--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Although she missed the singing by the…" description: "\"“Although she missed the singing by the children from the school opposite her apartment, she didn't teach her own pupils to sing 'We Shall Overcome' in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/arundhati-roy-346_children_although-she-missed-the-singing-by-the-c_1059935.jpg" --- # Although she missed the singing by the children from the… ![“Although she missed the singing by the children from the school opposite her apartment, she didn't teach her own pupils to sing 'We Shall Overcome' in any language, because she wasn't sure that Overcoming was anywhere on anyone's horizon.” quote by Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/arundhati-roy-346_children_although-she-missed-the-singing-by-the-c_1059935.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/arundhati-roy-346_children_although-she-missed-the-singing-by-the-c_1059935.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/arundhati-roy-346_children_although-she-missed-the-singing-by-the-c_1059935.jpg) > ““Although she missed the singing by the children from the school opposite her apartment, she didn't teach her own pupils to sing 'We Shall Overcome' in any language, because she wasn't sure that Overcoming was anywhere on anyone's horizon.”” [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She refrains from imposing a hopeful anthem on her students because she doubts its relevance to their lives. **In simple terms:** She avoids teaching a hopeful song she doubts will matter. Key Takeaway Consider the relevance of hope before teaching it. Themes education hope cultural relevance Mood thoughtful critical Type reflective educational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - curriculum design - community outreach Key Concepts pedagogy social realism optimism Questions to Reflect On - Is it better to teach hope or realism? - How can teachers gauge what resonates with students? A Different Perspective Hope may feel unrealistic for those facing immediate hardships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) ## Related quotes > [I used to cry myself to sleep every night. I missed singing so much. And performing. Man, I missed it so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-spector/i-used-to-cry-myself-to-sleep-every-night-i-missed-singing-so-much/) [Ronnie Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-spector/) > [I saw my dad doing it and thought to myself, 'I can do that.' I would be backstage watching him and running around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-grammer/i-saw-my-dad-doing-it-and-thought-to-myself-i-can-do-that-i-would-be/) [Andy Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-grammer/) > [Singing with children in the schools has been the most rewarding experience of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/singing-with-children-in-the-schools-has-been-the-most-rewarding/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [Oh, I am all for singing. If I had had children I should have hounded them into choirs & choral societies, and if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/oh-i-am-all-for-singing-if-i-had-had-children-i-should-have-hounded/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [“And faith, which is but hope grown wise, and love And patience, which at last shall overcome.” Lowell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanie-lang/and-faith-which-is-but-hope-grown-wise-and-love-and-patience-which-at/) Jeanie Lang > [“Will you yet hold, my friends, to the faith that change is within our grasp? That will and reason shall overcome the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/will-you-yet-hold-my-friends-to-the-faith-that-change-is-within-our/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Homeland or death! Socialism or death! We shall overcome!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/homeland-or-death-socialism-or-death-we-shall-overcome/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [He that is once "born of God shall overcome the world," and the prince of this world too, by the power of God in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-cudworth/he-that-is-once-born-of-god-shall-overcome-the-world-and-the-prince/) [Ralph Cudworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-cudworth/) > [Man is something that shall be overcome… Man is a rope, tied between beast and overman -- a rope over an abyss... What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/man-is-something-that-shall-be-overcome-man-is-a-rope-tied-between/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“With the strength of God, we shall overcome every struggle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/with-the-strength-of-god-we-shall-overcome-every-struggle/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [You go through the Civil Rights struggle, everybody knew the songs - 'We shall overcome.' Everybody would sing it. Music helped us. James Brown,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/you-go-through-the-civil-rights-struggle-everybody-knew-the-songs-we/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [I teach you the Overman. Man is something that shall be overcome. What have you done to overcome him? ... The time has come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-teach-you-the-overman-man-is-something-that-shall-be-overcome-what/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“We shall overcome every barrier by divine grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-shall-overcome-every-barrier-by-divine-grace/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [With the intellect I always have always shall overcome, but that is not the half of the work. The life, the life Oh my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/with-the-intellect-i-always-have-always-shall-overcome-but-that-is/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-parks/racism-is-still-with-us-but-it-is-up-to-us-to-prepare-our-children/) [Rosa Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-parks/) ## More by Arundhati Roy > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Poverty is a crime and the poor are terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/poverty-is-a-crime-and-the-poor-are-terrorists/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/flat-muscled-and-honey-coloured-sea-secrets-in-his-eyes-a-silver/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Fiction and non-fiction are only different techniques of story telling. For reasons I do not fully understand, fiction dances out of me. Non-fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/fiction-and-non-fiction-are-only-different-techniques-of-story/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [NGOs have a complicated space in neoliberal politics. They are supposed to mop up the anger. Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I've never been that person who thought that because I've written one novel, I should write another and another. It's only when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-ve-never-been-that-person-who-thought-that-because-i-ve-written-one/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I think one of the saddest things that's happening to literature is that it's getting over-simplified by this diet of simple political ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-think-one-of-the-saddest-things-that-s-happening-to-literature-is/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The only dream worth having, I told her, is to dream that you will live while you're alive and die only when you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-only-dream-worth-having-i-told-her-is-to-dream-that-you-will-live/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [But what was there to say? Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons. Only that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/but-what-was-there-to-say-only-that-there-were-tears-only-that/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Truly, there's no alternative to stupidity. Cretinism is the mother of fascism. I have no defence against it, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/truly-there-s-no-alternative-to-stupidity-cretinism-is-the-mother-of/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-secret-of-the-great-stories-is-that-they-have-no-secrets-the/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“stilts, the ground floors given over to parking. It’s a good idea in this car-maddened city,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/stilts-the-ground-floors-given-over-to-parking-it-s-a-good-idea-in/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Perhaps it’s true that things can change in a day. That a few dozen hours can affect the outcome of whole lifetimes. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/perhaps-it-s-true-that-things-can-change-in-a-day-that-a-few-dozen/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Explore all 628 Arundhati Roy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. 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