“I don’t dislike babies, though I think very young ones rather disgusting.”
- May 24, 1819 – January 22, 1901
- British
- Queen of the United Kingdom, Empress of India
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Quote
“I don’t dislike babies, though I think very young ones rather disgusting.”
Explanation
This quote reflects Queen Victoria’s forthright and unembellished attitude toward motherhood, which contrasts sharply with the sentimental ideal of maternal affection popular during the Victorian era. While she clarifies that she doesn’t “dislike babies,” she bluntly admits to finding very young ones “rather disgusting.” Such a statement challenges the expectation that women—and especially queens—should express unconditional adoration for infants, revealing a more human and honest perspective on the physical realities of newborns.
Victoria’s own experience as a mother of nine children often included complaints about pregnancy, childbirth, and the early stages of childrearing. Her private letters and journals frequently described these duties as unpleasant and exhausting, despite her devotion to her children as they grew older. This quote captures the dichotomy in her maternal role: love and duty did not necessarily imply romanticized feelings toward the early phases of infant care, which she viewed with a certain clinical detachment.
In today’s context, her remark resonates with ongoing efforts to normalize diverse experiences of motherhood, including those that diverge from idealized portrayals. Many parents find the newborn stage challenging or unappealing, and Victoria’s words offer an early example of someone in power voicing that reality. Her candor helps dismantle the notion that all maternal feelings must conform to a fixed mold, affirming that authenticity in parenting can coexist with love and responsibility.
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