--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As in the political sphere, the child is…" description: "\"“As in the political sphere, the child is taught that he is free, a democrat, with a free will and a free mind, lives in a free country, makes his own ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/doris-lessing-501_children_as-in-the-political-sphere-the-child-is_1744236.png" --- # As in the political sphere, the child is taught that he is… ![“As in the political sphere, the child is taught that he is free, a democrat, with a free will and a free mind, lives in a free country, makes his own decisions. At the same time he is a prisoner of the assumptions and dogmas of his time, which he does not question, because he has never been told…” quote by Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/doris-lessing-501_children_as-in-the-political-sphere-the-child-is_1744236.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/doris-lessing-501_children_as-in-the-political-sphere-the-child-is_1744236.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/doris-lessing-501_children_as-in-the-political-sphere-the-child-is_1744236.png) > ““As in the political sphere, the child is taught that he is free, a democrat, with a free will and a free mind, lives in a free country, makes his own decisions. At the same time he is a prisoner of the assumptions and dogmas of his time, which he does not question, because he has never been told they exist. By the time a young person has reached the age when he has to choose (we still take it for granted that a choice is inevitable) between the arts and the sciences, he often chooses the arts because he feels that here is humanity, freedom, choice. He does not know that he is already moulded by a system: he does not know that the choice itself is the result of a false dichotomy rooted in the heart of our culture. Those who do sense this, and who don't wish to subject themselves to further moulding, tend to leave, in a half-unconscious, instinctive attempt to find work where they won't be divided against themselves. With all our institutions, from the police force to academia, from medicine to politics, we give little attention to the people who leave—that process of elimination that goes on all the time and which excludes, very early, those likely to be original and reforming, leaving those attracted to a thing because that is what they are already like. A young policeman leaves the Force saying he doesn't like what he has to do. A young teacher leaves teaching, here idealism snubbed. This social mechanism goes almost unnoticed—yet it is as powerful as any in keeping our institutions rigid and oppressive.”” [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal structures subtly shape our perceived choices, creating false dichotomies that limit genuine freedom and originality. **In simple terms:** Society hides its influence, making us think we choose freely. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden influences and seek authentic paths. Themes freedom choice conformity institutional rigidity originality Mood reflective critical hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - educational paths - political engagement - creative pursuits - institutional reform Key Concepts social conditioning false dichotomy systemic oppression Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify hidden assumptions in your life? - What steps can you take to pursue authentic choices? A Different Perspective Even when aware, breaking free can be socially and economically costly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Free country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-country/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [People Who Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-who-leave/) [Police force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police-force/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I never want to discourage anyone who chooses the arts as a path because it's hard enough to make it in this business or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-appleton/i-never-want-to-discourage-anyone-who-chooses-the-arts-as-a-path/) [Nicole Appleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-appleton/) > [“While psychologists will say that it is fear of rejection that stands between humanity and freedom, or deeper still, a public humiliation, the author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-galian/while-psychologists-will-say-that-it-is-fear-of-rejection-that-stands/) [Laurence Galian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-galian/) > [“Faith is intrinsic to humanity and the freedom to practice one's religion is a right no power can deny”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aysha-taryam/faith-is-intrinsic-to-humanity-and-the-freedom-to-practice-one-s/) [Aysha Taryam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aysha-taryam/) > [“The end toward which mankind is inexorably developing by the constant overcoming of internal antagonisms is not the enjoyment, ownership, or use of goods,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-r-james-2/the-end-toward-which-mankind-is-inexorably-developing-by-the-constant/) [C.L.R. 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The funny thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/when-you-re-fat-the-world-is-divided-into-two-groups-people-who-bug/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) ## More by Doris Lessing > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“In the morning, when she wishes me to wake, she crouches on my chest, and pats my face with her paw. 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I've been much happier unmarried than married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-do-not-think-that-marriage-is-one-of-my-talents-i-ve-been-much/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [I haven't got the energy to write now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-haven-t-got-the-energy-to-write-now/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [What really fascinates me is this need that is so strong now that if you read a work of the imagination you instantly have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/what-really-fascinates-me-is-this-need-that-is-so-strong-now-that-if/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“The charge that the United Nations are using bacteriological warfare in Korea cannot be dismissed merely because it would be insane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/the-charge-that-the-united-nations-are-using-bacteriological-warfare/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [What I did have, which others perhaps didn't, was a capacity for sticking at it, which really is the point, not the talent at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/what-i-did-have-which-others-perhaps-didn-t-was-a-capacity-for/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [The human community is evolving... . 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By the time a young person has reached the age when he has to choose (we still take it for granted that a choice is inevitable) between the arts and the sciences, he often chooses the arts because he feels that here is humanity, freedom, choice. He does not know that he is already moulded by a system: he does not know that the choice itself is the result of a false dichotomy rooted in the heart of our culture. Those who do sense this, and who don't wish to subject themselves to further moulding, tend to leave, in a half-unconscious, instinctive attempt to find work where they won't be divided against themselves. With all our institutions, from the police force to academia, from medicine to politics, we give little attention to the people who leave—that process of elimination that goes on all the time and which excludes, very early, those likely to be original and reforming, leaving those attracted to a thing because that is what they are already like. A young policeman leaves the Force saying he doesn't like what he has to do. A young teacher leaves teaching, here idealism snubbed. 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