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The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.

Socrates#97

AuthorityFamilyChildrenRespectYouth

About this quote

What does it mean?
A complaint that modern children are spoiled, disrespectful to elders and teachers, and prioritize leisure over discipline.
In plain terms
Children now spoil for luxury, bad manners, and disobey parents and teachers.
What can you take from it?
Children need structure and respect for elders.

Where it applies

  • Education
  • Family dynamics
  • Social decline

Putting it to work

  • Set boundaries for children
  • Teach respect

Questions to consider

  • What defines good behavior?
  • How should children be raised?

Another view

This generalizes all children and ignores context.

More from Socrates

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  3. Know thyself.

    Permalink to quote #95

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