--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Surely it isn't illegal here to complain…" description: "\"Surely it isn't illegal here to complain about young people these days? How cruel. I had thought it a basic part of human nature, one of the few univer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/ann-leckie-8760_complain_surely-it-isn-t-illegal-here-to-complain_494530.jpg" --- # Surely it isn't illegal here to complain about young… ![“Surely it isn't illegal here to complain about young people these days? How cruel. I had thought it a basic part of human nature, one of the few universally practiced human customs.” quote by Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/ann-leckie-8760_complain_surely-it-isn-t-illegal-here-to-complain_494530.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/ann-leckie-8760_complain_surely-it-isn-t-illegal-here-to-complain_494530.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/ann-leckie-8760_complain_surely-it-isn-t-illegal-here-to-complain_494530.jpg) > “Surely it isn't illegal here to complain about young people these days? How cruel. I had thought it a basic part of human nature, one of the few universally practiced human customs.” [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She sat the absurdity of blaming younger generations for societal , noting such complaints are a timeless human custom. **In simple terms:** Blaming youth for problems is a long‑standing, irrational habit. Key Takeaway Avoid generational scapegoating; seek constructive dialogue. Themes generations criticism social change humor tradition Mood wry critical thought‑provoking Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - workplace meetings - political debates - family discussions - online forums Key Concepts sociology generational conflict cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - Why do we default to blame younger people? - What alternatives exist for addressing societal issues? A Different Perspective Older generations may feel threatened; change requires humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Customs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customs/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [“I came across an article recently that reported how growing numbers of employers today complain that many young job applicants exhibit all thesigns of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/i-came-across-an-article-recently-that-reported-how-growing-numbers/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [It isn't illegal to buy an artist's work for peanuts and sell it again at any price one can get. But it is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-leinster/it-isn-t-illegal-to-buy-an-artist-s-work-for-peanuts-and-sell-it/) [Murray Leinster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-leinster/) > [“The only thing my father does that isn’t illegal is breathe. He’s a criminal through and through.” -Devina (Being Bad, p. 305)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-osmond/the-only-thing-my-father-does-that-isn-t-illegal-is-breathe-he-s-a/) Leigh Osmond > [Like other forms of gambling, wagering on the Internet isn't illegal because it's bad. It's bad because we've chosen to make it illegal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-weisberg/like-other-forms-of-gambling-wagering-on-the-internet-isn-t-illegal/) [Jacob Weisberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-weisberg/) > [“Prostitution isn't illegal to protect women. Prostitutes would be much safer if it was legal. It's illegal to protect men. Men are addicted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/prostitution-isn-t-illegal-to-protect-women-prostitutes-would-be-much/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [I have a saying: the scandal isn't what's illegal, the scandal is what's legal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/i-have-a-saying-the-scandal-isn-t-what-s-illegal-the-scandal-is-what/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [Ice-cream is exquisite - what a pity it isn't illegal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/ice-cream-is-exquisite-what-a-pity-it-isn-t-illegal/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [As much as I want to help people, I had to accept the fact long ago that being stupid with money isn't illegal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/as-much-as-i-want-to-help-people-i-had-to-accept-the-fact-long-ago/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [It's not uncommon in the entertainment world for agents to sign young talent. It's sinful that these players can't be represented by lawyers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/it-s-not-uncommon-in-the-entertainment-world-for-agents-to-sign-young/) [Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/) > [It's your ability to learn quickly and contribute quickly that matters. One of the things I tell people these days is that there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/it-s-your-ability-to-learn-quickly-and-contribute-quickly-that/) [Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/) > [I can't hang around with lots of people these days because I am hypersensitive. So when I am around a lot of people or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-can-t-hang-around-with-lots-of-people-these-days-because-i-am/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [People these days...Seriously get a life and stop talking about mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-these-days-seriously-get-a-life-and-stop-talking-about-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Music's totally eclectic now. I saw a DJ the other day, he was on Virgin radio over here, and he said he played "Going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/music-s-totally-eclectic-now-i-saw-a-dj-the-other-day-he-was-on/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [You think you know someone then they stab you in the back just like that...People these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-think-you-know-someone-then-they-stab-you-in-the-back-just-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've been complimenting people these days. Jesus is really touching my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-been-complimenting-people-these-days-jesus-is-really-touching-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ann Leckie > [The Romans have provided a lot of writers with a model for various interstellar empires, of course, and no wonder. The Roman Empire is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/the-romans-have-provided-a-lot-of-writers-with-a-model-for-various/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“The gender thing is a giveaway, though. Only a Radchaai would misgender people the way you do." I'd guessed wrong. "I can't see under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/the-gender-thing-is-a-giveaway-though-only-a-radchaai-would-misgender/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“If you’d refused, nothing would have changed, except you’d be dead too. You did what you had to do,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/if-you-d-refused-nothing-would-have-changed-except-you-d-be-dead-too/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [Unity, I thought, implies the possibility of disunity. Beginnings imply and require endings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/unity-i-thought-implies-the-possibility-of-disunity-beginnings-imply/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“Good necessitates evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/good-necessitates-evil/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“The single word that directs a person’s fate and ultimately the fates of those she comes in contact with is of course