Becoming a parent Quote by Lois McMaster Bujold
““All great human deeds both consume and transform their doers. Consider an athlete, or a scientist, or an independent business creator. In service of their goals they lay down time and energy and many other choices and pleasures; in return, they become most truly themselves. A false destiny may be spotted by the fact that it consumes without transforming, without giving back the enlarged self. Becoming a parent is one of these basic human transformational deeds. By this act, we change our fundamental relationship with the universe- if nothing else, we lose our place as the pinnacle and end-point of evolution, and become a mere link. The demands of motherhood especially consume the old self, and replace it with something new, often better and wiser, sometimes wearier or disillusioned, or tense and terrified, certainly more self-knowing, but never the same again.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey, 1969
Great deeds demand sacrifice and reshape the doer, revealing a deeper self; false destinies lack this transformation.
In simple terms: Big actions change you; false goals don’t.
Key Takeaway
Seek work that reshapes you.
Themes
growth
identity
purpose
sacrifice
transformation
Mood
reflective
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- parenting
- entrepreneurship
- scientific research
- athletic training
Key Concepts
Self-actualization
existential meaning
role of motherhood
Questions to Reflect On
- What sacrifice has reshaped your identity?
- How do you recognize a false destiny?
A Different Perspective
Transformation may bring fatigue or disillusionment, not just wisdom.
