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A young man before he leaves the shelter of his father's…

“A young man before he leaves the shelter of his father's house, and the guard of a tutor, should be fortify'd with resolution, and made acquainted with men, to secure his virtues, lest he should be led into some ruinous course, or fatal precipice, before he is sufficiently acquainted with the…” quote by John Locke
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“A young man before he leaves the shelter of his father's house, and the guard of a tutor, should be fortify'd with resolution, and made acquainted with men, to secure his virtues, lest he should be led into some ruinous course, or fatal precipice, before he is sufficiently acquainted with the dangers of conversation, and his steadiness enough not to yield to every temptation.”

John Locke

About This Quote

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

A young man should develop resolve, learn from diverse people, and understand conversational dangers before facing temptations that could lead to ruin.

In simple terms: Build character through experience and caution.

Key Takeaway

Seek mentorship and broaden horizons before major decisions.

Themes

education virtue temptation mentorship

Mood

reflective serious

Type

didactic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • college life
  • career start
  • travel abroad
  • leadership training

Key Concepts

ethics development social learning

Questions to Reflect On

  • What experiences have shaped your resolve?
  • How do you assess risks in new relationships?
A Different Perspective

Resolution alone may not prevent all missteps; external factors matter.

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