--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps the best function of parenthood…" description: "\"Perhaps the best function of parenthood is to teach the young creature to love with safety, so that it may be able to venture unafraid when later emoti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/freya-stark-3403_able_perhaps-the-best-function-of-parenthood_2830358.jpg" --- # Perhaps the best function of parenthood is to teach the… ![“Perhaps the best function of parenthood is to teach the young creature to love with safety, so that it may be able to venture unafraid when later emotion comes; the thwarting of the instinct to love is the root of all sorrow and not sex only but divinity itself is insulted when it is repressed. To…” quote by Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/freya-stark-3403_able_perhaps-the-best-function-of-parenthood_2830358.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/freya-stark-3403_able_perhaps-the-best-function-of-parenthood_2830358.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/freya-stark-3403_able_perhaps-the-best-function-of-parenthood_2830358.jpg) > “Perhaps the best function of parenthood is to teach the young creature to love with safety, so that it may be able to venture unafraid when later emotion comes; the thwarting of the instinct to love is the root of all sorrow and not sex only but divinity itself is insulted when it is repressed. To disapprove, to condemn the human soul shrivels under barren righteousness.” [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parenthood should teach love with safety, allowing fearless emotional growth; repressing love causes sorrow and diminishes divinity. **In simple terms:** Teach love safely, let emotions flourish. Key Takeaway Foster secure love. Themes parenthood emotion spirituality Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - family life - child rearing - emotional education Key Concepts attachment theory divine love Questions to Reflect On - How can love be both safe and freeing? - What risks come from over‑protecting? A Different Perspective Safety may hinder independence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Barren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barren/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures/) [Divinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divinity/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Function Parenthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function-parenthood-3653253/) [Human soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-soul/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Insulted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insulted/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Parenthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenthood/) [Parenthood Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenthood-teach-3653254/) [Repressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repressed/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sex Divinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-divinity-3653255/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Thwarting Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thwarting-instinct-1684582/) [Unafraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unafraid/) [Venture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venture/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [... the thwarting of the instinct to love is the root of all sorrow and not sex only but divinity itself is insulted when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-thwarting-of-the-instinct-to-love-is-the-root-of-all-sorrow-and/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [Although I have felt compelled to write things down since I was five years old, I doubt that my daughter ever will, for she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/although-i-have-felt-compelled-to-write-things-down-since-i-was-five/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“Courage is not about being unafraid...Courage has to do with moving forward in the face of fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mariconda/courage-is-not-about-being-unafraid-courage-has-to-do-with-moving/) [Barbara Mariconda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mariconda/) > [The most essential thing in life is to establish an unafraid, heartfelt communication with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-most-essential-thing-in-life-is-to-establish-an-unafraid/) [Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/) > [Don't try to be unafraid. 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