--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every observer has noted that the younger…" description: "\"“Every observer has noted that the younger the child, the less sense he has of his own ego. From the intellectual point of view, he does not distinguis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/jean-piaget-4336_children_every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younge_1426028.jpg" --- # Every observer has noted that the younger the child, the… ![“Every observer has noted that the younger the child, the less sense he has of his own ego. From the intellectual point of view, he does not distinguish between external and internal, subjective and objective. From the point of view of action, he yields to every suggestion, and if he does oppose to…” quote by Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/jean-piaget-4336_children_every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younge_1426028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/jean-piaget-4336_children_every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younge_1426028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/jean-piaget-4336_children_every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younge_1426028.jpg) > ““Every observer has noted that the younger the child, the less sense he has of his own ego. From the intellectual point of view, he does not distinguish between external and internal, subjective and objective. From the point of view of action, he yields to every suggestion, and if he does oppose to other people's wills — a certain negativism which has been called "the spirit of contradiction" — this only points to his real defenselessness against his surroundings. A strong personality can maintain itself without the help of this particular weapon. The adult and the older child have complete power over him. They impose their opinions and their wishes, and the child accepts them without knowing that he does so.”” [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) ## 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 a developed ego, so they cannot differentiate self from others and easily accept external influences. **In simple terms:** Children are ego‑less and easily influenced. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture independent thinking early. Themes development ego influence authority independence Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - parenting - education - leadership training - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology child development socialization Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster autonomy in children? - What role does ego play in personal growth? A Different Perspective Adults may dominate children, limiting their autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certain Negativism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-negativism-5063603/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Negativism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negativism/) [Negativism Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negativism-called-5063602/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Spirit Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-contradiction-2861327/) [Strong personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-personality/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever excites the spirit of contradiction is capable of producing the last effects of heroism; which is only the highest pitch of obstinacy, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/whatever-excites-the-spirit-of-contradiction-is-capable-of-producing/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The spirit of creation is the spirit of contradiction. It is the breakthrough of appearances toward an unknown reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/the-spirit-of-creation-is-the-spirit-of-contradiction-it-is-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Do not carry a spirit of contradiction, for it is to be freighted with stupidity and with peevishness, and your intelligence should plot against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/do-not-carry-a-spirit-of-contradiction-for-it-is-to-be-freighted-with/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [There is no contradiction between technology and spirit. There is no contradiction between the search for intellectual integration and understanding and the psychedelic experience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/there-is-no-contradiction-between-technology-and-spirit-there-is-no/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Nixon's own protection from the assassin's bullet... nattering nabobs of negativism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/nixon-s-own-protection-from-the-assassin-s-bullet-nattering-nabobs-of/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [“They are nattering nabobs of negativism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [... nattering nabobs of negativism ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/nattering-nabobs-of-negativism/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [To recognize negativism as a force of creation is to give up the creative standpoint altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-twitchell/to-recognize-negativism-as-a-force-of-creation-is-to-give-up-the/) [Paul Twitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-twitchell/) > [Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging. Negativism to the pain and ferocity of life is negativism to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/opportunities-to-find-deeper-powers-within-ourselves-come-when-life-2/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“I am drowning in negativism, self-hate, doubt, madness - and even I am not strong enough to deny the routine, the rote, to simplify.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-am-drowning-in-negativism-self-hate-doubt-madness-and-even-i-am-not/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“Negativism is the most harmful disease in the world. They spread much faster and does not go away. There are no antibiotics to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santoshkumar-shukla/negativism-is-the-most-harmful-disease-in-the-world-they-spread-much/) [Santoshkumar Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santoshkumar-shukla/) > [What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/what-i-am-suggesting-is-that-each-of-us-turn-from-the-negativism-that/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism. They have formed their own 4-H Club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/in-the-united-states-today-we-have-more-than-our-share-of-the/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [We must remember when we speak of the "negativism" of the toddler that this is also the child who is intoxicated with the discoveries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/we-must-remember-when-we-speak-of-the-negativism-of-the-toddler-that/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/in-the-united-states-today-we-have-more-than-our-share-of-the-2/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) ## More by Jean Piaget > [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/) > [Each time one prematurely teaches a child something he could have discovered himself, that child is kept from inventing it and consequently from understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/each-time-one-prematurely-teaches-a-child-something-he-could-have/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Childish egocentrism is, in its essence, an inability to differentiate between the ego and the social environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/childish-egocentrism-is-in-its-essence-an-inability-to-differentiate/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“A fact is first an answer to a question. If Sartre had consulted psychologists before judging them in the light of his own genius,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/a-fact-is-first-an-answer-to-a-question-if-sartre-had-consulted/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [If logic itself is created rather than being inborn, it follows that the first task of education is to form reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/if-logic-itself-is-created-rather-than-being-inborn-it-follows-that/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Experience precedes understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/experience-precedes-understanding/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Equilibrium is the profoundest tendency of all human activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/equilibrium-is-the-profoundest-tendency-of-all-human-activity/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“To expect a fact, is by definition to expect the isolated, it is for positivism, to prefer the ‘accident’ to the essential, the contingent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/to-expect-a-fact-is-by-definition-to-expect-the-isolated-it-is-for/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Knowing reality means constructing systems of transformations that correspond, more or less adequately, to reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/knowing-reality-means-constructing-systems-of-transformations-that/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [The majority of parents are poor psychologists and give their children the most questionable moral trainings. It is perhaps in this domain that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-majority-of-parents-are-poor-psychologists-and-give-their/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [As you know, Bergson pointed out that there is no such thing as disorder but rather two sorts of order, geometric and living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/as-you-know-bergson-pointed-out-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [For the fundamental fact of human psychology is that society, instead of remaining almost entirely inside the individual organism as in the case of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/for-the-fundamental-fact-of-human-psychology-is-that-society-instead/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [What is desired is that the teacher ceased being a lecturer, satisfied with transmitting ready-made solutions. His role should rather be that of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/what-is-desired-is-that-the-teacher-ceased-being-a-lecturer-satisfied/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“I know some very intelligent philosophers, not at all dogmatic, who believe that “science” cannot introduce the concept of finality in the analysis and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/i-know-some-very-intelligent-philosophers-not-at-all-dogmatic-who/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) [Explore all 112 Jean Piaget quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) ## 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. 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/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Every observer has noted that the younger the child, the less sense he has of his own ego. From the intellectual point of view, he does not distinguish between external and internal, subjective and objective. From the point of view of action, he yields to every suggestion, and if he does oppose to other people's wills — a certain negativism which has been called \"the spirit of contradiction\" — this only points to his real defenselessness against his surroundings. A strong personality can maintain itself without the help of this particular weapon. The adult and the older child have complete power over him. They impose their opinions and their wishes, and the child accepts them without knowing that he does so.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Piaget" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younger-the-child-the-less-sense-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younger-the-child-the-less-sense-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/jean-piaget-4336_children_every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younge_1426028.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/jean-piaget-4336_children_every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younge_1426028.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/jean-piaget-4336_children_every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younge_1426028.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every observer has noted that the younger the child, the less sense he has of his own ego. From the…” — Jean Piaget", "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": "Jean Piaget", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Every observer has noted that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younger-the-child-the-less-sense-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younger-the-child-the-less-sense-he/#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 } } ] } ```