a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/the-single-word-that-directs-a-person-s-fate-and-ultimately-the-fates/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“I find forgiveness overrated. There are times and places when it’s appropriate. But not when the demand that you forgive is used to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/i-find-forgiveness-overrated-there-are-times-and-places-when-it-s/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“Ridiculous!" scoffed Anaander. "Translator, ships and stations are not Significant beings, they are my property. I caused them to be built." "I'm given to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/ridiculous-scoffed-anaander-translator-ships-and-stations-are-not/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [Good necessitates evil and the two sides of that disk are not always clearly marked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/good-necessitates-evil-and-the-two-sides-of-that-disk-are-not-always/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“I saw them all, suddenly, for just a moment, through non-Radchaai eyes, an eddying crowd of unnervingly ambiguously gendered people. I saw all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/i-saw-them-all-suddenly-for-just-a-moment-through-non-radchaai-eyes/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [Without feelings insignificant decisions become excruciating attempts to compare endless arrays of inconsequential things. It's just easier to handle those with emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/without-feelings-insignificant-decisions-become-excruciating-attempts/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“The smallest, most seemingly insignificant event is part of an intricate whole and to understand why one particular mote of dust falls in one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/the-smallest-most-seemingly-insignificant-event-is-part-of-an/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“When you’re doing something like this,” I said, “the odds are irrelevant. You don’t need to know the odds. You need to know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/when-you-re-doing-something-like-this-i-said-the-odds-are-irrelevant/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“My life always seems hopeless when it’s been too long since I’ve eaten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/my-life-always-seems-hopeless-when-it-s-been-too-long-since-i-ve-eaten/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“Ships have feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/ships-have-feelings/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) [Explore all 78 Ann Leckie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) ## More Complain quotes > [I know life isnt fair but I still like to complain about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-life-isnt-fair-but-i-still-like-to-complain-about-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/) [Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/) > [You shouldn't get to live in society and give nothing back. People complain about their taxes, yet they do nothing for the community. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/you-shouldn-t-get-to-live-in-society-and-give-nothing-back-people/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I hope I will not be typecast as a Bond girl for the rest of my life. I'm very proud of being a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-green/i-hope-i-will-not-be-typecast-as-a-bond-girl-for-the-rest-of-my-life/) [Eva Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-green/) > [Don't get anger, force yourself, complain others, waste time, thing much, compare yourself, except, sad, silent, stop thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayanthi-aj/don-t-get-anger-force-yourself-complain-others-waste-time-thing-much/) [Jayanthi AJ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayanthi-aj/) > [To complain is one thing but to be negative is another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/to-complain-is-one-thing-but-to-be-negative-is-another/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Don't complain about being overweight if you're not going to do anything about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-complain-about-being-overweight-if-you-re-not-going-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most restaurant people work much harder physically, on a daily basis, than most entertainers. Though most people in entertainment complain more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rosenthal/most-restaurant-people-work-much-harder-physically-on-a-daily-basis/) [Philip Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rosenthal/) > [Those who are content have enough; those that complain, have too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/those-who-are-content-have-enough-those-that-complain-have-too-much/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I look upon life as a gift from God. I did nothing to earn it. Now that the time is coming to give it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/i-look-upon-life-as-a-gift-from-god-i-did-nothing-to-earn-it-now-that/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [At the end of the day I'll be able to keep everything that I really loved about my time with Disney. The friendships won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-boyce/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-ll-be-able-to-keep-everything-that-i-really/) [Cameron Boyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-boyce/) > [Complain and Compare leads to ungrateful living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mielya-saladdin/complain-and-compare-leads-to-ungrateful-living/) [Mielya Saladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mielya-saladdin/) > [I personally think we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wagner/i-personally-think-we-developed-language-because-of-our-deep-inner/) [Jane Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wagner/) > [You should not complain, it's not attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-should-not-complain-it-s-not-attractive/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) Browse all 856 Complain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Surely it isn't illegal here to complain about young people these days? How cruel. I had thought it a basic part of human nature, one of the few universally practiced human customs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ann Leckie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/surely-it-isn-t-illegal-here-to-complain-about-young-people-these/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Complain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/surely-it-isn-t-illegal-here-to-complain-about-young-people-these/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/ann-leckie-8760_complain_surely-it-isn-t-illegal-here-to-complain_494530.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/ann-leckie-8760_complain_surely-it-isn-t-illegal-here-to-complain_494530.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/ann-leckie-8760_complain_surely-it-isn-t-illegal-here-to-complain_494530.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Surely it isn't illegal here to complain about young people these days? How cruel. I had thought it a basic…” — Ann Leckie", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ann Leckie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Surely it isn't illegal here to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/surely-it-isn-t-illegal-here-to-complain-about-young-people-these/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/surely-it-isn-t-illegal-here-to-complain-about-young-people-these/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```