Literature has as one of its principal allures that it tells you something about life that life itself can't tell you. I just thought literature is a thing that human beings do.
Richard FordRead
When you are sixteen you do not know what your parents know, or much of what they understand, and less of what's in their hearts. This can save you from becoming an adult too early, save your life from becoming only theirs lived over again--which is a loss. But to shield yourself--as I didn't do--seems to be an even greater error, since what's lost is the truth of your parents' life and what you should think about it, and beyond that, how you should estimate the world you are about to live in.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the complexities of understanding and appreciating parents during adolescence.
Richard Ford reflects on the nuanced relationship between teenagers and their parents, emphasizing that at sixteen, one often lacks the maturity to grasp their parents' experiences and emotions. He suggests that while ignorance can protect a young person from early adulthood, embracing this understanding is essential for developing a true perspective on life and the world beyond one's immediate experiences.
Themes
UnderstandingParentsAdolescenceLifeExperiences
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a parenting workshop to emphasize the importance of open communication.
More from Richard Ford
All quotes →Any rainy summer morning, of course, has the seeds of gloomy alienation sown in. But a rainy summer morning far from home - when your personal clouds don't move but hang - can easily produce the feeling of the world as seen from the grave. This I know.
Richard FordRead
Marry somebody you love and who thinks you being a writer's a good idea.
Richard FordRead
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