With regard to moral rules, the child submits more or less…
“With regard to moral rules, the child submits more or less completely in intention to the rules laid down for him, but these, remaining, as it were, external to the subject's conscience, do not really transform his conduct.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Children follow rules without internalizing them, so external rules alone don’t change behavior.
In simple terms: Rules alone don’t change behavior.
Encourage internal moral reasoning.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- parenting
- school curricula
- character education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we foster internal moral conviction?
- What experiences help children own ethical principles?
External rules may be ignored if not personally meaningful.