---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: our society seems to have become ever…"
description: "\"“our society seems to have become ever more risk-averse, full of helicopter parents who try to shield their children from all risks—which is impossible..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/john-durant-17648_children_our-society-seems-to-have-become-ever-mo_1653046.jpg"
---

#  our society seems to have become ever more risk-averse…

![“our society seems to have become ever more risk-averse, full of helicopter parents who try to shield their children from all risks—which is impossible—rather than purposefully exposing them to reasonable risks.” quote by John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/john-durant-17648_children_our-society-seems-to-have-become-ever-mo_1653046.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/john-durant-17648_children_our-society-seems-to-have-become-ever-mo_1653046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/john-durant-17648_children_our-society-seems-to-have-become-ever-mo_1653046.jpg)

> ““our society seems to have become ever more risk-averse, full of helicopter parents who try to shield their children from all risks—which is impossible—rather than purposefully exposing them to reasonable risks.””

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

## About This Quote

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

Critiques modern overprotective parenting that limits children's exposure to manageable risks, hindering resilience.

**In simple terms:** Too much protection prevents learning from risk.

Key Takeaway

Allow children to face reasonable challenges.

Themes

parenting risk resilience

Mood

concerned thoughtful

Type

parenting analytical

When to use this quote

- sports participation
- academic challenges
- social interactions
- adventure activities

Key Concepts

child development psychology risk management

Questions to Reflect On

- How can parents gauge appropriate risk?
- What benefits arise from controlled risk?

A Different Perspective

Balancing safety with exposure is complex.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/)

## Related quotes

> [I tried to allow my children to take risks, to test themselves. Better broken bones than broken spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-kennedy/i-tried-to-allow-my-children-to-take-risks-to-test-themselves-better/)

[Rose Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-kennedy/)

> [An indoor (or backseat) childhood does reduce some dangers to children; but other risks are heightened, including risks to physical and psychological health, risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/an-indoor-or-backseat-childhood-does-reduce-some-dangers-to-children/)

[Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/)

> [“Helicopter parents. Before I started at Pirriwee Public, I thought it was an exaggeration, this thing about parents being overly involved with their kids.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-moriarty/helicopter-parents-before-i-started-at-pirriwee-public-i-thought-it/)

[Liane Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-moriarty/)

> [My mom and dad were 'helicopter parents,' literally. Meaning, I didn't have a nanny, so I went up in the helicopter. My entire early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-tur/my-mom-and-dad-were-helicopter-parents-literally-meaning-i-didn-t/)

[Katy Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-tur/)

> [If women don't participate in tech, with its massive prominence in our lives and society, we risk losing many of the economic, political, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wojcicki/if-women-don-t-participate-in-tech-with-its-massive-prominence-in-our/)

[Susan Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wojcicki/)

> [If we have isolated individuals able to inflict enormous harm, imagine what a single lunatic can do with a nuclear weapon. I think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-lederberg/if-we-have-isolated-individuals-able-to-inflict-enormous-harm-imagine/)

[Joshua Lederberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-lederberg/)

> [Every dollar we contribute directly or indirectly to the mainland Chinese regime puts American security and the fabric of our society at risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/every-dollar-we-contribute-directly-or-indirectly-to-the-mainland/)

[Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/)

> [It's actually a pretty basic concept: when businesses feel secure and confident, they are more likely to grow, hire, and invest. Conversely, when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-patricof/it-s-actually-a-pretty-basic-concept-when-businesses-feel-secure-and/)

[Alan Patricof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-patricof/)

> [Random distributions are not good things, because people are risk-averse, and this risk adversely affects their welfare. If you get too much price uncertainty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-c-prescott/random-distributions-are-not-good-things-because-people-are-risk/)

[Edward C. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-c-prescott/)

> [I had accumulated some capital and was at an age at which I was interested in generating income. But even though I was risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macarthur/i-had-accumulated-some-capital-and-was-at-an-age-at-which-i-was/)

[James MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macarthur/)

> [As we get older, we tend to become more risk averse because we tend to find reasons why things won't work. When you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/as-we-get-older-we-tend-to-become-more-risk-averse-because-we-tend-to/)

[Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/)

> [When people believe that every move they make is going to affect their compensation, they tend to get risk averse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-amabile/when-people-believe-that-every-move-they-make-is-going-to-affect/)

[Teresa Amabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-amabile/)

