Many older wealthy families have learned to instill a…
“Many older wealthy families have learned to instill a sense of public service in their offspring. But newly affluent middle-classparents have not acquired this skill. We are using our children as symbols of leisure-class standing without building in safeguards against an overweening sense of entitlement--a sense of entitlement that may incline some young people more toward the good life than toward the hard work that, for most of us, makes the good life possible.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Wealthy families teach public service; newer affluent families often lack this, leading to entitlement.
In simple terms: Teach service to avoid entitlement.
Key Takeaway
Instill civic responsibility early.
Themes
family values
social responsibility
entitlement
Mood
concerned
hopeful
Type
parenting
social
When to use this quote
- parenting
- school programs
- community service
- mentorship
Key Concepts
civic education
social capital
Questions to Reflect On
- How can families embed service values?
- What practices counter entitlement?
A Different Perspective
Changing values may clash with existing attitudes.