--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never have the young taken themselves so…" description: "\"Never have the young taken themselves so seriously, and the calamity is that they are listened to and deferred to by so many adults.\" — Eric Hoffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/eric-hoffer-343_adults_never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so_3147346.jpg" --- # Never have the young taken themselves so seriously, and… ![“Never have the young taken themselves so seriously, and the calamity is that they are listened to and deferred to by so many adults.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/eric-hoffer-343_adults_never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so_3147346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/eric-hoffer-343_adults_never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so_3147346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/eric-hoffer-343_adults_never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so_3147346.jpg) > “Never have the young taken themselves so seriously, and the calamity is that they are listened to and deferred to by so many adults.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Youth are often taken seriously, leading to decisions that may lack experience, causing societal issues. **In simple terms:** Young voices are over‑valued, causing problems. Key Takeaway Balance youth input with seasoned guidance. Themes generations authority responsibility Mood cautious reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - politics - corporate strategy - community planning Key Concepts social dynamics leadership decision making Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure wise decision‑making? - How can experience and innovation coexist? A Different Perspective Youth can bring fresh insight if guided. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Calamity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calamity/) [Calamity Listened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calamity-listened-5635067/) [Deferred Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deferred-adults-5635068/) [Seriously Calamity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seriously-calamity-5635066/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Taken Seriously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken-seriously/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [What the intellectual craves above all else is to be taken seriously, to be treated as a decisive force in shaping history. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/what-the-intellectual-craves-above-all-else-is-to-be-taken-seriously/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [One of the chief differences between an adult and a juvenile is that the adult knows when he is an ass while the juvenile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/one-of-the-chief-differences-between-an-adult-and-a-juvenile-is-that/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Music is a male-dominated field. Women are not always taken as seriously as we should be, so sometimes we have to put our foot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-elliot/music-is-a-male-dominated-field-women-are-not-always-taken-as/) [Missy Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-elliot/) > [I don't think Hollywood per se is supposed to be taken seriously, otherwise, dear Lord, that would be frightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-murphy/i-don-t-think-hollywood-per-se-is-supposed-to-be-taken-seriously/) [Brittany Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-murphy/) > [Anyway, I went out and bought thousands of dollars worth of mature clothes so I'd look like a person to be taken seriously, instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-duvall/anyway-i-went-out-and-bought-thousands-of-dollars-worth-of-mature/) [Shelley Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-duvall/) > [I have not been taken seriously as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payal-rohatgi/i-have-not-been-taken-seriously-as-an-actor/) [Payal Rohatgi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/payal-rohatgi/) > [Life is too serious to be taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leonard/life-is-too-serious-to-be-taken-seriously/) [Mike Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leonard/) > [There have been occasions when some people have taken me very seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/limmy/there-have-been-occasions-when-some-people-have-taken-me-very/) [Limmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/limmy/) > [“You think it's all rather too "New Age" to be taken seriously, eh?' 'Not at all.' 'But it's an ancient discipline...' 'New Age disciplines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-barker/you-think-it-s-all-rather-too-new-age-to-be-taken-seriously-eh-not-at/) [Nicola Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-barker/) > [I would love to see women be able to be powerful, complex, smart, opinionated and taken seriously, even if they are beautiful. Even more,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/i-would-love-to-see-women-be-able-to-be-powerful-complex-smart/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [I want to be taken seriously as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-marais/i-want-to-be-taken-seriously-as-a-musician/) [Jonah Marais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-marais/) > [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Being taken seriously was always the biggest challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/being-taken-seriously-was-always-the-biggest-challenge/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [In a general way, anything that affects men is taken more seriously than anything that affects only women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/in-a-general-way-anything-that-affects-men-is-taken-more-seriously/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [If there's anything I hate more than not being taken seriously, it's being taken too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/if-there-s-anything-i-hate-more-than-not-being-taken-seriously-it-s/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-creative-mind-is-the-playful-mind-philosophy-is-the-play-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-best-part-of-the-art-of-living-is-to-know-how-to-grow-old/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) [One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never have the young taken themselves so seriously, and the calamity is that they are listened to and deferred to by so many adults.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Hoffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so-seriously-and-the-calamity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adults" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so-seriously-and-the-calamity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/eric-hoffer-343_adults_never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so_3147346.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/eric-hoffer-343_adults_never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so_3147346.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/eric-hoffer-343_adults_never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so_3147346.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never have the young taken themselves so seriously, and the calamity is that they are listened to and…” — Eric Hoffer", "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": "Eric Hoffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never have the young taken themselves...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so-seriously-and-the-calamity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so-seriously-and-the-calamity/#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 } } ] } ```