Children Quote by Ingmar Bergman
““I'll tell you something banal.We're emotional illiterates.And not only you and I-practically everybody,that's the depressing thing.We're taught everything about the body and about agriculture in Madagascar and about the square root of pi, or whatever the hell it's called,but not a word about the soul.We're abysmally ignorant,about both ourselves and others.There's a lot of loose talk nowadays to the effect that children should be brought up to know all about brotherhood and understanding and coexistence and equality and everything else that's all the rage just now.But it doesn't dawn on anyone that we must first learn something about ourselves and our own feelings.Our own fear and loneliness and anger.We're left without a chance,ignorant and remorseful among the ruins of our ambitions.To make a child aware of it's soul is something almost indecent.You're regarded as a dirty old man.How can you understand other people if you don't know anything about yourself?Now you're yawning,so that's the end of the lecture.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: "The Art of Cinema", 1975
People neglect emotional education, focusing on intellect, leaving them ill‑equipped to understand themselves and others.
In simple terms: Emotions are ignored in education.
Learn about feelings before judging others.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- parenting
- school curricula
- personal therapy
- team building
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What emotions do you avoid?
- How can emotional literacy improve relationships?
Some may argue intellectual knowledge also shapes emotional insight.