Adults Quote by Jean Cocteau
“At all costs the true world of childhood must prevail, must be restored; that world whose momentous, heroic, mysterious quality is fed on airy nothings, whose substance is so ill-fitted to withstand the brutal touch of adult inquisition.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Les Enfants Terribles by Jean Cocteau, 1929
The pure, imaginative realm of childhood must be protected against harsh adult scrutiny, as it holds heroic and mysterious qualities.
In simple terms: Protect childhood imagination from adult harshness.
Key Takeaway
Guard and nurture youthful wonder.
Themes
childhood
imagination
protection
heroism
reality
Mood
reflective
melancholic
hopeful
Type
literary
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- creative writing
- mental health therapy
- counseling
Key Concepts
psychology
nostalgia
creative innocence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance adult responsibility with preserving childlike wonder?
- What adult experiences benefit from a childlike perspective?
A Different Perspective
Adults often dismiss childish wonder as trivial, limiting growth.
![“Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him. [...] We, people hearts, seldom say much about these treasures, because people no longer want to go in search of them. We speak of them only to children. Later we simple let life proceed, in its own direction, toward its own path laid out for them…” quote by Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/60c/paulo-coelho-10_destiny_everyone-on-earth-has-a-treasure-that-aw_2306935.jpg)
![“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 art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/katherine-paterson-2365_adults_he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-s_6101.jpg)
