--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Children who know how to think for…" description: "\"Children who know how to think for themselves spoil the harmony of the collective society.\" — John Dewey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/john-dewey-545_children_children-who-know-how-to-think-for-thems_1904017.png" --- # Children who know how to think for themselves spoil the… ![“Children who know how to think for themselves spoil the harmony of the collective society.” quote by John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/john-dewey-545_children_children-who-know-how-to-think-for-thems_1904017.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/john-dewey-545_children_children-who-know-how-to-think-for-thems_1904017.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/john-dewey-545_children_children-who-know-how-to-think-for-thems_1904017.png) > “Children who know how to think for themselves spoil the harmony of the collective society.” [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Independent thinking can disrupt social harmony, suggesting a tension between individuality and collective order. **In simple terms:** Thinking for yourself may upset the group. Key Takeaway Balance autonomy with community. Themes individualism society education Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - classroom discussion - policy making - team projects Key Concepts critical thinking social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster both? - When is harmony more important? A Different Perspective Too much conformity can stifle progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-know/) [Collective Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collective-society-2826315/) [Collectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectives/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Spoil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoil/) [Spoil Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoil-harmony-2826316/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Independent self-reliant people would be a counterproductive anachronism in the collective society of the future where people will be defined by their associations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/independent-self-reliant-people-would-be-a-counterproductive/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [This kind of collective society - giving to each according to his need - existed in Africa not only before Karl Marx, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/this-kind-of-collective-society-giving-to-each-according-to-his-need/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [The idea ... that collective society should take hold of Evil and set it down hard in its chair and make it cry seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-stanley-lee/the-idea-that-collective-society-should-take-hold-of-evil-and-set-it/) [Gerald Stanley Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-stanley-lee/) > [I think we need to find a way to provide people with a reason that the average man on the street can grasp and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/i-think-we-need-to-find-a-way-to-provide-people-with-a-reason-that/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [In a collective society, everybody's business is everybody's business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/in-a-collective-society-everybody-s-business-is-everybody-s-business/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [In a world that has so largely engaged in a mad and often brutally harsh race for material gain by means of ruthless competition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/in-a-world-that-has-so-largely-engaged-in-a-mad-and-often-brutally/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The trees are in misery, and the birds are in misery. 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You just don't beleive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/you-are-the-smartest-children-i-know-you-just-don-t-beleive-it/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Many public-school children seem to know only two dates—1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/many-public-school-children-seem-to-know-only-two-dates-1492-and-4th/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To my future children; you will know the true meaning of Christmas just not you get gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-my-future-children-you-will-know-the-true-meaning-of-christmas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) ## More by John Dewey > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [“Empirically, things are poignant, tragic, beautiful, humorous, settled, disturbed, comfortable, annoying, barren, harsh, consoling, splendid, fearful; are such immediately and in their own right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/empirically-things-are-poignant-tragic-beautiful-humorous-settled/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Experiences in order to be educative must lead out into an expanding world of subject matter, a subject matter of facts or information and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/experiences-in-order-to-be-educative-must-lead-out-into-an-expanding/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [A tribe, let us say, is warlike. 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