--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It can be fairly argued that the highest…" description: "\"It can be fairly argued that the highest priority for mankind is to save itself from extinction. However, it can also be argued th at a society that ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/selma-fraiberg-26204_children_it-can-be-fairly-argued-that-the-highest_3111721.jpg" --- # It can be fairly argued that the highest priority for… ![“It can be fairly argued that the highest priority for mankind is to save itself from extinction. However, it can also be argued th at a society that neglects its children and robs them of their human potential can extinguish itself without an external enemy.” quote by Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/selma-fraiberg-26204_children_it-can-be-fairly-argued-that-the-highest_3111721.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/selma-fraiberg-26204_children_it-can-be-fairly-argued-that-the-highest_3111721.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/selma-fraiberg-26204_children_it-can-be-fairly-argued-that-the-highest_3111721.jpg) > “It can be fairly argued that the highest priority for mankind is to save itself from extinction. However, it can also be argued th at a society that neglects its children and robs them of their human potential can extinguish itself without an external enemy.” [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues humanity's top goal is self‑preservation, yet neglecting children threatens future survival. **In simple terms:** Protecting children is essential for humanity's survival. Key Takeaway Invest in children's development now. Themes future responsibility humanity Mood hopeful urgent Type ethical strategic When to use this quote - education reform - parenting programs - public health initiatives Key Concepts intergenerational ethics social policy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies value children alongside growth? - What policies ensure children's potential is nurtured? A Different Perspective Economic pressures may deprioritize child welfare. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Extinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extinction/) [Human potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-potential/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) ## Related quotes > [“Peace is the ultimate weapon of mankind to save the future generations from extinction!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/peace-is-the-ultimate-weapon-of-mankind-to-save-the-future/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [We must move into the universe. Mankind must save itself. We must escape the danger of war and politics. We must become astronauts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-must-move-into-the-universe-mankind-must-save-itself-we-must/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Forty thousand years of evolution and we've barely even tapped the vastness of human potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-koepp/forty-thousand-years-of-evolution-and-we-ve-barely-even-tapped-the/) David Koepp > [As human, we all have the same human potential, unless there is some sort of retarded brain function. The wonderful human brain is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/as-human-we-all-have-the-same-human-potential-unless-there-is-some/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [From a leader's perspective, the most serious betrayal has to do with thwarting human potential, with quenching the spirit, with failing to deal equitably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/from-a-leader-s-perspective-the-most-serious-betrayal-has-to-do-with/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [In trying to express only those aspects of ourselves that we believe will guarantee us the acceptance of others, we suppress some of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/in-trying-to-express-only-those-aspects-of-ourselves-that-we-believe/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Every day, people settle for less than they deserve. They are only partially living or at best living a partial life. Every human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bennett/every-day-people-settle-for-less-than-they-deserve-they-are-only/) [Bo Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bennett/) > [The big challenge is to become all that you have the possibility of becoming. You cannot believe what it does to the human spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-big-challenge-is-to-become-all-that-you-have-the-possibility-of/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [There are genocidal tendencies that are at the heart of the human potential, and I think if we don't talk about it, we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laszlo-nemes/there-are-genocidal-tendencies-that-are-at-the-heart-of-the-human/) [Laszlo Nemes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laszlo-nemes/) > [Ending poverty calls for humility, honesty, freedom from ideology and refusal to accept cruel simplicities about anyone's human potential. It requires listening to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/ending-poverty-calls-for-humility-honesty-freedom-from-ideology-and/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [The greatest crime is not developing your potential. When you do what you do best, you are helping not only yourself, but the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-greatest-crime-is-not-developing-your-potential-when-you-do-what/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [We can set no limit to human potentialities; all that is best in man can be bettered; it is not a question of producing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-fisher/we-can-set-no-limit-to-human-potentialities-all-that-is-best-in-man/) [Ronald Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-fisher/) > [One of the greatest inhibitions to the development of human potential is the aversion to effective practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/one-of-the-greatest-inhibitions-to-the-development-of-human-potential/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) > [Human potential is the only limitless resource we have in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/human-potential-is-the-only-limitless-resource-we-have-in-this-world/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [In the Christian perspective, the love of God and of all other human beings invites us to share and enjoy not just the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/in-the-christian-perspective-the-love-of-god-and-of-all-other-human/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) ## More by Selma Fraiberg > [A method of child-rearing is not--or should not be--a whim, a fashion or a shibboleth. It should derive from an understanding of the developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/a-method-of-child-rearing-is-not-or-should-not-be-a-whim-a-fashion-or/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [We must remember when we speak of the "negativism" of the toddler that this is also the child who is intoxicated with the discoveries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/we-must-remember-when-we-speak-of-the-negativism-of-the-toddler-that/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [Whenever reality reinforces a child's fantasied dangers, the child will have more difficulty in overcoming them...So, while parents may not regard a spanking as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/whenever-reality-reinforces-a-child-s-fantasied-dangers-the-child/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [Our survival as a human community may depend as much upon our nurture of love in infancy and childhood as upon the protection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/our-survival-as-a-human-community-may-depend-as-much-upon-our-nurture/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [It no longer makes sense to speak of "feeding problems" or "sleep problems" or "negative behavior" is if they were distinct categories, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/it-no-longer-makes-sense-to-speak-of-feeding-problems-or-sleep/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [The experience of a sense of guilt for wrong-doing is necessary for the development of self-control. 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All this is lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/there-must-be-a-solemn-and-terrible-aloneness-that-comes-over-the/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [We find that the child who does not yet have language at his command, the child under two and a half, will be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/we-find-that-the-child-who-does-not-yet-have-language-at-his-command/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [Parents who want a fresh point of view on their furniture are advised to drop down on all fours and accompany the nine or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/parents-who-want-a-fresh-point-of-view-on-their-furniture-are-advised/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [An older child, one who possesses a conscience, will be troubled with self-reproaches and feelings of shame for his naughtiness, even if he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/an-older-child-one-who-possesses-a-conscience-will-be-troubled-with/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [The child begins life as a pleasure-seeking animal; his infantile personality is organized around his own appetites and his own body. In the course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/the-child-begins-life-as-a-pleasure-seeking-animal-his-infantile/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [The parent who loves his child dearly but asks for nothing in return might qualify as a saint, but he will not qualify as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/the-parent-who-loves-his-child-dearly-but-asks-for-nothing-in-return/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [If we can find a principle to guide us in the handling of the child between nine and eighteen months, we can see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/if-we-can-find-a-principle-to-guide-us-in-the-handling-of-the-child/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [It can be demonstrated that the child's contact with the real world is strengthened by his periodic excursions into fantasy. It becomes easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/it-can-be-demonstrated-that-the-child-s-contact-with-the-real-world/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) [Explore all 22 Selma Fraiberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. 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