--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We owe our existence to our parents, but…" description: "\"We owe our existence to our parents, but we actually didn't have a choice.\" — Leon Kass" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/leon-kass-12927_choices_we-owe-our-existence-to-our-parents-but_1787714.jpg" --- # We owe our existence to our parents, but we actually… ![“We owe our existence to our parents, but we actually didn't have a choice.” quote by Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/leon-kass-12927_choices_we-owe-our-existence-to-our-parents-but_1787714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/leon-kass-12927_choices_we-owe-our-existence-to-our-parents-but_1787714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/leon-kass-12927_choices_we-owe-our-existence-to-our-parents-but_1787714.jpg) > “We owe our existence to our parents, but we actually didn't have a choice.” [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our existence depends on parents, yet we cannot choose them. **In simple terms:** We owe life to parents without choice. Key Takeaway Recognize and appreciate parental role. Themes family gratitude existence choice responsibility Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - parenting discussions - ethical debates - personal reflection Key Concepts bioethics determinism dependence Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect our sense of agency? - What responsibilities arise from this dependence? A Different Perspective Ignores non-biological influences on identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) ## Related quotes > [ There have been times in my life when I wonder\[ed\] about Gods existence. When I see my parents feel happy, when my girlfriend love… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paritoshik-sharma/there-have-been-times-in-my-life-when-i-wonder-ed-about-gods/) [Paritoshik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paritoshik-sharma/) > [To be a child means to owe one's existence to another, and even in our adult life we never quite reach the point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/to-be-a-child-means-to-owe-one-s-existence-to-another-and-even-in-our/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [We owe our existence to innovation. Our species exists thanks to four billion years of genetic innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/we-owe-our-existence-to-innovation-our-species-exists-thanks-to-four/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) > [“You exist because the universe exists. You owe your existence to the universe. You may call the universe as god or something else, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-exist-because-the-universe-exists-you-owe-your-existence-to-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Sure, black holes can kill us, and in a variety of interesting and gruesome ways. But, all in all, we may owe our very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-c-plait/sure-black-holes-can-kill-us-and-in-a-variety-of-interesting-and/) Philip C. Plait > [“No matter how politely one says it, we owe our existence to the farts of blue-green algae.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/no-matter-how-politely-one-says-it-we-owe-our-existence-to-the-farts/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [“(...) nearly all the great things that exist owe their existence to a defiant despite: it is despite grief and anguish, despite poverty, loneliness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/nearly-all-the-great-things-that-exist-owe-their-existence-to-a/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [“Remember how long you have been putting these things off, and how often you have received an opportunity from the gods and have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-needleman/remember-how-long-you-have-been-putting-these-things-off-and-how/) [Jacob Needleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-needleman/) > [“Funny, how simple things became when you didn’t have a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/funny-how-simple-things-became-when-you-didn-t-have-a-choice/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [We didn't have another choice but to do what we did, if we wanted to be accepted, because we weren't counted as human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-didn-t-have-another-choice-but-to-do-what-we-did-if-we-wanted-to/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“I don't know. I didn't have that choice. But I know what's happening now. And I'm choosing to stay with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huntley-fitzpatrick/i-don-t-know-i-didn-t-have-that-choice-but-i-know-what-s-happening/) [Huntley Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huntley-fitzpatrick/) > [I'll tell you what, with Hillary Clinton, I said be at my wedding and she came to my wedding. You know why? She didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-ll-tell-you-what-with-hillary-clinton-i-said-be-at-my-wedding-and/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I always thought, 'Will I go into the business, or will I not go into the business?' But when my father got arrested, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-kushner/i-always-thought-will-i-go-into-the-business-or-will-i-not-go-into/) [Jared Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-kushner/) > [Being a musician is a given for me-I didn't have much choice in the matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/being-a-musician-is-a-given-for-me-i-didn-t-have-much-choice-in-the/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [“Thanks, for saving me.” “I didn’t have a choice,” he said softly. “Everyone has a choice.” “Then mine was easy.” “Easy?” He chuckled. “Olivia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jettie-necole/thanks-for-saving-me-i-didn-t-have-a-choice-he-said-softly-everyone/) [Jettie Necole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jettie-necole/) ## More by Leon Kass > [Limits have to be set on how far one can simply use the... cleverness that we have to make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/limits-have-to-be-set-on-how-far-one-can-simply-use-the-cleverness/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [The so-called right to reproduce is not an unlimited right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/the-so-called-right-to-reproduce-is-not-an-unlimited-right/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [I don't believe that efforts to prohibit only so-called reproductive cloning can be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/i-don-t-believe-that-efforts-to-prohibit-only-so-called-reproductive/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [Many other countries have already banned human cloning, and there are efforts at the UN to make such a ban universal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/many-other-countries-have-already-banned-human-cloning-and-there-are/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [We may simply not be wise enough to do some of the kinds of engineering things that people are talking about doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/we-may-simply-not-be-wise-enough-to-do-some-of-the-kinds-of/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [The technical is not just the machinery. The technical is a disposition to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/the-technical-is-not-just-the-machinery-the-technical-is-a/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [I've been opposed to human cloning from the very beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/i-ve-been-opposed-to-human-cloning-from-the-very-beginning/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [Genetics is crude, but neuroscience goes directly to work on the brain, and the mind follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/genetics-is-crude-but-neuroscience-goes-directly-to-work-on-the-brain/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [Cloning represents a very clear, powerful, and immediate example in which we are in danger of turning procreation into manufacture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/cloning-represents-a-very-clear-powerful-and-immediate-example-in/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [Human life without death would be something other than human; consciousness of mortality gives rise to out deepest longings and greatest accomplishments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/human-life-without-death-would-be-something-other-than-human/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [If you have easy self-contentment, you might have a very, very cheap source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/if-you-have-easy-self-contentment-you-might-have-a-very-very-cheap/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [It's a short step from the belief that every child should be wanted to the belief that a child exists to satisfy our wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/it-s-a-short-step-from-the-belief-that-every-child-should-be-wanted/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [My job is to provide the president with the richest possible consideration, so that he knows what is at stake in whatever decision he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/my-job-is-to-provide-the-president-with-the-richest-possible/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [In cloning, in contrast, reproduction is asexual - the cloned child is the product not of two but of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/in-cloning-in-contrast-reproduction-is-asexual-the-cloned-child-is/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [There were certain questions about the foundations of morals that advances in science all threaten to make more complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/there-were-certain-questions-about-the-foundations-of-morals-that/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) [Explore all 52 Leon Kass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We owe our existence to our parents, but we actually didn't have a choice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leon Kass" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/we-owe-our-existence-to-our-parents-but-we-actually-didn-t-have-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/we-owe-our-existence-to-our-parents-but-we-actually-didn-t-have-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/leon-kass-12927_choices_we-owe-our-existence-to-our-parents-but_1787714.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/leon-kass-12927_choices_we-owe-our-existence-to-our-parents-but_1787714.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/leon-kass-12927_choices_we-owe-our-existence-to-our-parents-but_1787714.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We owe our existence to our parents, but we actually didn't have a choice.” — Leon Kass", "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": "Leon Kass", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We owe our existence to our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/we-owe-our-existence-to-our-parents-but-we-actually-didn-t-have-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/we-owe-our-existence-to-our-parents-but-we-actually-didn-t-have-a/#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 } } ] } ```