--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know that many people won’t believe…" description: "\"“I know that many people won’t believe that a child not yet eleven is capable of such feelings. It is not to those people that I am telling my story. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/hermann-hesse-130_children_i-know-that-many-people-won-t-believe-th_1411292.jpg" --- # I know that many people won’t believe that a child not yet… ![“I know that many people won’t believe that a child not yet eleven is capable of such feelings. It is not to those people that I am telling my story. I’m telling it to those who have greater knowledge of humanity. An adult who has learned how to transform part of his emotions into thought processes…” quote by Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/hermann-hesse-130_children_i-know-that-many-people-won-t-believe-th_1411292.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/hermann-hesse-130_children_i-know-that-many-people-won-t-believe-th_1411292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/hermann-hesse-130_children_i-know-that-many-people-won-t-believe-th_1411292.jpg) > ““I know that many people won’t believe that a child not yet eleven is capable of such feelings. It is not to those people that I am telling my story. I’m telling it to those who have greater knowledge of humanity. An adult who has learned how to transform part of his emotions into thought processes notices that such thoughts aren’t present in a child, and then concludes that the experiences aren’t present, either. But only seldom in my life have I had such deep and painful experiences as I had then.”” [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children lack the emotional depth of adults, making their feelings seem less credible. **In simple terms:** Children’s feelings seem less deep than adults’. Key Takeaway Recognize that children can feel deeply. Themes psychology empathy development Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - education - therapy - writing memoirs Key Concepts emotional maturity cognitive development Questions to Reflect On - How can we better understand children’s inner lives? - What biases affect our perception of youth? A Different Perspective Adults may misinterpret children’s emotions as immature. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-child-588064/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Emotions Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions-thought-1692283/) [Experiences Aren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences-aren-328840/) [Feelings People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-people/) [Humanity Adult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-adult-3501660/) ## Related quotes > [X-Men is not a story about superheroes, but a story about the ongoing revolutionary struggle between good/new and bad/old. The X-Men are every rebel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/x-men-is-not-a-story-about-superheroes-but-a-story-about-the-ongoing/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [I do think there's something about the digital age that is increasingly dehumanising us. 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They may be content, and happy after a fashion, but they aren't very deep. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cameron/people-who-have-only-good-experiences-aren-t-very-interesting-they/) [Peter Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cameron/) > [“And if college is all wrong for you, if you really don't like it in the way you fear, well - it won't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-if-college-is-all-wrong-for-you-if-you-really-don-t-like-it-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Our painful experiences aren’t a liability—they’re a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and our strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-eger/our-painful-experiences-aren-t-a-liability-they-re-a-gift-they-give/) [Edith Eger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-eger/) ## More by Hermann Hesse > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/the-bird-fights-its-way-out-of-the-egg-the-egg-is-the-world-who-would/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/everything-becomes-a-little-different-as-soon-as-it-is-spoken-out-loud/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-may-be-important-to-great-thinkers-to-examine-the-world-to-explain/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“..it is useless for you to build walls and dormitories and chapels and churches. Death looks through the window and laughs..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-is-useless-for-you-to-build-walls-and-dormitories-and-chapels-and/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“When the world is at peace, when all things are tranquil and all men obey their superiors in all their courses, then music can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/when-the-world-is-at-peace-when-all-things-are-tranquil-and-all-men/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [A mere nothing suffices — and the lightning strikes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-mere-nothing-suffices-and-the-lightning-strikes/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“And if time is not real, then the dividing line that seems to lie between this world and eternity, between suffering and bliss, between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/and-if-time-is-not-real-then-the-dividing-line-that-seems-to-lie/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Beautiful was this world, looking at it thus, without searching, thus simply, thus childlike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/beautiful-was-this-world-looking-at-it-thus-without-searching-thus/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Were not the gods forms created like me and you, mortal, transient?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/were-not-the-gods-forms-created-like-me-and-you-mortal-transient/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) [Explore all 951 Hermann Hesse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## More Children 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/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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