--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do you know what separates adults from…" description: "\"Do you know what separates adults from children? Self-discipline. We don’t want to go to work, we don’t want to do our chores, and we don’t want to mak..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/398/ilona-andrews-150_adults_do-you-know-what-separates-adults-from-c_3154994.png" --- # Do you know what separates adults from children?… ![“Do you know what separates adults from children? Self-discipline. We don’t want to go to work, we don’t want to do our chores, and we don’t want to make unpleasant decisions, but we do all those things because we’re aware of the consequences which will follow if we don’t.” quote by Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/398/ilona-andrews-150_adults_do-you-know-what-separates-adults-from-c_3154994.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/398/ilona-andrews-150_adults_do-you-know-what-separates-adults-from-c_3154994.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/398/ilona-andrews-150_adults_do-you-know-what-separates-adults-from-c_3154994.png) > “Do you know what separates adults from children? Self-discipline. We don’t want to go to work, we don’t want to do our chores, and we don’t want to make unpleasant decisions, but we do all those things because we’re aware of the consequences which will follow if we don’t.” [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adults differ from children by exercising self‑discipline, doing necessary but unpleasant tasks because they understand future consequences. **In simple terms:** Self‑discipline separates adults from children. Key Takeaway Practice self‑discipline for long‑term benefit. Themes responsibility self‑discipline consequence awareness Mood motivational practical Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - Workplace productivity - personal habit formation - financial planning Key Concepts Maturity decision‑making future planning Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help maintain self‑discipline? - How do consequences motivate behavior? A Different Perspective Self‑discipline can be hard to sustain without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Adults Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults-children-337295/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Chores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chores/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-discipline/) [Separates Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separates-adults-5679681/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [This is what happens when you are on the wrong side of 40. Young adults, who could be your children, are now working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/this-is-what-happens-when-you-are-on-the-wrong-side-of-40-young/) [Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/) > [“From what I can tell, the chief distinguishing factor between children and adults is that children hear everything while appearing not to and adults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mccauley/from-what-i-can-tell-the-chief-distinguishing-factor-between-children/) [Stephen McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mccauley/) > [Why do we have to grow up? I know more adults who have the children's approach to life. They're people who don't give a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/why-do-we-have-to-grow-up-i-know-more-adults-who-have-the-children-s/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [If you write for children with respect and treat them with dignity - you'll capture the adults as well. Children deserve nothing but our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-lloyd-jones/if-you-write-for-children-with-respect-and-treat-them-with-dignity/) [Sally Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-lloyd-jones/) > [“Once upon a time, all children were homeschooled. They were not sent away from home each day to a place just for children but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gathercole/once-upon-a-time-all-children-were-homeschooled-they-were-not-sent/) [Rachel Gathercole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gathercole/) > [If you want to discover how to make children laugh - and I truly believe all adults should, because children need laughter - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rosen/if-you-want-to-discover-how-to-make-children-laugh-and-i-truly/) [Michael Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rosen/) > [“Children are bad enough--children are rude, selfish, greedy, and unthinking individuals who are unable to distinguish between their own selfish wants and needs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-sansom/children-are-bad-enough-children-are-rude-selfish-greedy-and/) [Ian Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-sansom/) > [Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children, and by children to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-szasz/happiness-is-an-imaginary-condition-formerly-attributed-by-the-living/) [Thomas Szasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-szasz/) > [“Now there are adults without children who go to Disney, and they are called weirdos. Very nice people. Absolutely crazy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/now-there-are-adults-without-children-who-go-to-disney-and-they-are/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [“In the process of helping children prepare to minister and in doing ministry together, important relationships can develop between child and adult. When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-stonehouse/in-the-process-of-helping-children-prepare-to-minister-and-in-doing/) [Catherine Stonehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-stonehouse/) > [It is healthier, in any case, to write for the adults one's children will become than for the children one's 'mature' critics often are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/it-is-healthier-in-any-case-to-write-for-the-adults-one-s-children/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Children use all their wiles to get their way with adults. Adults do the same with children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/children-use-all-their-wiles-to-get-their-way-with-adults-adults-do/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“Teaching children is important for adults as well as children. As we tell children the stories of the faith, talk with them about God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-stonehouse/teaching-children-is-important-for-adults-as-well-as-children-as-we/) [Catherine Stonehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-stonehouse/) > [“Disney archivist Dave Smith said, "Disneyland's