--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would have made a nice painting, were…" description: "\"“It would have made a nice painting, were someone to choose something as lowly as that to study. Another story, a story written in oils rather than one..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/gregory-maguire-547_children_it-would-have-made-a-nice-painting-were_468028.jpg" --- # It would have made a nice painting, were someone to choose… ![“It would have made a nice painting, were someone to choose something as lowly as that to study. Another story, a story written in oils rather than one painted on porcelain. But to be most effective, the faces of the children would need to be painted in a blur, the way all children's faces truly…” quote by Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/gregory-maguire-547_children_it-would-have-made-a-nice-painting-were_468028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/gregory-maguire-547_children_it-would-have-made-a-nice-painting-were_468028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/gregory-maguire-547_children_it-would-have-made-a-nice-painting-were_468028.jpg) > ““It would have made a nice painting, were someone to choose something as lowly as that to study. Another story, a story written in oils rather than one painted on porcelain. But to be most effective, the faces of the children would need to be painted in a blur, the way all children's faces truly are. For they blur as they run; they blur as they grow and change so fast; and they blur to keep us from loving them too deeply, for their protection, and also for ours.”” [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The fleeting nature of childhood is likened to blurred faces, protecting both children and adults from deep attachment that could cause pain. **In simple terms:** Children's changing selves protect us from loving too intensely. Key Takeaway Accept change and cherish moments without clinging. Themes childhood impermanence protection Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - teaching - creative writing - therapy sessions Key Concepts psychology artistic metaphor attachment theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance love with the fear of loss? - What does protecting yourself from love mean to you? A Different Perspective Blur can also prevent genuine connection and empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-faces-1457536/) [Faces Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces-children-1607242/) [Painted Blur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painted-blur-4051567/) [Painting Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting-choose-763331/) [Study Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study-story-2587164/) ## Related quotes > [“I selected a research method called autoethnography. 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