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It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate…

“It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity…” quote by John Adams
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“It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue. If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives.”

John Adams

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Emphasizes the responsibility to nurture children's moral and intellectual growth to prevent lifelong stagnation.

In simple terms: Raise children’s minds and virtues early.

Key Takeaway

Invest in youth education and character.

Themes

education morality future generations

Mood

hopeful determined

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

  • schools
  • parenting
  • community programs
  • policy making

Key Concepts

Civic duty character formation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can societies better support moral education?
  • What habits form early shape adult behavior?
A Different Perspective

Neglecting early development leads to entrenched negativity.

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