--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Also, perhaps children are sterner than…" description: "\"Also, perhaps children are sterner than grown-up people in their refusal to suffer, in their refusal, even, to feel at all.\" — Elizabeth Bowen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/elizabeth-bowen-1197_child_also-perhaps-children-are-sterner-than-g_571770.png" --- # Also, perhaps children are sterner than grown-up people in… ![“Also, perhaps children are sterner than grown-up people in their refusal to suffer, in their refusal, even, to feel at all.” quote by Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/elizabeth-bowen-1197_child_also-perhaps-children-are-sterner-than-g_571770.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/elizabeth-bowen-1197_child_also-perhaps-children-are-sterner-than-g_571770.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/elizabeth-bowen-1197_child_also-perhaps-children-are-sterner-than-g_571770.png) > “Also, perhaps children are sterner than grown-up people in their refusal to suffer, in their refusal, even, to feel at all.” [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children may resist suffering more fiercely than adults, showing a stark refusal to feel. **In simple terms:** Kids often reject pain more than grown‑ups. Key Takeaway Recognize and address children's emotional resistance. Themes suffering resistance childhood Mood empathetic somber Type reflective literary When to use this quote - parenting - education - mental health counseling Key Concepts psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - Why might children refuse to feel pain? - How can adults support children in confronting suffering? A Different Perspective Adults may underestimate children's emotional depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [Frivolity is the species' refusal to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lahr/frivolity-is-the-species-refusal-to-suffer/) [John Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lahr/) > [The refusal to feel takes a heavy toll. 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