I was talking about children that have not been properly…
““I was talking about children that have not been properly house-trained. Left to their own impulses and indulged by doting or careless parents almost all children are yahoos. Loud, selfish, cruel, unaffectionate, jealous, perpetually striving for attention, empty-headed, for ever prating or if words fail them simply bawling, their voices grown huge from daily practice: the very worst company in the world. But what I dislike even more than the natural child is the affected child, the hulking oaf of seven or eight that skips heavily about with her hands dangling in front of her -- a little squirrel or bunny-rabbit -- and prattling away in a baby's voice.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Untrained children, left unchecked, become noisy, selfish, and attention‑seeking, while affected children mimic adult affectations, resulting in irritating behavior.
In simple terms: Children lacking guidance become noisy and selfish; affected children imitate adult affectations.
Key Takeaway
Provide consistent guidance and model respectful behavior.
Themes
parenting
behavior
socialization
Mood
frustrated
concerned
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- family meals
- school classrooms
- playdates
- parent‑child interactions
Key Concepts
developmental psychology
imitation
attention seeking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can parents balance discipline with empathy?
- What strategies reduce attention‑seeking behavior?
A Different Perspective
Children may still resist guidance despite effort.