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About this quote

What does it mean?
Being an adult does not guarantee the ability to protect others from harm.
In plain terms
Adults cannot always save people just because they are older.
What can you take from it?
Maturity does not equal omnipotence.

Where it applies

  • parenting expectations
  • mentorship
  • crisis situations

Putting it to work

  • set realistic expectations for adults
  • teach self-reliance to youth

Questions to consider

  • What can adults realistically protect us from?
  • How do we handle reliance on adults?

Another view

Adults often have better resources and experience to help.

More from Lois McMaster Bujold

  1. God's not here. Somebody's got to fill in.

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  2. If you ever have to make a choice between learning and inspiration, choose learning. It works more of the time.

    Permalink to quote #90

  3. Those who can, do; those who can't, teach. And those who can't teach, go into administration.

    Permalink to quote #87

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