---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To my fancy, one looks back on life, it…"
description: "\"To my fancy, one looks back on life, it has only two responsibilities, which include all the others: one is the bringing of new life into existence; th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/henry-adams-1542_betrayal_to-my-fancy-one-looks-back-on-life-it-ha_1235952.jpg"
---

#  To my fancy, one looks back on life, it has only two…

![“To my fancy, one looks back on life, it has only two responsibilities, which include all the others: one is the bringing of new life into existence; the other, educating it after it is brought in. All betrayals of trust result from these original sins.” quote by Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/henry-adams-1542_betrayal_to-my-fancy-one-looks-back-on-life-it-ha_1235952.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/henry-adams-1542_betrayal_to-my-fancy-one-looks-back-on-life-it-ha_1235952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/henry-adams-1542_betrayal_to-my-fancy-one-looks-back-on-life-it-ha_1235952.jpg)

> “To my fancy, one looks back on life, it has only two responsibilities, which include all the others: one is the bringing of new life into existence; the other, educating it after it is brought in. All betrayals of trust result from these original sins.”

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life’s purpose is to create and educate new life; failing these leads to betrayal.

**In simple terms:** Create and teach new life; neglect leads to betrayal.

Key Takeaway

Focus on creation and education.

Themes

purpose responsibility creation education betrayal

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- parenting
- mentoring
- leadership
- community building

Key Concepts

ethics generational duty trust

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance creation and care?
- What responsibilities do you prioritize?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on duty can cause burnout.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Betrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/) [Betrayal of trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal-of-trust/) [Betrayals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayals/) [Betrayals Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayals-trust-3841004/) [Brought Betrayals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brought-betrayals-3841003/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Responsibilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-responsibilities-1028215/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [New life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-life/) [Original sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-sin/) [Originals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originals/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/)

## Related quotes

> [The worst of betrayals is by those who you trust most. Beware.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-worst-of-betrayals-is-by-those-who-you-trust-most-beware/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Most people are hurt deeply by betrayals in relationships. It might be better to really get up against and sort of contact that caring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-c-hayes/most-people-are-hurt-deeply-by-betrayals-in-relationships-it-might-be/)

[Steven C. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-c-hayes/)

> [I want people to think about everyone in their life, and their responsibilities to their friends, their families and their country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bernthal/i-want-people-to-think-about-everyone-in-their-life-and-their/)

[Jon Bernthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bernthal/)

> [I don't live a very posh life. There are no drivers waiting or people doing everything for me. I pretty much live like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-tyler/i-don-t-live-a-very-posh-life-there-are-no-drivers-waiting-or-people/)

[Liv Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-tyler/)

> [The betrayal of trust carries a heavy taboo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldrich-ames/the-betrayal-of-trust-carries-a-heavy-taboo/)

[Aldrich Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldrich-ames/)

> [“When a leader you are sworn to respect and obey comes out and simply lies about things you know are untrue, and does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/when-a-leader-you-are-sworn-to-respect-and-obey-comes-out-and-simply/)

[Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/)

> [Espionage, for the most part, involves finding a person who knows something or has something that you can induce them secretly to give to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldrich-ames/espionage-for-the-most-part-involves-finding-a-person-who-knows/)

[Aldrich Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldrich-ames/)

> [“I had trusted him. I had even trusted him after he betrayed me. I was too open for my own good. I still gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-simon-gunn/i-had-trusted-him-i-had-even-trusted-him-after-he-betrayed-me-i-was/)

[Jacqueline Simon Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-simon-gunn/)

> [There was too much noise. Sirens from police cars and ambulances. Shouts from the crowd on the street eighteen floors below. Traffic from other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-bassingthwaite/there-was-too-much-noise-sirens-from-police-cars-and-ambulances/)

[Don Bassingthwaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-bassingthwaite/)

> [What public health really is is a trust. That's why I used the term 'Betrayal of Trust' as the title of my book. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/what-public-health-really-is-is-a-trust-that-s-why-i-used-the-term/)

[Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/)

> [“There was an unwritten rule that hearing people who knew sign should identify themselves whenever they were around Deaf people. Otherwise the Deaf people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-carter/there-was-an-unwritten-rule-that-hearing-people-who-knew-sign-should/)

[Mary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-carter/)

> [Let's call cheating what it is: a complete betrayal of trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/let-s-call-cheating-what-it-is-a-complete-betrayal-of-trust/)

[Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/)

> [“The disturbingly techno-illiterate and cyber-hygienically lackadaisical and shockingly arrogant responses by the National Association of Secretaries of States when we at ICIT repeatedly showed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-senior-fellow-institute-for-critical-infrastructure-technology/the-disturbingly-techno-illiterate-and-cyber-hygienically/)

[James Scott, Senior Fellow, Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-senior-fellow-institute-for-critical-infrastructure-technology/)

> [No police officer could compel a satyagrahi to give evidence against a person who has confessed to him. A satyagrahi would never be guilty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-police-officer-could-compel-a-satyagrahi-to-give-evidence-against/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“I think it is our nature to believe evil always has an ugly face,” he said, ignoring my question. “Beauty is supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-l-jensen/i-think-it-is-our-nature-to-believe-evil-always-has-an-ugly-face-he/)

[Danielle L. Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-l-jensen/)

