--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Five-hundred years ago people were saying…" description: "\"Five-hundred years ago people were saying in manuscripts, \"Can you believe these kids today?\" They were saying that same phrase everyone says now. No o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/joel-mchale-8254_believe_five-hundred-years-ago-people-were-sayin_726615.png" --- # Five-hundred years ago people were saying in manuscripts… ![“Five-hundred years ago people were saying in manuscripts, "Can you believe these kids today?" They were saying that same phrase everyone says now. No one can believe the youth and what they're doing and how culture is going and how it might fall apart.” quote by Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/joel-mchale-8254_believe_five-hundred-years-ago-people-were-sayin_726615.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/joel-mchale-8254_believe_five-hundred-years-ago-people-were-sayin_726615.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/joel-mchale-8254_believe_five-hundred-years-ago-people-were-sayin_726615.png) > “Five-hundred years ago people were saying in manuscripts, "Can you believe these kids today?" They were saying that same phrase everyone says now. No one can believe the youth and what they're doing and how culture is going and how it might fall apart.” [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote observes that each generation feels youth are out of control, showing a timeless pattern of generational criticism. **In simple terms:** Every generation thinks youth are reckless. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about youth behavior. Themes generational conflict nostalgia culture Mood reflective skeptical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - education policy - media commentary Key Concepts sociology media studies historical cycles Questions to Reflect On - Why do we repeat this criticism? - What evidence counters the claim? A Different Perspective The critique may ignore positive youth contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-kids-2819638/) [Believe Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-youth-528259/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Fall apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-apart/) [Falling apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-apart/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Manuscripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manuscripts/) [Manuscripts Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manuscripts-believe-5699361/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-saying/) [Phrases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phrases/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) [Youth Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth-doing-2917958/) ## Related quotes > [That's what music should be like all the time. No stress, moving things forward, inspiring the youth, and doing it with style and vigor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/that-s-what-music-should-be-like-all-the-time-no-stress-moving-things/) [Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/) > [One important thing I take away daily is that for all the talk about what youth are not doing - especially young people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/one-important-thing-i-take-away-daily-is-that-for-all-the-talk-about/) [Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [I genuinely believe in the youth. I think the youth is our future and them having a great upcoming will be what changes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-ramsey/i-genuinely-believe-in-the-youth-i-think-the-youth-is-our-future-and/) [Jalen Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-ramsey/) > [In real life you are doomed if you believe in youth and money, but not here in Hollywood. Nothing is what it seems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-eliasch/in-real-life-you-are-doomed-if-you-believe-in-youth-and-money-but-not/) [Amanda Eliasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-eliasch/) > [“We talked of a future life, of art, service, marriage, and education; nor did the idea ever occur to us that very possibly all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/we-talked-of-a-future-life-of-art-service-marriage-and-education-nor/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I wish there were more young people in the big houses, but sometimes it's really hard for them to believe in the youth because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/i-wish-there-were-more-young-people-in-the-big-houses-but-sometimes/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Paradoxical as it may seem, to believe in youth is to look backward; to look forward we must believe in age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/paradoxical-as-it-may-seem-to-believe-in-youth-is-to-look-backward-to/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I really do believe that youth comes from how you look at the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-really-do-believe-that-youth-comes-from-how-you-look-at-the-world/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [I believe kids shouldn't be taught Shakespeare. They should experience it first by seeing a great production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-believe-kids-shouldn-t-be-taught-shakespeare-they-should-experience/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [Chinese parents believe that their kids owe them everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/chinese-parents-believe-that-their-kids-owe-them-everything/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [“The trouble with adults is that they never believe kids can do something even when they have good ideas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-merrill/the-trouble-with-adults-is-that-they-never-believe-kids-can-do/) [Jean Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-merrill/) > [The French believe that kids feel confident when they're able to do things for themselves, and do those things well. After children have learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/the-french-believe-that-kids-feel-confident-when-they-re-able-to-do/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) > [“School vision statements often read something like, “We believe all kids can learn” or “life-long learners” or something silly like that. What an absurd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-huskie/school-vision-statements-often-read-something-like-we-believe-all/) [Brian Huskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-huskie/) > [I firmly believe kids don't want your understanding. They want your trust, your compassion, your blinding love and your car keys, but you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/i-firmly-believe-kids-don-t-want-your-understanding-they-want-your/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [I believe in my kids 100 percent. When you have confidence in them, they have confidence in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-strahan/i-believe-in-my-kids-100-percent-when-you-have-confidence-in-them/) [Michael Strahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-strahan/) ## More by Joel McHale > [I don't think the NFL had the slightest intention of taking me, except as maybe a water boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-don-t-think-the-nfl-had-the-slightest-intention-of-taking-me-except/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I love the challenge of an entire year has gone by and how has that affected the character you're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-love-the-challenge-of-an-entire-year-has-gone-by-and-how-has-that/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [ Well, that would be a title \[the busiest guy in Hollywood\] still reserved for Ryan Seacrest. I have one assistant; he has about nine.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/well-that-would-be-a-title-the-busiest-guy-in-hollywood-still/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [My goal and my career is definitely not to be famous. That's a really horrible goal, just to be famous for the sake of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/my-goal-and-my-career-is-definitely-not-to-be-famous-that-s-a-really/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I'm very happy and being raised Catholic I assume it will end tomorrow. The rug will be pulled out from under me and someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-m-very-happy-and-being-raised-catholic-i-assume-it-will-end/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I don't feel any pressure to joke about #MeToo - in fact, I'd say you shouldn't, because it's a great movement that is exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-don-t-feel-any-pressure-to-joke-about-metoo-in-fact-i-d-say-you/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [People might say it came easy for me. The fact is, I've worked hard on every role. I prepare for each audition...take the script,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/people-might-say-it-came-easy-for-me-the-fact-is-i-ve-worked-hard-on/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > ['Almost Live' allowed me to take chances and try things you can't do on national television. It allowed me to screw up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/almost-live-allowed-me-to-take-chances-and-try-things-you-can-t-do-on/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I was serious about Ultimate Fighting Championship. And I'm not even ashamed to say it because I want free tickets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-was-serious-about-ultimate-fighting-championship-and-i-m-not-even/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I don't really know. I think the first test is when you're very little and you fart, and you laugh at it and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-don-t-really-know-i-think-the-first-test-is-when-you-re-very-little/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [It's an awesome thing to be flung out onto the stage twice a weekend in front of 250 people, and you have to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/it-s-an-awesome-thing-to-be-flung-out-onto-the-stage-twice-a-weekend/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I think the smart people will get even smarter, and the dumb people will get even dumber. But I think they all will enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-think-the-smart-people-will-get-even-smarter-and-the-dumb-people/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I love making fun of YouTubers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-love-making-fun-of-youtubers/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [Our mantra is that 90 percent of all television is bad, and ten percent has never been better. We make fun of that 90 percent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/our-mantra-is-that-90-percent-of-all-television-is-bad-and-ten/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I loved New Jersey. I thought it was the greatest place in the world because on Halloween kids could start trick or treating right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-loved-new-jersey-i-thought-it-was-the-greatest-place-in-the-world/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) [Explore all 82 Joel McHale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Five-hundred years ago people were saying in manuscripts, \"Can you believe these kids today?\" They were saying that same phrase everyone says now. No one can believe the youth and what they're doing and how culture is going and how it might fall apart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel McHale" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/five-hundred-years-ago-people-were-saying-in-manuscripts-can-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/five-hundred-years-ago-people-were-saying-in-manuscripts-can-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/joel-mchale-8254_believe_five-hundred-years-ago-people-were-sayin_726615.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/joel-mchale-8254_believe_five-hundred-years-ago-people-were-sayin_726615.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/joel-mchale-8254_believe_five-hundred-years-ago-people-were-sayin_726615.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Five-hundred years ago people were saying in manuscripts, \"Can you believe these kids today?\" They were…” — Joel McHale", "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": "Joel McHale", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Five-hundred years ago people were saying...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/five-hundred-years-ago-people-were-saying-in-manuscripts-can-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/five-hundred-years-ago-people-were-saying-in-manuscripts-can-you/#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 } } ] } ```