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Children Quote by Charles Dickens

“The same mistake presents itself to me, in one shape or other, at every turn,' said brother Charles. 'Parents who never showed their love, complain of want of natural affection in their children; children who never showed their duty, complain of want of natural feeling in their parents; law-makers…” quote by Charles Dickens
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““The same mistake presents itself to me, in one shape or other, at every turn,' said brother Charles. 'Parents who never showed their love, complain of want of natural affection in their children; children who never showed their duty, complain of want of natural feeling in their parents; law-makers who find both so miserable that their affections have never had enough of life's sun to develop them, are loud in their moralisings over parents and children too, and cry that the very ties of nature are disregarded. Natural affections and instincts, my dear sir, are the most beautiful of the Almighty's works, but like other beautiful works of His, they must be reared and fostered, or it is as natural that they should be wholly obscured, and that new feelings should usurp their place, as it is that the sweetest productions of the earth, left untended, should be choked with weeds and briers. I wish we could be brought to consider this, and remembering natural obligations a little more at the right time, talk about them a little less at the wrong one.””

Charles Dickens

About This Quote

Source Novel: Unspecified, likely Victorian moral tale

People neglect natural affection and duty, leading to moral decay; nurturing relationships is essential.

In simple terms: Neglecting love and duty harms society.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate genuine care.

Themes

family morality obligation

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • parenting
  • legislation
  • intergenerational conflict
  • community building

Key Concepts

Social contract empathy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we balance duty with personal freedom?
  • What responsibilities do we owe to each generation?
A Different Perspective

Idealizing natural affection may ignore practical complexities.

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