--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How can we teach our children to be…" description: "\"How can we teach our children to be responsible beyond themselves and care for other human beings' welfare and for the welfare of the planet and all th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/gloria-reuben-29188_after_how-can-we-teach-our-children-to-be-resp_157345.jpg" --- # How can we teach our children to be responsible beyond… ![“How can we teach our children to be responsible beyond themselves and care for other human beings' welfare and for the welfare of the planet and all that it contains? It's a difficult lesson to convey, when, more than 20 years after the Exxon Valdez disaster, Prince William Sound is still…” quote by Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/gloria-reuben-29188_after_how-can-we-teach-our-children-to-be-resp_157345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/gloria-reuben-29188_after_how-can-we-teach-our-children-to-be-resp_157345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/gloria-reuben-29188_after_how-can-we-teach-our-children-to-be-resp_157345.jpg) > “How can we teach our children to be responsible beyond themselves and care for other human beings' welfare and for the welfare of the planet and all that it contains? It's a difficult lesson to convey, when, more than 20 years after the Exxon Valdez disaster, Prince William Sound is still experiencing the damaging effects.” [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges teaching children to prioritize collective responsibility for people and the planet, emphasizing long‑term stewardship beyond personal interests. **In simple terms:** Teach kids to care for others and Earth. Key Takeaway Instill empathy and environmental stewardship early. Themes responsibility environment empathy education stewardship Mood hopeful concerned determined Type educational inspirational call‑to‑action When to use this quote - family discussions - school curricula - community projects - environmental volunteering - media literacy Key Concepts collective ethics intergenerational duty sustainability Questions to Reflect On - How can we make responsibility feel rewarding, not burdensome? - What daily habits can reinforce caring for the planet? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated self‑interest is challenging and may face cultural resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesson/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planet/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Welfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare/) ## Related quotes > [Who should have children? Those who are responsible and completely dedicated to the responsibility which is actually a very small percentage of humans. 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I even wrote on the back of my car, Boycott Exxon!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-paul/when-the-exxon-valdez-spilled-in-1989-i-was-angry-i-even-wrote-on-the/) [Alexandra Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-paul/) > [“A quick quiz. What do the following events have in common? The war in Iraq. The Exxon Valdez oil spill. The rise in America’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/a-quick-quiz-what-do-the-following-events-have-in-common-the-war-in/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [The Exxon Valdez spill triggered a swift and strong response that changed policies about shipping, about double-hulled construction. A number of laws came into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-exxon-valdez-spill-triggered-a-swift-and-strong-response-that/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [My second ex-wife was really kind of like a ship passing in the night. Only she turned out to be the Exxon Valdez.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/my-second-ex-wife-was-really-kind-of-like-a-ship-passing-in-the-night/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [It is a difficult lesson to learn today-to leave one's friends and family and deliberately practice the art of solitude for an hour or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/it-is-a-difficult-lesson-to-learn-today-to-leave-one-s-friends-and/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [“Humility is a difficult lesson.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-berg/humility-is-a-difficult-lesson/) [Carol Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-berg/) ## More by Gloria Reuben > [I had been an activist on the issue of HIV, primarily in the African American and Latino communities here in the U.S. for many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/i-had-been-an-activist-on-the-issue-of-hiv-primarily-in-the-african/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [I've always loved journaling as a way to clear my mind. Whether I'm traveling or at home, the first thing I do when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/i-ve-always-loved-journaling-as-a-way-to-clear-my-mind-whether-i-m/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [In my work as an actress and an activist, I've spent many years working with low income communities and people of color who don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/in-my-work-as-an-actress-and-an-activist-i-ve-spent-many-years/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [And I am the kind of person that feels so much that if I didn’t have acting (and music), I would burst from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/and-i-am-the-kind-of-person-that-feels-so-much-that-if-i-didn-t-have/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [Comprehensive climate legislation must be passed so that we can ensure a world where this and future generations can experience the bliss of breathing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/comprehensive-climate-legislation-must-be-passed-so-that-we-can/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [The destruction of the natural beauty, the ecosystems, and the majesty of mountains affect us in ways we're not even aware of. 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And a warming climate increases the likelihood of extreme weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/our-planet-is-warming-due-to-pollution-from-human-activities-and-a/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [Mountaintop removal coal operations enrich only a handful of elites while impoverishing everyone else in their proximity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/mountaintop-removal-coal-operations-enrich-only-a-handful-of-elites/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [The main cause that I have attached my name to and am working diligently in is the issue of climate change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/the-main-cause-that-i-have-attached-my-name-to-and-am-working/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [Corporations are poisoning our air and water while at the same time lining the pockets of elected officials with political contributions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/corporations-are-poisoning-our-air-and-water-while-at-the-same-time/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [I consider myself to be an international woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/i-consider-myself-to-be-an-international-woman/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [The coal industry is a huge industry when we're talking about polluting the environment, our air and our waterways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/the-coal-industry-is-a-huge-industry-when-we-re-talking-about/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [It seems to me like Mother Nature's mercy and forgiveness have run dry, as we ceaselessly abuse her and take her for granted in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/it-seems-to-me-like-mother-nature-s-mercy-and-forgiveness-have-run/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [I was in L.A. during an earthquake in 1994, an experience that really stressed me out. I started doing yoga to calm my nerves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/i-was-in-l-a-during-an-earthquake-in-1994-an-experience-that-really/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [Clean energy is about offering people the opportunity to do what's right for themselves and the people they love. It's about reducing the pollution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/clean-energy-is-about-offering-people-the-opportunity-to-do-what-s/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) [Explore all 18 Gloria Reuben quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. 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