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Appease Quote by Rebecca Solnit

“When you say 'mother' or 'father' you describe three different phenomena. There is the giant who made you and loomed over your early years; there is whatever more human-scale version might have been possible to perceive later and maybe even befriend; and there is the internalized version of the…” quote by Rebecca Solnit
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“When you say 'mother' or 'father' you describe three different phenomena. There is the giant who made you and loomed over your early years; there is whatever more human-scale version might have been possible to perceive later and maybe even befriend; and there is the internalized version of the parent with whom you struggle- to appease, to escape, to be yourself, to understand and be understood by- and they make up a chaotic and contradictory trinity.”

Rebecca Solnit

About This Quote

Source Book: The Mother in History by Rebecca Solnit, 2015

'Mother' and 'father' embody three distinct aspects: the creator, the relatable human, and the internalized parent we wrestle with.

In simple terms: Three facets of parental concepts.

Key Takeaway

Integrate and reconcile these aspects.

Themes

identity family psychology

Mood

thoughtful introspective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • parenting
  • therapy
  • self‑growth
  • literature

Key Concepts

internal conflict role models

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do these facets affect self‑identity?
  • Can you separate the internal parent from the external?
A Different Perspective

Complexity can cause confusion.

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