Children Quote by Erik Erikson
““Someday, maybe, there will exist a well-informed, well considered and yet fervent public conviction that the most deadly of all possible sins is the mutilation of a child’s spirit; for such mutilation undercuts the life principle of trust, without which every human act, may it feel ever so good and seem ever so right is prone to perversion by destructive forms of conscientiousness.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Identity and the Life Cycle, Erik Erikson, 1950
A deep moral conviction should protect children’s inner spirit, as harming it destroys trust and leads to perverse actions.
In simple terms: Protect children's spirit to preserve trust.
Key Takeaway
Guard children's inner spirit.
Themes
ethics
psychology
trust
childhood
morality
Mood
concerned
reflective
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- policy making
- community advocacy
- mental health practice
Key Concepts
developmental psychology
moral philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies foster this conviction?
- What safeguards protect children's spirit?
A Different Perspective
Societal pressures can dilute this conviction, making enforcement difficult.
