--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They [the Hardscrabbles]never enjoyed it…" description: "\"They [the Hardscrabbles]never enjoyed it when adults playfully lied to them. The adults always think they're being amusing and imaginative, just like c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/ellen-potter-22965_adults_they-the-hardscrabbles-never-enjoyed-it_2520569.jpg" --- # They \[the Hardscrabbles\]never enjoyed it when adults… ![“They [the Hardscrabbles]never enjoyed it when adults playfully lied to them. The adults always think they're being amusing and imaginative, just like children. But kids never lie playfully. They lie as if their lives depended on it.” quote by Ellen Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/ellen-potter-22965_adults_they-the-hardscrabbles-never-enjoyed-it_2520569.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/ellen-potter-22965_adults_they-the-hardscrabbles-never-enjoyed-it_2520569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/ellen-potter-22965_adults_they-the-hardscrabbles-never-enjoyed-it_2520569.jpg) > “They \[the Hardscrabbles\]never enjoyed it when adults playfully lied to them. The adults always think they're being amusing and imaginative, just like children. But kids never lie playfully. They lie as if their lives depended on it.” [Ellen Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-potter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children dislike being lied to playfully; they prefer honesty, unlike adults who think it’s fun **In simple terms:** Kids reject playful lies, prefer truth Key Takeaway Respect children's need for honesty Themes honesty childhood communication Mood reflective cautious Type parenting educational When to use this quote - parenting - education - family storytelling Key Concepts developmental psychology trust building Questions to Reflect On - Why do adults think playful lying is okay? - How can we teach honesty without stifling imagination? A Different Perspective Adults may think lies are harmless but can damage trust ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Amusing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusing/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Imaginative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginative/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kids Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-lie-852347/) [Lie Playfully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie-playfully-1245240/) [Lied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lied/) [Lied Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lied-adults-1245237/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Never lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-lie/) [Playfully Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playfully-lie-1245239/) [Playfully Lied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playfully-lied-1245238/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“What is a lie? It's a distortion of reality, presented as reality. We say it's a bad thing. We teach kids not to lie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/what-is-a-lie-it-s-a-distortion-of-reality-presented-as-reality-we/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [They say...the stopwatch never lies. Speed kills but absolute speed kills absolutely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-davis/they-say-the-stopwatch-never-lies-speed-kills-but-absolute-speed/) [Al Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-davis/) > [My dad taught me my faith, and I believe what he taught me. 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But in the final mix, the lies I've told are far outweighed by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-was-brought-up-to-never-lie-sure-i-have-but-in-the-final-mix-the/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [I never lie," I said offhand. "At least not to those I don't love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-never-lie-i-said-offhand-at-least-not-to-those-i-don-t-love/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [A hound will die for you, but never lie to you. And he'll look you straight in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-hound-will-die-for-you-but-never-lie-to-you-and-he-ll-look-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ellen Potter > [I've reread 'The Secret Garden' every year as an adult. I have a battered copy on my bookshelf - it's really quite a mess!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-potter/i-ve-reread-the-secret-garden-every-year-as-an-adult-i-have-a/) [Ellen Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-potter/) > [I don't plot my novels - I move along with my characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-potter/i-don-t-plot-my-novels-i-move-along-with-my-characters/) [Ellen Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-potter/) > [“Hocus Pocus let's try to focus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-potter/hocus-pocus-let-s-try-to-focus/) [Ellen Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-potter/) > [“Then she probably would have waved back," Max said. "And it might be a he." "Ha! Not likely," Lucia said. "Didn't you notice them?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-potter/then-she-probably-would-have-waved-back-max-said-and-it-might-be-a-he/) [Ellen Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-potter/) > [“Rubbish," Max said. 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