true appeal, we admit now, is to adults. Children don't need it. Their imaginations are enough. For them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-gennawey/disney-archivist-dave-smith-said-disneyland-s-true-appeal-we-admit/) [Sam Gennawey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-gennawey/) > [We're all family at the end of the day - connected to other members of our family as adults or children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-frost/we-re-all-family-at-the-end-of-the-day-connected-to-other-members-of/) [Jo Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-frost/) ## More by Ilona Andrews > [“Did he kill Grandmother?” I whispered. “Don’t be ridiculous,” Erra’s voice said in my ear. “She is already dead. Besides, your grandmother was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/did-he-kill-grandmother-i-whispered-don-t-be-ridiculous-erra-s-voice/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [The only way to make sure that the Hand didn't get to you would have been to kill your brother. I could've done it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-only-way-to-make-sure-that-the-hand-didn-t-get-to-you-would-have/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“He hit her with his best smile. Her eyes widened. She took a deep breath. 'Oh no, not that seductive face. I'm overcome with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-hit-her-with-his-best-smile-her-eyes-widened-she-took-a-deep/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Because he doesn’t want me talking to my grandmother.” Barabas looked at Curran. Curran shrugged. “It’s a family thing. Sometimes your father puts your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/because-he-doesn-t-want-me-talking-to-my-grandmother-barabas-looked/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I had forgotten that talking to you is like trying to pet a cactus." Saiman said dryly. "Thank you for reminding me." "Always happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-had-forgotten-that-talking-to-you-is-like-trying-to-pet-a-cactus/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [« He squeezed his hands into fists. I picked up a grapefruit-sized rock and handed it to him. It went flying. Home run, Beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-squeezed-his-hands-into-fists-i-picked-up-a-grapefruit-sized-rock/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“He came for me. I couldn’t believe it. He came for me . Into a flying palace full of thousands of armed rakshasas in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-came-for-me-i-couldn-t-believe-it-he-came-for-me-into-a-flying/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Saiman picked up a coffee mug, stared at it, and hurled it against the wall. It shattered into a dozen pieces. We looked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/saiman-picked-up-a-coffee-mug-stared-at-it-and-hurled-it-against-the/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Slowly the reality of the situation sank in. He got his ass kicked, learned nothing, and got saved by a dumb dog and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/slowly-the-reality-of-the-situation-sank-in-he-got-his-ass-kicked/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“I paused with the pen in my hand. "He burst into flames?" "He became engulfed in fire." "Was his buddy made out of orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-paused-with-the-pen-in-my-hand-he-burst-into-flames-he-became/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“He hung his head. “Am I punished?” “Yes. I’m too mad to punish you right now. We’ll talk about it when we get home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-hung-his-head-am-i-punished-yes-i-m-too-mad-to-punish-you-right/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [The pervert." "He prefers to think of himself as sexual deviant." "Semantics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-pervert-he-prefers-to-think-of-himself-as-sexual-deviant-semantics/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“I want you to understand me. This isn’t vengeance. This is punishment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-want-you-to-understand-me-this-isn-t-vengeance-this-is-punishment/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [He snarled. I showed him my teeth. A rolled-up newspaper landed on my head and then on Jim’s. “None of that in my house!”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-snarled-i-showed-him-my-teeth-a-rolled-up-newspaper-landed-on-my/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [The door swung open and Kate walked in. Her jeans and T-shirt were splattered with blood and she was carrying a severed vampire head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-door-swung-open-and-kate-walked-in-her-jeans-and-t-shirt-were/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) [Explore all 1,105 Ilona Andrews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) ## More Adults 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/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) [One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do you know what separates adults from children? Self-discipline. We don’t want to go to work, we don’t want to do our chores, and we don’t want to make unpleasant decisions, but we do all those things because we’re aware of the consequences which will follow if we don’t.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ilona Andrews" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/do-you-know-what-separates-adults-from-children-self-discipline-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adults" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/do-you-know-what-separates-adults-from-children-self-discipline-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/398/ilona-andrews-150_adults_do-you-know-what-separates-adults-from-c_3154994.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/398/ilona-andrews-150_adults_do-you-know-what-separates-adults-from-c_3154994.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/398/ilona-andrews-150_adults_do-you-know-what-separates-adults-from-c_3154994.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do you know what separates adults from children? Self-discipline. We don’t want to go to work, we don’t want…” — Ilona Andrews", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ilona Andrews", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Do you know what separates adults...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/do-you-know-what-separates-adults-from-children-self-discipline-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/do-you-know-what-separates-adults-from-children-self-discipline-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```