--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One can tell a child everything…" description: "\"One can tell a child everything, anything. I have often been struck by the fact that parents know their children so little. They should not conceal so ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_advice_one-can-tell-a-child-everything-anything_1121376.png" --- # One can tell a child everything, anything. I have often… ![“One can tell a child everything, anything. I have often been struck by the fact that parents know their children so little. They should not conceal so much from them. How well even little children understand that their parents conceal things from them, because they consider them too young to…” quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_advice_one-can-tell-a-child-everything-anything_1121376.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_advice_one-can-tell-a-child-everything-anything_1121376.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_advice_one-can-tell-a-child-everything-anything_1121376.png) > “One can tell a child everything, anything. I have often been struck by the fact that parents know their children so little. They should not conceal so much from them. How well even little children understand that their parents conceal things from them, because they consider them too young to understand! Children are capable of giving advice in the most important matters.” [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents often underestimate children's capacity to understand truth and give valuable advice **In simple terms:** Children can grasp more than adults think and can advise on important matters Key Takeaway Take children seriously and share truth appropriately Themes family communication wisdom Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - parent‑child conversations - teaching honesty - advice seeking - family decision making Key Concepts developmental psychology ethical honesty Questions to Reflect On - How much truth should parents reveal to children? - When can a child's advice be trusted? A Different Perspective Children may lack life experience to fully grasp complex issues ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-advice/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [One can tell a child everything, anything. I have often been struck by the fact that parents know their children so little. 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