--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our earth is like a child who has grown…" description: "\"Our earth is like a child who has grown up without parents, having no one to guide her... Some have attempted to help her but most have simply tried to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cb/william-p-young-3038_abuse_our-earth-is-like-a-child-who-has-grown_451064.jpg" --- # Our earth is like a child who has grown up without… ![“Our earth is like a child who has grown up without parents, having no one to guide her... Some have attempted to help her but most have simply tried to use her. Humans, who have been given the task to lovingly steer the world, instead plunder her with no consideration, other than their immediate…” quote by William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cb/william-p-young-3038_abuse_our-earth-is-like-a-child-who-has-grown_451064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cb/william-p-young-3038_abuse_our-earth-is-like-a-child-who-has-grown_451064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cb/william-p-young-3038_abuse_our-earth-is-like-a-child-who-has-grown_451064.jpg) > “Our earth is like a child who has grown up without parents, having no one to guide her... Some have attempted to help her but most have simply tried to use her. Humans, who have been given the task to lovingly steer the world, instead plunder her with no consideration, other than their immediate needs. And they give little thought for their own children who will inherit their lack of love. So they use her and abuse her with little consideration and then when she shudders of blows her breath. They are offended and raise their fist at God.” [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity is neglecting and exploiting Earth, treating it as a resource rather than a child needing care, leading to ecological crisis. **In simple terms:** We misuse Earth, causing harm. Key Takeaway Steward the Earth responsibly. Themes environment responsibility intergenerational justice Mood hopeful urgent Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - government policy - corporate practices - individual consumption - education curricula Key Concepts sustainability ethics spiritual stewardship Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do we have to future generations? - How can we balance needs with stewardship? A Different Perspective Economic growth often outweighs ecological concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Breaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Consideration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consideration/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Lack of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-of-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Stewardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stewardship/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Human for love and things for use But now days people use humans and love things”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/human-for-love-and-things-for-use-but-now-days-people-use-humans-and/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [Literacy is the tool we use as humans to find one another, so it must belong to everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-allyn/literacy-is-the-tool-we-use-as-humans-to-find-one-another-so-it-must/) [Pam Allyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-allyn/) > [In the end, the question is not, how do we use nature to serve our interests? It's how can we use humans to serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/in-the-end-the-question-is-not-how-do-we-use-nature-to-serve-our/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [“social media isn’t a set of tools to allow humans to communicate with humans. It is a set of embedding mechanisms to allow technologies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/social-media-isn-t-a-set-of-tools-to-allow-humans-to-communicate-with/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“social media isn’t a set of tools to allow humans to communicate with humans. It is a set of embedding mechanisms to allow technologies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/social-media-isn-t-a-set-of-tools-to-allow-humans-to-communicate-with-2/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Use law and physic only for necessity; they that use them otherwise abuse themselves unto weak bodies, and light purses; they are good remedies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/use-law-and-physic-only-for-necessity-they-that-use-them-otherwise/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [“Purpose stirs creativity, without purpose you life will be in abnormal use(abuse).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/purpose-stirs-creativity-without-purpose-you-life-will-be-in-abnormal/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [Everybody has their time here on earth, use it wisely and stay away from people who like to use and abuse you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everybody-has-their-time-here-on-earth-use-it-wisely-and-stay-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It was a country . . . that he and his people had known how to use and abuse, but not how to preserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/it-was-a-country-that-he-and-his-people-had-known-how-to-use-and/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Power is something that is abused. I suppose use and abuse are in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/power-is-something-that-is-abused-i-suppose-use-and-abuse-are-in-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You use and abuse everyone around you...taking them for granted...feeling like the world is against you...so you take advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-marley/you-use-and-abuse-everyone-around-you-taking-them-for-granted-feeling/) [Julian Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-marley/) > [The challenge of power is how to use it and not abuse it. When you abuse it, it reverses on you and it hurts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-challenge-of-power-is-how-to-use-it-and-not-abuse-it-when-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Those.. we use to abuse in front of others.. somewhere deep inside.. we wish to be like them..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lovely-goyal/those-we-use-to-abuse-in-front-of-others-somewhere-deep-inside-we/) [Lovely Goyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lovely-goyal/) > [“Men are appalling.. We never really grow up, well not on the inside. It's all just an act. Don't ever trust men, we're dreadful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-alderson/men-are-appalling-we-never-really-grow-up-well-not-on-the-inside-it-s/) Maggie Alderson > [“When you don’t understand how to make a good use of something, you will abuse that thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/when-you-don-t-understand-how-to-make-a-good-use-of-something-you/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by William P. Young > [I don't want my kids growing up with the image of God that I had -- Plato's white grandfatherly god -- because that god…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/i-don-t-want-my-kids-growing-up-with-the-image-of-god-that-i-had/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [Because you continue to inhabit and believe your metaphors, you cannot see what is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/because-you-continue-to-inhabit-and-believe-your-metaphors-you-cannot/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [“Religion must use law to empower itself and control the people who they need in order to survive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/religion-must-use-law-to-empower-itself-and-control-the-people-who/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [Once you have hierarchy you need rules to protect and administer it, and then you need law and the enforcement of the rules, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/once-you-have-hierarchy-you-need-rules-to-protect-and-administer-it/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [“(Jesus speaking) "An awful lot of what is done in my name has nothing to do with me and is often, even if unintentional,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/jesus-speaking-an-awful-lot-of-what-is-done-in-my-name-has-nothing-to/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [This life is only the anteroom of a greater reality to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/this-life-is-only-the-anteroom-of-a-greater-reality-to-come/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [I often find that getting head issues out of the way first makes the heart stuff easier to work on later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/i-often-find-that-getting-head-issues-out-of-the-way-first-makes-the/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [For me, everything is about Jesus and Father and the Holy Spirit, and relationships, and life is an adventure of faith lived one day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/for-me-everything-is-about-jesus-and-father-and-the-holy-spirit-and/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [Relationships are never about power, and one way to avoid the will to hold power over another is to chose to limit to onself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/relationships-are-never-about-power-and-one-way-to-avoid-the-will-to/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [It is my desire and intent to trust the multi-layered good purposes of God than in what humans fabricate out of their need and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/it-is-my-desire-and-intent-to-trust-the-multi-layered-good-purposes/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [Jesus was always challenging the dogma of religion. So, you know, it's not like I'm out there by myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/jesus-was-always-challenging-the-dogma-of-religion-so-you-know-it-s/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [If anything matters, then everything matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/if-anything-matters-then-everything-matters/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [I don't just want a piece of you and a piece of your life. Even if you were able, which you are not, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/i-don-t-just-want-a-piece-of-you-and-a-piece-of-your-life-even-if-you/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know you are loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/trust-is-the-fruit-of-a-relationship-in-which-you-know-you-are-loved/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [Something in the heart of most human beings simply cannot abide pain inflicted on the innocent, especially children. Even broken men serving in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/something-in-the-heart-of-most-human-beings-simply-cannot-abide-pain/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) [Explore all 138 William P. Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our earth is like a child who has grown up without parents, having no one to guide her... Some have attempted to help her but most have simply tried to use her. 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