--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The root difficulty in all cases was the…" description: "\"“The root difficulty in all cases was the state of being blind and deaf to words-- not seeing the words for the prose. Being adults, they had forgotten..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/jacques-barzun-3251_adversity_the-root-difficulty-in-all-cases-was-the_1949168.png" --- # The root difficulty in all cases was the state of being… ![“The root difficulty in all cases was the state of being blind and deaf to words-- not seeing the words for the prose. Being adults, they had forgotten what every child understands, which is giving and taking a meaning is not automatic and inevitable” quote by Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/jacques-barzun-3251_adversity_the-root-difficulty-in-all-cases-was-the_1949168.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/jacques-barzun-3251_adversity_the-root-difficulty-in-all-cases-was-the_1949168.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/jacques-barzun-3251_adversity_the-root-difficulty-in-all-cases-was-the_1949168.png) > ““The root difficulty in all cases was the state of being blind and deaf to words-- not seeing the words for the prose. Being adults, they had forgotten what every child understands, which is giving and taking a meaning is not automatic and inevitable”” [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding language requires active engagement; adults often lose the childlike openness to meaning, treating words as automatic. **In simple terms:** Adults forget that meaning must be actively given and taken. Key Takeaway Practice mindful listening and speaking. Themes communication learning mindfulness Mood reflective thoughtful Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - education - parenting - team meetings - conflict resolution Key Concepts semiotics cognitive development Questions to Reflect On - How can you relearn childlike curiosity about words? - What habits block active meaning exchange? A Different Perspective Adults may resist changing entrenched habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Giving and taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-and-taking/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing-craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-craft/) ## Related quotes > [Most adults have forgotten what they had to do to survive childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/most-adults-have-forgotten-what-they-had-to-do-to-survive-childhood/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“The thrill of seeing my words on a printed page has never faded. Now I've found my niche, my passion. I want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-thrill-of-seeing-my-words-on-a-printed-page-has-never-faded-now-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I even dream about writing. I'm talking seeing words across the page, whole paragraphs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-even-dream-about-writing-i-m-talking-seeing-words-across-the-page/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [The God weve been praying to is deaf to our words and only responds to our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-god-weve-been-praying-to-is-deaf-to-our-words-and-only-responds/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“There are fights no sword can win, Catelyn wanted to tell him, but she feared the king was deaf to such words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/there-are-fights-no-sword-can-win-catelyn-wanted-to-tell-him-but-she/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [All my life I've felt on the outside wherever I am - out of the picture, the conversation, at a distance, as though I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delphine-de-vigan/all-my-life-i-ve-felt-on-the-outside-wherever-i-am-out-of-the-picture/) [Delphine de Vigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delphine-de-vigan/) > [That's five friends, one each for Jesu's wounds, and Godric bears their mark still on what's left of him as in their time they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/that-s-five-friends-one-each-for-jesu-s-wounds-and-godric-bears-their/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“When Life was Full In the age when life on earth was full, no one paid any special attention to worthy men, nor did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/when-life-was-full-in-the-age-when-life-on-earth-was-full-no-one-paid/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [But when a man draws a lifeless thing into his passionate longing for dialogue, lending it independence and as it were a soul, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/but-when-a-man-draws-a-lifeless-thing-into-his-passionate-longing-for/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [“Giving and taking comfort in everything they could give and take, every part of them sought to make themselves one till it was impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-koenig/giving-and-taking-comfort-in-everything-they-could-give-and-take/) [Laird Koenig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-koenig/) > [The pulse of a strong relationship involves a rhythmic movement between giving and taking, talking and listening, valuing the other person and feeling commensurately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-loehr/the-pulse-of-a-strong-relationship-involves-a-rhythmic-movement/) [Jim Loehr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-loehr/) > [I don't know where anyone ever got the idea that technology, in and of itself, was a savior. Like all human-created 'progress,' computers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-don-t-know-where-anyone-ever-got-the-idea-that-technology-in-and-of/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [“You ask perhaps if one should take the maid herself? Such a plan brings the greatest risk with it. In one case, fresh from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/you-ask-perhaps-if-one-should-take-the-maid-herself-such-a-plan/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [No relationship would be successful without a little compromise. If you can't learn to do that then I'm sorry to say your relationship will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-melton/no-relationship-would-be-successful-without-a-little-compromise-if/) [Glennon Melton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-melton/) > [“I don't like taking from anyone. I'd rather be a giver, though not for any worthy reason. It's about control, obviously. If I give,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-forster/i-don-t-like-taking-from-anyone-i-d-rather-be-a-giver-though-not-for/) [Margaret Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-forster/) ## More by Jacques Barzun > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [It seems a long time since the morning mail could be called correspondence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/it-seems-a-long-time-since-the-morning-mail-could-be-called/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/teaching-is-not-a-lost-art-but-the-regard-for-it-is-a-lost-tradition/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The reason why research is like sculpting from memory is that in neither is there a concrete visible subject to copy directly. The subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-reason-why-research-is-like-sculpting-from-memory-is-that-in/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Everybody keeps calling for Excellence - excellence not just in schooling, throughout society. But as soon as somebody or something stands out as Excellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/everybody-keeps-calling-for-excellence-excellence-not-just-in/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Bernard Shaw remains the only model we have of what the citizen of a democracy should be: an informed participant in all things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/bernard-shaw-remains-the-only-model-we-have-of-what-the-citizen-of-a/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The ascetic is often a sensualist who has reached the limit of his capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-ascetic-is-often-a-sensualist-who-has-reached-the-limit-of-his/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Idealism springs from deep feelings, but feelings are nothing without the formulated idea that keeps them whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/idealism-springs-from-deep-feelings-but-feelings-are-nothing-without/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/in-teaching-you-cannot-see-the-fruit-of-a-day-s-work-it-is-invisible/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The mind tends to run along the groove of one's intention and overlook the actual expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-mind-tends-to-run-along-the-groove-of-one-s-intention-and/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Vanity is a static thing. It puts it faith in what it has, and is easily wounded. Pride is active, and satisfied only with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/vanity-is-a-static-thing-it-puts-it-faith-in-what-it-has-and-is/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [By the time I was 9, I had the conviction that everybody in the world was an artist except plumbers or people who delivered groceries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/by-the-time-i-was-9-i-had-the-conviction-that-everybody-in-the-world/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [A student under my care owes his first allegiance to himself and not to my specialty; and must not be burdened with my work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-allegiance-to-himself-and-not/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [We are accustomed to the artist scoundrel or specialist in vice, and unaccustomed to the creator in whom passion and reason and moral integrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/we-are-accustomed-to-the-artist-scoundrel-or-specialist-in-vice-and/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The professionals resemble and recognize each other by virtue of the stigmata that their trade has left upon them. They are like the dog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-professionals-resemble-and-recognize-each-other-by-virtue-of-the/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) [Explore all 135 Jacques Barzun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The root difficulty in all cases was the state of being blind and deaf to words-- not seeing the words for the prose. 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