## More by Henry Adams

> [I am fairly tired--bored beyond endurance--by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/i-am-fairly-tired-bored-beyond-endurance-by-the-world-we-live-in-and/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [“One had heard and read a great deal about death, and even seen a little of it, and knew by heart the thousand commonplaces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/one-had-heard-and-read-a-great-deal-about-death-and-even-seen-a/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/chaos-often-breeds-life-when-order-breeds-habit/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [The chief wonder of education is that it does not ruin everybody concerned in it, teachers and taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-chief-wonder-of-education-is-that-it-does-not-ruin-everybody/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [The American President resembles the commander of a ship at sea. He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-american-president-resembles-the-commander-of-a-ship-at-sea-he/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts on himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [No man should be in politics unless he would honestly rather not be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/no-man-should-be-in-politics-unless-he-would-honestly-rather-not-be/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [In the history of the United States, there is no continuity at all. You can cut through it anywhere and nothing on this side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/in-the-history-of-the-united-states-there-is-no-continuity-at-all-you/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [“Washington was no politician as we understand the word," replied Ratcliffe abruptly. "He stood outside of politics. The thing couldn't be done today. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/washington-was-no-politician-as-we-understand-the-word-replied/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [Power when wielded by abnormal energy is the most serious of facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/power-when-wielded-by-abnormal-energy-is-the-most-serious-of-facts/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/if-i-grapple-with-sin-in-my-own-strength-the-devil-knows-he-may-go-to/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [All State education is a sort of dynamo machine for polarizing the popular mind; for turning and holding its lines of force in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/all-state-education-is-a-sort-of-dynamo-machine-for-polarizing-the/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [You may cut off the heads of every rich man now living--of every statesman--every literary, and every scientific authority, without in the least changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/you-may-cut-off-the-heads-of-every-rich-man-now-living-of-every/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [History is the most aristocratic of all literary pursuits, because it obliges the historian to be rich as well as educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/history-is-the-most-aristocratic-of-all-literary-pursuits-because-it/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

> [The philosopher says--I am, and the church scouts his philosophy. She answers:--No! you are NOT, you have no existence of your own. You were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-philosopher-says-i-am-and-the-church-scouts-his-philosophy-she/)

[Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

[Explore all 230 Henry Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/)

## More Betrayal quotes

> [“That's the catch about betrayal, of course: that it feels good, that there's something immensely pleasurable about moving from a complicated relationship which involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/that-s-the-catch-about-betrayal-of-course-that-it-feels-good-that/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“Flattery looks like friendship, just like a wolf looks like a dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/flattery-looks-like-friendship-just-like-a-wolf-looks-like-a-dog/)

[Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/)

> [There is no deceit in death. It delivers precisely what it has promised. Betrayal, though ... betrayal is the willful slaughter of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/km-ii/there-is-no-deceit-in-death-it-delivers-precisely-what-it-has/)

[KM II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/km-ii/)

> [If you leave someone for another person, don't be surprised if that person leaves you for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-for-another-person-don-t-be-surprised-if-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“As they say in New York, Get over it and, if you can't get over it, Get over talking about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-they-say-in-new-york-get-over-it-and-if-you-can-t-get-over-it-get/)

[Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/)

> [“He returned her gaze, yearning for sentimental solace; love which emanated from a familiar source, mattered little how bedevilling. They shared an intimate moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-h-septimius/he-returned-her-gaze-yearning-for-sentimental-solace-love-which/)

[A. H. Septimius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-h-septimius/)

> [I was always here for you,you knew you could count on me and trust me blindly, and you knew that I would never tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayssus/i-was-always-here-for-you-you-knew-you-could-count-on-me-and-trust-me/)

[Michael Hayssus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayssus/)

> [Joy doesn't betray but sustains activism. And when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated and isolated, joy is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/joy-doesn-t-betray-but-sustains-activism-and-when-you-face-a-politics/)

[Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/)

> [“Betrayal and love are not mutually exclusive." (Mordred)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-mercer/betrayal-and-love-are-not-mutually-exclusive-mordred/)

[Aldous Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-mercer/)

> [Love comes exactly... To those who still hope, even though they've been disappointed. To those who still believe, even though they've been betrayed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mizhan/love-comes-exactly-to-those-who-still-hope-even-though-they-ve-been/)

[Mizhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mizhan/)

> [For some people, a one-night stand doesn't make any difference in a seven-year love affair. I don't believe the degree of betrayal is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-some-people-a-one-night-stand-doesn-t-make-any-difference-in-a/)

[Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/)

> [Betrayal is a serious thing in this world,you know what else is serious? Being lied to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina/betrayal-is-a-serious-thing-in-this-world-you-know-what-else-is/)

[Sabrina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina/)

> [The greatest temptation for the like of us is: to renounce violence, to repent, to make peace with oneself. Most revolutionaries fell before this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-greatest-temptation-for-the-like-of-us-is-to-renounce-violence-to/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [“Sarai, you never know who might betray you until it’s too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/sarai-you-never-know-who-might-betray-you-until-it-s-too-late/)

[J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/)

[Browse all 2,050 Betrayal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "To my fancy, one looks back on life, it has only two responsibilities, which include all the others: one is the bringing of new life into existence; the other, educating it after it is brought in. All betrayals of trust result from these original sins.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Henry Adams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/to-my-fancy-one-looks-back-on-life-it-has-only-two-responsibilities/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Betrayal"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/to-my-fancy-one-looks-back-on-life-it-has-only-two-responsibilities/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/henry-adams-1542_betrayal_to-my-fancy-one-looks-back-on-life-it-ha_1235952.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/henry-adams-1542_betrayal_to-my-fancy-one-looks-back-on-life-it-ha_1235952.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/henry-adams-1542_betrayal_to-my-fancy-one-looks-back-on-life-it-ha_1235952.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To my fancy, one looks back on life, it has only two responsibilities, which include all the others: one is…” — Henry Adams",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Henry Adams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "To my fancy, one looks back...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/to-my-fancy-one-looks-back-on-life-it-has-only-two-responsibilities/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/to-my-fancy-one-looks-back-on-life-it-has-only-two-responsibilities/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