> [The major challenge facing most foundations is that they are risk averse. This inhibits their ability to experiment and commit to the experimentation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitt/the-major-challenge-facing-most-foundations-is-that-they-are-risk/)

[Steven Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitt/)

> [There's no question that women are more risk averse, thoughtful, and deliberative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-abrams/there-s-no-question-that-women-are-more-risk-averse-thoughtful-and/)

[Dan Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-abrams/)

> [Politics, by definition, is risk averse. Perhaps that's why America was so awestruck when Barack Obama ended the Black vs White debate by painting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkha-dutt/politics-by-definition-is-risk-averse-perhaps-that-s-why-america-was/)

[Barkha Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkha-dutt/)

## More by John Durant

> [“Vegetables you’ve grown in your own garden just taste better. Meals that you’ve cooked yourself just taste better. And yes, animals that you’ve killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/vegetables-you-ve-grown-in-your-own-garden-just-taste-better-meals/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“Believe it or not, countless generations of children finished their supper before the advent of Kraft Mac &amp; Cheese and ice-cream sandwiches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/believe-it-or-not-countless-generations-of-children-finished-their/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“there are serious environmental and ethical problems with the industrial food system.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/there-are-serious-environmental-and-ethical-problems-with-the/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“The demands of standing, walking, and running have literally shaped the entire human body from head to toe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/the-demands-of-standing-walking-and-running-have-literally-shaped-the/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“Slow cooking is one of the oldest methods of cooking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/slow-cooking-is-one-of-the-oldest-methods-of-cooking/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“wild animals in captivity and humans in civilization share an important quality: we are both examples of species living outside their natural habitats.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/wild-animals-in-captivity-and-humans-in-civilization-share-an/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“When animal rights activists or moral philosophers try to draw moral judgments about wild animal populations, they often suffer from a bad case of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/when-animal-rights-activists-or-moral-philosophers-try-to-draw-moral/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“More important than raw size is what we can do with our brains, such as communicate with complex language and learn through culture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/more-important-than-raw-size-is-what-we-can-do-with-our-brains-such/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“There’s actually a straightforward solution to invasive species: Eat ’em!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/there-s-actually-a-straightforward-solution-to-invasive-species-eat-em/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“In its current form, modern running is a high risk contact sport.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/in-its-current-form-modern-running-is-a-high-risk-contact-sport/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“Shifting to a low-sugar, lower carbohydrate diet is particularly important for people looking to lose weight or repair their metabolism, and it seems prudent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/shifting-to-a-low-sugar-lower-carbohydrate-diet-is-particularly/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“Fermentation is right up there with cooking as one of the most powerful methods to transform food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/fermentation-is-right-up-there-with-cooking-as-one-of-the-most/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“Barefoot running is often described as a fad—one that will fizzle after a few years. But as Dr. Lieberman says, “If barefoot running is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/barefoot-running-is-often-described-as-a-fad-one-that-will-fizzle/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“Even though a strict reading of a Paleolithic diet would include cannibalism, it is a practice that I have to discourage. Modern people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/even-though-a-strict-reading-of-a-paleolithic-diet-would-include/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

> [“These days we have insulated ourselves from the sounds of other people and nature. From infancy we are training young children to expect near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/these-days-we-have-insulated-ourselves-from-the-sounds-of-other/)

[John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

[Explore all 36 John Durant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/)

## More Children quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/)

[Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/)

[Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

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

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/)

[Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/)

[Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/)

[Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/)

> [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/)

[Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/)

[Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“our society seems to have become ever more risk-averse, full of helicopter parents who try to shield their children from all risks—which is impossible—rather than purposefully exposing them to reasonable risks.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Durant"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/our-society-seems-to-have-become-ever-more-risk-averse-full-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Children"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/our-society-seems-to-have-become-ever-more-risk-averse-full-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/john-durant-17648_children_our-society-seems-to-have-become-ever-mo_1653046.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/john-durant-17648_children_our-society-seems-to-have-become-ever-mo_1653046.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/john-durant-17648_children_our-society-seems-to-have-become-ever-mo_1653046.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“our society seems to have become ever more risk-averse, full of helicopter parents who try to shield their…” — John Durant",
                "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": "John Durant",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“our society seems to have become...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/our-society-seems-to-have-become-ever-more-risk-averse-full-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/our-society-seems-to-have-become-ever-more-risk-averse-full-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
