The passage from Sigrid Nunez's "The Friend" reflects on the importance of remembering our early life experiences, when we were deeply vulnerable and dependent. These formative moments evoke a sense of helplessness and a primal instinct to seek protection. Nunez suggests that while humans grow and leave innocence behind, this intrinsic state remains constant for animals, who navigate their lives without the complexities of memory and experience that humans face.

The author highlights the deep emotional impact of witnessing cruelty toward innocent beings, like a duck, which starkly contrasts the inherent innocence animals maintain throughout their lives. Such violence can evoke a profound sense of outrage, revealing the barbarity of human actions against those who cannot protect themselves. This perspective urges readers to consider the significance of innocence and the moral responsibilities humans hold in a world where such vulnerability exists.