-you-are-both-the-suffering-prisoner-and/)

[Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

> [If you believe that you are bad and unacceptable, you are unable to look back at your past with pleasure or your future with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/if-you-believe-that-you-are-bad-and-unacceptable-you-are-unable-to/)

[Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

> [We can love someone without understanding that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/we-can-love-someone-without-understanding-that-person/)

[Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

> [“ 'Not spoiling' a child means trying to break that child's spirit. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/not-spoiling-a-child-means-trying-to-break-that-child-s-spirit/)

[Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

> [When a depressed person shrinks away from your touch it does not mean he is rejecting you. Rather he is protecting you from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/when-a-depressed-person-shrinks-away-from-your-touch-it-does-not-mean/)

[Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

> [However, when we are depressed, being reminded of other people's suffering only serves to increase our self-hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/however-when-we-are-depressed-being-reminded-of-other-people-s/)

[Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

> [After all I've done for you' has alienated more children from their parents than any act of parent cruelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/after-all-i-ve-done-for-you-has-alienated-more-children-from-their/)

[Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

> [You will have no peace until you have discovered how to forgive yourself, to forgive other people and let them forgive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/you-will-have-no-peace-until-you-have-discovered-how-to-forgive/)

[Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

> [“The problem with growing up fearing and expecting rejection is that you cannot enter into adult relationship in the expectation of happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/the-problem-with-growing-up-fearing-and-expecting-rejection-is-that/)

[Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

[Explore all 11 Dorothy Rowe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/)

## More Child quotes

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/)

[Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/)

> [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/)

[Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/)

> [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/)

[LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/)

> [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/)

[Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/)

> [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/)

[Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/)

> [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/)

[Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/)

> [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/)

[Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/)

> [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/)

[Johnnetta B. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/)

> [Bring up your children in the way you think other peoples children should go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/bring-up-your-children-in-the-way-you-think-other-peoples-children/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/)

Sheila Kamerman

> [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/)

[Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/)

[Browse all 10,700 Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“...for if we try to go on protecting them we prevent them from growing up to be ordinary, confident adults, capable of looking after themselves.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dorothy Rowe"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/for-if-we-try-to-go-on-protecting-them-we-prevent-them-from-growing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Child"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/for-if-we-try-to-go-on-protecting-them-we-prevent-them-from-growing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/dorothy-rowe-39667_child_for-if-we-try-to-go-on-protecting-them-w_1341162.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/dorothy-rowe-39667_child_for-if-we-try-to-go-on-protecting-them-w_1341162.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/dorothy-rowe-39667_child_for-if-we-try-to-go-on-protecting-them-w_1341162.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“...for if we try to go on protecting them we prevent them from growing up to be ordinary, confident adults…” — Dorothy Rowe",
                "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": "Dorothy Rowe",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“...for if we try to go...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/for-if-we-try-to-go-on-protecting-them-we-prevent-them-from-growing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/for-if-we-try-to-go-on-protecting-them-we-prevent-them-from-growing/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
