It is the malady of our age that the young are so busy teaching us that they have no time left to learn.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The younger generation is so focused on correcting older generations that they lack time to learn themselves.
- In plain terms
- Young people are busy teaching us but not learning enough.
- What can you take from it?
- Teaching others should not replace the need to learn oneself.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Am I teaching enough to learn?
- What can I still learn from older generations?
Another view
Young people often teach because they are eager to fix real problems.
More from Eric Hoffer
The central task of education is to implant a will and a facility for learning; it should produce not learned but learning people. The truly human society is a…
Permalink to quote #100 Commitment becomes hysterical when those who have nothing to give advocate generosity, and those who have nothing to give up preach renunciation.
Permalink to quote #102 The Savior who wants to turn men into angels is as much a hater of human nature as the totalitarian despot who wants to turn them into puppets. There are simil…
Permalink to quote #99
Related quotes
The denunciation of the young is a necessary part of the hygiene of older people, and greatly assists in the circulation of their blood.
Logan Pearsall SmithLogan Pearsall Smith quote #1 Age is deformed, youth unkind, We scorn their bodies, they our mind.
Thomas BastardThomas Bastard quote #1 Ask the young. They know everything.
Joseph JoubertJoseph Joubert quote #8