Children Quote by salman rushdie
““Children get food shelter pocket money longholidays and love, all of it apparently free gratis, and most of the little fools think it's a sort of compensation for having been born. 'There are no strings on me!' They sang; but I, pinnoccio, saw the strings. Parents are impelled by the profit motive - nothing more, nothing less. For their attentions, they expected, from me, the immense dividend of greatness.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie, 1981
Society offers material comforts, but true fulfillment requires meaning beyond materialism.
In simple terms: Material gifts don’t equal purpose.
Key Takeaway
Seek purpose beyond possessions.
Themes
materialism
meaning
society
childhood
Mood
critical
contemplative
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- career
- family planning
- philanthropy
Key Concepts
existentialism
social critique
consumer culture
Questions to Reflect On
- What non‑material gifts do you value?
- How does society’s promise of “free” affect your sense of worth?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on materialism can neglect emotional needs.
![“[There is] a strange split in thinking common to those on the religious left, who are quick to denounce the profit motive and commercialism. Yet, they seem to think that the key to happiness is giving people more stuff - by enlisting the coercive power of government. This perverse way of thinking…” quote by Robert Sirico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8d5/robert-sirico-66948_commercialism_there-is-a-strange-split-in-thinking-com_437064.jpg)
