---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should treat our minds, that is…"
description: "\"We should treat our minds, that is, ourselves, as innocent and ingenuous children, whose guardians we are, and be careful what objects and what subject..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad9/henry-david-thoreau-20_attention_we-should-treat-our-minds-that-is-oursel_399880.jpg"
---

#  We should treat our minds, that is, ourselves, as innocent…

![“We should treat our minds, that is, ourselves, as innocent and ingenuous children, whose guardians we are, and be careful what objects and what subjects we thrust on their attention.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad9/henry-david-thoreau-20_attention_we-should-treat-our-minds-that-is-oursel_399880.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad9/henry-david-thoreau-20_attention_we-should-treat-our-minds-that-is-oursel_399880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad9/henry-david-thoreau-20_attention_we-should-treat-our-minds-that-is-oursel_399880.jpg)

> “We should treat our minds, that is, ourselves, as innocent and ingenuous children, whose guardians we are, and be careful what objects and what subjects we thrust on their attention.”

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

## About This Quote

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

We must protect our minds like children, carefully choosing what ideas we expose them to.

**In simple terms:** Guard your mind like a child.

Key Takeaway

Choose influences wisely.

Themes

mindfulness education guardianship

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

philosophical advisory

When to use this quote

- reading
- media consumption
- teaching
- personal development

Key Concepts

innocence attention self‑care

Questions to Reflect On

- What ideas are you allowing into your mind?
- How can you create a protective mental environment?

A Different Perspective

Even with care, external pressures can infiltrate unnoticed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guardian/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thoughtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughtful/)

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