--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Teach the child to respect that which is…" description: "\"Teach the child to respect that which is not respectable and you teach the child the first requirement of slavery: submission to unjust authority. Chil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/gerry-spence-9080_authority_teach-the-child-to-respect-that-which-is_2062593.jpg" --- # Teach the child to respect that which is not respectable… ![“Teach the child to respect that which is not respectable and you teach the child the first requirement of slavery: submission to unjust authority. Children are persons. They are small persons whose perfect souls have not yet been ground through the meat grinder of slavery.” quote by Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/gerry-spence-9080_authority_teach-the-child-to-respect-that-which-is_2062593.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/gerry-spence-9080_authority_teach-the-child-to-respect-that-which-is_2062593.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/gerry-spence-9080_authority_teach-the-child-to-respect-that-which-is_2062593.jpg) > “Teach the child to respect that which is not respectable and you teach the child the first requirement of slavery: submission to unjust authority. Children are persons. They are small persons whose perfect souls have not yet been ground through the meat grinder of slavery.” [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching children to obey unjust authority instills a mindset of submission, undermining their innate rights and dignity. **In simple terms:** Blind obedience erodes personal freedom. Key Takeaway Encourage critical thinking over blind obedience. Themes freedom education authority Mood thoughtful inspirational Type educational ethical When to use this quote - school curricula - parental guidance - activist training - legal reform Key Concepts civil rights psychology pedagogy Questions to Reflect On - What authority do you question? - How can we teach respectful dissent? A Different Perspective Children may internalize harmful norms if not challenged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Grinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grinder/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Submission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submission/) ## Related quotes > [“What you teach a child today can have life-long results. 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