Children Quote by Margaret Drabble
“Lord knows what incommunicable small terrors infants go through, unknown to all. We disregard them, we say they forget, because they have not the words to make us remember. ... By the time they learn to speak they have forgotten the details of their complaints, and so we never know. They forget so quickly, we say, because we cannot contemplate the fact that they never forget.”
About This Quote
Infants experience intense, unspoken fears that adults often overlook, leading to a loss of understanding as they grow.
In simple terms: Children's hidden fears are ignored and forgotten.
Key Takeaway
Listen to children's unspoken concerns.
Themes
childhood
empathy
communication
Mood
empathetic
reflective
Type
psychological
literary
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- healthcare
- storytelling
Key Concepts
developmental psychology
emotional neglect
memory formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we better recognize and validate children's silent fears?
- What practices can preserve children's early emotional experiences?
A Different Perspective
Adults may lack the language to fully grasp infant distress.
