--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Their youngness is terrifying. How could…" description: "\"“Their youngness is terrifying. How could I have put myself into the hands of such inexperience?”\" — Margaret Atwood" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/margaret-atwood-40_inexperience_their-youngness-is-terrifying-how-could_2559850.jpg" --- # Their youngness is terrifying. How could I have put myself… ![“Their youngness is terrifying. How could I have put myself into the hands of such inexperience?” quote by Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/margaret-atwood-40_inexperience_their-youngness-is-terrifying-how-could_2559850.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/margaret-atwood-40_inexperience_their-youngness-is-terrifying-how-could_2559850.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/margaret-atwood-40_inexperience_their-youngness-is-terrifying-how-could_2559850.jpg) > ““Their youngness is terrifying. How could I have put myself into the hands of such inexperience?”” [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inexperience can be frightening when placed in positions of great responsibility. **In simple terms:** Youthful inexperience is scary in power. Key Takeaway Recognize limits and seek guidance. Themes youth responsibility fear trust Mood cautious thoughtful Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - political leadership - corporate management - student projects Key Concepts ethical leadership risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can protect against naive decisions? - How can youthful energy be channeled positively? A Different Perspective Inexperience can also bring fresh perspectives if mentored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hands Inexperience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-inexperience-1595603/) [Inexperience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inexperience/) [Terrifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrifying/) [Youngness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youngness-1595604/) [Youngness Terrifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youngness-terrifying-1595602/) ## Related quotes > [Youngness comes with time andare moved with the times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/youngness-comes-with-time-andare-moved-with-the-times/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Occasionally the very youngness of the young moved him to charity--they had no sense of the swiftness of life, nor of its limits. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/occasionally-the-very-youngness-of-the-young-moved-him-to-charity/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [Thomas is racing for it, but McCovey is there and can't get his glove to it. That play shows the inexperience, not on Thomas'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-coleman/thomas-is-racing-for-it-but-mccovey-is-there-and-can-t-get-his-glove/) [Jerry Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-coleman/) > [Strum your guitar sing it kid Just write about your feelings not the things you never did Inexperience, it once had cursed me But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapin/strum-your-guitar-sing-it-kid-just-write-about-your-feelings-not-the/) [Harry Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapin/) > [Men of high learning and abilities are few in every country; and by taking in those who are not so, the able part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-few-in-every-country-and-by/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We blacks look for leadership in men and women of such youth and inexperience, as well as poverty of education and character, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/we-blacks-look-for-leadership-in-men-and-women-of-such-youth-and/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [ \[Ben Carson\] critics say that your inexperience shows. You've suggested that the Baltic States are not a part of NATO, you were unfamiliar with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/ben-carson-critics-say-that-your-inexperience-shows-you-ve-suggested/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [Accept your lack of knowledge and use it as your asset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/accept-your-lack-of-knowledge-and-use-it-as-your-asset/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [Do not be angry with an ungrateful person; probably they are confused or inexperienced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chico-xavier/do-not-be-angry-with-an-ungrateful-person-probably-they-are-confused/) [Chico Xavier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chico-xavier/) > [I think you want to do as much as you can for your fans. I take as many opportunities as I can when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wes-townley/i-think-you-want-to-do-as-much-as-you-can-for-your-fans-i-take-as/) [John Wes Townley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wes-townley/) > [She cried out into his kiss, her hands clawing his shoulders, adrift now in a pleasure that threatened to consume her. In her sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lora-leigh/she-cried-out-into-his-kiss-her-hands-clawing-his-shoulders-adrift/) [Lora Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lora-leigh/) > [I read recently in an article by G.K. Chesterton, that sex without gestation and parturition is like blowing the trumpets and waving the flags…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/i-read-recently-in-an-article-by-g-k-chesterton-that-sex-without/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [But what is so headstrong as youth? What so blind as inexperience?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/but-what-is-so-headstrong-as-youth-what-so-blind-as-inexperience/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Cynicism is often the shamefaced product of inexperience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cynicism-is-often-the-shamefaced-product-of-inexperience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“These unwanted performance pressures are generated when new therapists frame what they don’t know or can’t do yet as a “deficit” or as evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-teyber/these-unwanted-performance-pressures-are-generated-when-new/) [Edward Teyber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-teyber/) ## More by Margaret Atwood > [“I'm fine," said Pilar, "for the moment. And the moment is the only time we can be fine in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-m-fine-said-pilar-for-the-moment-and-the-moment-is-the-only-time-we/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [And yet it disturbs me to learn I have hurt someone unintentionally. I want all my hurts to be intentional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/and-yet-it-disturbs-me-to-learn-i-have-hurt-someone-unintentionally-i/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Mary: Some call this "Eve's curse," but I think that is stupid because the real curse of Eve was having to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/mary-some-call-this-eve-s-curse-but-i-think-that-is-stupid-because/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“The birds were singing around me, but I reflected that the very birds were strangers to me, for I did not even know their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-birds-were-singing-around-me-but-i-reflected-that-the-very-birds/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Strange how we decorate pain. These ribbons, for