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About this quote

What does it mean?
A bad upbringing makes life worse than never being born.
In plain terms
Being raised poorly is worse than not living at all.
What can you take from it?
Early character development matters more than existence.

Where it applies

  • parenting
  • education
  • self-reflection

Putting it to work

  • evaluate upbringing
  • focus on ethics
  • avoid neglect

Questions to consider

  • Is a painful life worse than no life?
  • How much does upbringing define worth?

Another view

It ignores the value of redemption or change later in life.

More from Sir Walter Raleigh

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  3. If she undervalue me, What care I how fair she be?

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