--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now, the error which many parents commit…" description: "\"“Now, the error which many parents commit in the treatment of the individual at this time(adolescense) is, insisting on the same unreasoning obedience ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/elizabeth-gaskell-894_parenting_now-the-error-which-many-parents-commit_1856267.jpg" --- # Now, the error which many parents commit in the treatment… ![“Now, the error which many parents commit in the treatment of the individual at this time(adolescense) is, insisting on the same unreasoning obedience as when all he had to do in the way of duty was, to obey the simple laws of "Come when you're called," and "Do as you're bid!" But a wise parent…” quote by Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/elizabeth-gaskell-894_parenting_now-the-error-which-many-parents-commit_1856267.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/elizabeth-gaskell-894_parenting_now-the-error-which-many-parents-commit_1856267.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/elizabeth-gaskell-894_parenting_now-the-error-which-many-parents-commit_1856267.jpg) > ““Now, the error which many parents commit in the treatment of the individual at this time(adolescense) is, insisting on the same unreasoning obedience as when all he had to do in the way of duty was, to obey the simple laws of "Come when you're called," and "Do as you're bid!" But a wise parent humours the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and adviser when his absolute rule shall cease.”” [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents should guide adolescents toward independence rather than demanding blind obedience. **In simple terms:** Guide teens, don’t just command. Key Takeaway Encourage autonomy while supporting. Themes parenting adolescence independence Mood reflective empathetic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - family discussions - school counseling - mentor relationships Key Concepts developmental psychology authoritative parenting Questions to Reflect On - How can you support independent decision‑making? - When should you set firm limits? A Different Perspective Balancing guidance with freedom can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parenting-teens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting-teens/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Millennials easily connect the dots between good education and good opportunities, and they also understand that it isn't just hard work that determines how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-soltis-anderson/millennials-easily-connect-the-dots-between-good-education-and-good/) [Kristen Soltis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-soltis-anderson/) > [“ i'm your enemy, meghan. never forget that. if Mab tells me to kill you in front of the entire court, it's my duty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/i-m-your-enemy-meghan-never-forget-that-if-mab-tells-me-to-kill-you/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [If you simply take the name of Christ upon you and call yourself His servant, yet do not obey Him, but follow your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-simply-take-the-name-of-christ-upon-you-and-call-yourself-his/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [To do my duty, I must obey God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/to-do-my-duty-i-must-obey-god/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [A soldier's first duty is to obey, otherwise you might as well do away with soldiering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kesselring/a-soldier-s-first-duty-is-to-obey-otherwise-you-might-as-well-do-away/) [Albert Kesselring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kesselring/) > [“If force compels obedience, there is no need to invoke a duty to obey, and if force ceases to compel obedience, there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/if-force-compels-obedience-there-is-no-need-to-invoke-a-duty-to-obey/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [My duty is to obey orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stonewall-jackson/my-duty-is-to-obey-orders/) [Stonewall Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stonewall-jackson/) > [“It’s not difficult telling enemies from friends. • Your enemies say, “You don’t need to work hard.” Your friends say, “Always do your best.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-heaton/it-s-not-difficult-telling-enemies-from-friends-your-enemies-say-you/) Tim Heaton > [“Sitting cross-legged on her bed, I watch her take out her gear. She’s been smoking so much the room stinks of it. Over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lewry/sitting-cross-legged-on-her-bed-i-watch-her-take-out-her-gear-she-s/) Christine Lewry > [“The effective criticism is the one that focuses on behavior not on the personality. The difference between both realizes it every rational parent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryam-abdullah-alnaymi/the-effective-criticism-is-the-one-that-focuses-on-behavior-not-on/) [Maryam Abdullah Alnaymi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryam-abdullah-alnaymi/) > [“Conscious parenting is not about being perfect, it's about being aware. Aware of what your kids need from you to reach more of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-urbina/conscious-parenting-is-not-about-being-perfect-it-s-about-being-aware/) Alex Urbina > [“Sitting on the train I watch the scenery speeding by, notice a cobweb in the top corner of the window, undulating with a gentle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lewry/sitting-on-the-train-i-watch-the-scenery-speeding-by-notice-a-cobweb/) Christine Lewry > [“Nobody ever feels they're doing well with teenagers, he said. I think that's kind of the point of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/nobody-ever-feels-they-re-doing-well-with-teenagers-he-said-i-think/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [“He knocked politely and entered the principal’s office with his dad face in full effect. He put his hand on my shoulder in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-leonetti/he-knocked-politely-and-entered-the-principal-s-office-with-his-dad/) Charlotte Leonetti > [“Embrace your beautiful mess of a life with your child. No matter how hard it gets, do not disengage... Do something—anything—to connect with and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kerckhoff/embrace-your-beautiful-mess-of-a-life-with-your-child-no-matter-how/) Andy Kerckhoff ## More by Elizabeth Gaskell > [“Osborne and Roger knowing that the wife of the former was a Frenchwoman, and, conscious of each other's knowledge, felt doubly awkward; while Molly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/osborne-and-roger-knowing-that-the-wife-of-the-former-was-a/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [In all disappointments sympathy is a great balm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/in-all-disappointments-sympathy-is-a-great-balm/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [But Margaret went less abroad, among machinery and men; saw less of power in its public effect, and, as it happened, she was thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/but-margaret-went-less-abroad-among-machinery-and-men-saw-less-of/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“And besides, in the matter of friendship, I have observed that the