Adults Quote by Thomas Hardy
“The beggarly question of parentage--what is it, after all? What does it matter, when you come to think of it, whether a child is yours by blood or not? All the little ones of our time are collectively the children of us adults of the time, and entitled to our general care. That excessive regard of parents for their own children, and their dislike of other people's, is, like class-feeling, patriotism, save-your-own-soul-ism, and other virtues, a mean exclusiveness at bottom.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Tess of the d'Urbervilles, 1891
Parentage is less about bloodlines and more about shared responsibility for all children in society.
In simple terms: Caring for all children matters more than blood ties.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize collective care over exclusive ownership.
Themes
responsibility
community
equality
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- parenting
- social policy
- education
- community building
Key Concepts
social contract
ethical duty
humanism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance individual family rights with collective responsibility?
- What policies support both? and communal care?
A Different Perspective
Excludes biological bonds that can be important to identity.
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