Baby boom Quote by Erica Jong
““Whatever science has done to destroy the world, it has unquestionably saved the lives of women and their babies. Nature is not gentle with us when left to her own devices. Now we survive childbirth and face the dilemma turning fifty. Mary Wollstonecraft never trod this path. Greedy for more and more life, we seldom appreciate what we have. Many of my friends have become mothers in their forties and their babies are beautiful and smart. We have extended the limits of life, yet we dare to rage at growing old. It seems damned ungrateful. But then we baby boomers are a damned ungrateful bunch. Nobody gave us limits. So we are good at squandering and complaining, bad at gratitude. And when we discover life has limits, we try to wreck ourselves in anger before we learn the importance of surrender. We are the AA kids, the qualification generation. We have to be hurled to the bottom again and again before we come to understand that life is about surrender. And if the bottom doesn't rise to meet us, we dive into it, carrying our loved ones with us. Only a lucky few swim back up to air and light.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Age of Anxiety, Erica Jong, 2023
The speaker reflects on modern humanity’s paradox: scientific advances prolong life, yet we resist aging and lack gratitude, leading to existential frustration and a need for surrender.
In simple terms: We extend life but resent aging, needing humility and acceptance.
Embrace humility and gratitude for life’s limits.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- parenthood in later life
- career longevity
- healthcare decisions
- intergenerational dialogue
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we cultivate gratitude for longevity?
- What practices help accept life’s limits?
The critique may overgeneralize and ignore cultural variations in attitudes toward aging.