Business Quote by Elizabeth Bowen
“No, it is not only our fate but our business to lose innocence, and once we have lost that, it is futile to attempt a picnic in Eden.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen, 1948
Losing innocence makes later attempts at idealism futile and empty.
In simple terms: Once innocence is gone, idealism feels pointless.
Key Takeaway
Accept loss, seek realistic hope.
Themes
innocence
idealism
disillusionment
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- relationships
- personal growth
- creative work
- reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you find value in realism after loss?
- How does innocence shape expectations?
A Different Perspective
Idealism may ignore practical realities.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)