Child Quote by Anatole Broyard
“There was a time when we expected nothing of our children but obedience, as opposed to the present, when we expect everything of them but obedience.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, 1999
Societal expectations of children have shifted from demanding obedience to demanding everything else while still expecting obedience.
In simple terms: Parents now demand more from kids but still want them to obey.
Key Takeaway
Balance expectations with realistic demands.
Themes
parenting
expectations
generational change
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
advice
observational
When to use this quote
- education
- career planning
- personal development
- family discussions
Key Concepts
social norms
family dynamics
authority
Questions to Reflect On
- How can parents set high expectations without stifling autonomy?
- What boundaries protect healthy obedience?
A Different Perspective
Children may feel pressure and resentment if expectations are too high.
![“In 1914... [German] history, poetry, dream and the individual moment were all combined in one exhilarating sensation...The nation was a creation of one's imagination, a poetic truth, an ethical, not a social, construct... blind obedience was the true value... the stronger a person is... the more…” quote by The Rites of Spring Modris Eksteins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9a2/the-rites-of-spring-modris-eks_blind-obedience_in-1914-german-history-poetry-dream-and_16799.jpg)