instance, and the small hard teardrops of blood. Who are they for? Do we think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/strange-how-we-decorate-pain-these-ribbons-for-instance-and-the-small/) [margaret atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I wanted to forget the past, but it refused to forget me; it waited for sleep, then cornered me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-wanted-to-forget-the-past-but-it-refused-to-forget-me-it-waited-for/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Back at home they drew the curtains and read, with disapproval, with relish, with avidity and glee - even the ones who'd never thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/back-at-home-they-drew-the-curtains-and-read-with-disapproval-with/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“It's my fault. I am forgetting too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-my-fault-i-am-forgetting-too-much/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [All fiction is about people, unless it's about rabbits pretending to be people. It's all essentially characters in action, which means characters moving through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/all-fiction-is-about-people-unless-it-s-about-rabbits-pretending-to/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Simon walks back to the house alone. The night is clear and warm, with a moon, almost full, enclosed in a nimbus of mist;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/simon-walks-back-to-the-house-alone-the-night-is-clear-and-warm-with/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“There is indeed something delightful about being able to combine obedience and disobedience in the same act.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/there-is-indeed-something-delightful-about-being-able-to-combine/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Every time the women appear, Snowman is astonished all over again. They're every known colour from the deepest black to whitest white, they're various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/every-time-the-women-appear-snowman-is-astonished-all-over-again-they/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Once you publish a book, it is out of your control. You cannot dictate how people read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/once-you-publish-a-book-it-is-out-of-your-control-you-cannot-dictate/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“The more difficult it was to love the particular man beside us, the more we believed in Love, abstract and total. We were waiting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-more-difficult-it-was-to-love-the-particular-man-beside-us-the/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“She knows she's deceiving herself about that, but she prefers to deceive herself. She desperately needs to believe such pure joy is still possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/she-knows-she-s-deceiving-herself-about-that-but-she-prefers-to/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) [Explore all 2,072 Margaret Atwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) ## More Inexperience quotes > [“These unwanted performance pressures are generated when new therapists frame what they don’t know or can’t do yet as a “deficit” or as evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-teyber/these-unwanted-performance-pressures-are-generated-when-new/) [Edward Teyber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-teyber/) > [Cynicism is often the shamefaced product of inexperience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cynicism-is-often-the-shamefaced-product-of-inexperience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But what is so headstrong as youth? What so blind as inexperience?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/but-what-is-so-headstrong-as-youth-what-so-blind-as-inexperience/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [I read recently in an article by G.K. Chesterton, that sex without gestation and parturition is like blowing the trumpets and waving the flags…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/i-read-recently-in-an-article-by-g-k-chesterton-that-sex-without/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [She cried out into his kiss, her hands clawing his shoulders, adrift now in a pleasure that threatened to consume her. In her sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lora-leigh/she-cried-out-into-his-kiss-her-hands-clawing-his-shoulders-adrift/) [Lora Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lora-leigh/) > [I think you want to do as much as you can for your fans. I take as many opportunities as I can when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wes-townley/i-think-you-want-to-do-as-much-as-you-can-for-your-fans-i-take-as/) [John Wes Townley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wes-townley/) > [Do not be angry with an ungrateful person; probably they are confused or inexperienced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chico-xavier/do-not-be-angry-with-an-ungrateful-person-probably-they-are-confused/) [Chico Xavier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chico-xavier/) > [Accept your lack of knowledge and use it as your asset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/accept-your-lack-of-knowledge-and-use-it-as-your-asset/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [ \[Ben Carson\] critics say that your inexperience shows. You've suggested that the Baltic States are not a part of NATO, you were unfamiliar with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/ben-carson-critics-say-that-your-inexperience-shows-you-ve-suggested/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [We blacks look for leadership in men and women of such youth and inexperience, as well as poverty of education and character, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/we-blacks-look-for-leadership-in-men-and-women-of-such-youth-and/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [Men of high learning and abilities are few in every country; and by taking in those who are not so, the able part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-few-in-every-country-and-by/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Strum your guitar sing it kid Just write about your feelings not the things you never did Inexperience, it once had cursed me But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapin/strum-your-guitar-sing-it-kid-just-write-about-your-feelings-not-the/) [Harry Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapin/) > [Thomas is racing for it, but McCovey is there and can't get his glove to it. That play shows the inexperience, not on Thomas'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-coleman/thomas-is-racing-for-it-but-mccovey-is-there-and-can-t-get-his-glove/) [Jerry Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-coleman/) > [Politics and prostitution have to be the only jobs where inexperience is considered a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/politics-and-prostitution-have-to-be-the-only-jobs-where-inexperience/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Mistakes are the usual bridge between inexperience and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mistakes-are-the-usual-bridge-between-inexperience-and-wisdom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 90 Inexperience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inexperience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Their youngness is terrifying. 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