disappointment here arises chiefly, not from liking our friends too well, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/and-besides-in-the-matter-of-friendship-i-have-observed-that-the/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [What other people may think of the rightness or wrongness is nothing in comparison to my own deep knowledge, my innate conviction that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/what-other-people-may-think-of-the-rightness-or-wrongness-is-nothing/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“The first question sobbed out by his choking voice, oppressed with emotion, was-- "Where is she?" They led him to the room where his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/the-first-question-sobbed-out-by-his-choking-voice-oppressed-with/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Wearily she went to bed, wearily she arose in four or five hours' time. But with the morning came hope, and a brighter view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/wearily-she-went-to-bed-wearily-she-arose-in-four-or-five-hours-time/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [No one loves me, - no one cares for me, but you, mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/no-one-loves-me-no-one-cares-for-me-but-you-mother/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [I won't say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it wasn't me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/i-won-t-say-she-was-silly-but-i-think-one-of-us-was-silly-and-it-wasn/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Mr. Thorton love Margaret! Why, Margraret would never think of him, I'm sure! Such a thing has never entered her head." "Entering her heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/mr-thorton-love-margaret-why-margraret-would-never-think-of-him-i-m/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“He never looked at her; and yet, the careful avoidance of his eyes betokened that in some way he knew exactly where, if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/he-never-looked-at-her-and-yet-the-careful-avoidance-of-his-eyes/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“Ay! but mother's words are scarce, and weigh heavy. Father's liker me, and we talk a deal o' rubble; but mother's words are liker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/ay-but-mother-s-words-are-scarce-and-weigh-heavy-father-s-liker-me/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Margaret liked this smile; it was the first thing she had admired in this new friend of her father's; and the opposition of character,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/margaret-liked-this-smile-it-was-the-first-thing-she-had-admired-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Don’t be afraid,” she said, coldly, “ as far as love may go she may be worthy of you. It must have taken a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/don-t-be-afraid-she-said-coldly-as-far-as-love-may-go-she-may-be/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) [Explore all 330 Elizabeth Gaskell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) ## More Obedience quotes > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [Today the meaning of the word believe has been weakened. In the eyes of most it has become a mere acknowledgment of a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/today-the-meaning-of-the-word-believe-has-been-weakened-in-the-eyes/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [“God uses one whom others would have passed over without a second glance. The history of obedience to the Great Commission is full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-paterson/god-uses-one-whom-others-would-have-passed-over-without-a-second/) [Ross Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-paterson/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“There is indeed something delightful about being able to combine obedience and disobedience in the same act.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/there-is-indeed-something-delightful-about-being-able-to-combine/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Women who join together with each other to deny the male god who cursed their sex and to reject his demands for obedience, praise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trista-hendren/women-who-join-together-with-each-other-to-deny-the-male-god-who/) [Trista Hendren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trista-hendren/) > [Faith is the power, obedience the sacrifice, love the means, Christ the reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/faith-is-the-power-obedience-the-sacrifice-love-the-means-christ-the/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [ “In 1914... \[German\] history, poetry, dream and the individual moment were all combined in one exhilarating sensation...The nation was a creation of one's imagination,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-rites-of-spring-modris-eksteins/in-1914-german-history-poetry-dream-and-the-individual-moment-were/) The Rites of Spring Modris Eksteins > [Obedience is the psychological mechanism that links individual action to political purpose. It is the dispositional cement that binds men to systems of authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/obedience-is-the-psychological-mechanism-that-links-individual-action/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/adam-became-so-proud-that-he-wished-to-become-god-and-died-for-his/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/in-order-to-the-attaining-of-all-useful-knowledge-this-is-most/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) [Browse all 1,729 Obedience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Now, the error which many parents commit in the treatment of the individual at this time(adolescense) is, insisting on the same unreasoning obedience as when all he had to do in the way of duty was, to obey the simple laws of \"Come when you're called,\" and \"Do as you're bid!\" But a wise parent humours the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and adviser when his absolute rule shall cease.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Gaskell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/now-the-error-which-many-parents-commit-in-the-treatment-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Obedience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/now-the-error-which-many-parents-commit-in-the-treatment-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/elizabeth-gaskell-894_parenting_now-the-error-which-many-parents-commit_1856267.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/elizabeth-gaskell-894_parenting_now-the-error-which-many-parents-commit_1856267.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/elizabeth-gaskell-894_parenting_now-the-error-which-many-parents-commit_1856267.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Now, the error which many parents commit in the treatment of the individual at this time(adolescense) is…” — Elizabeth Gaskell", "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": "Elizabeth Gaskell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Now, the error which many parents...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/now-the-error-which-many-parents-commit-in-the-treatment-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/now-the-error-which-many-parents-commit-in-the-treatment-of-the/#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 } } ] } ```