--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men are but children of a larger growth." description: "\"Men are but children of a larger growth.\" — John Dryden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/john-dryden-491_adulthood_men-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth_132233.jpg" --- # Men are but children of a larger growth. ![“Men are but children of a larger growth.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/john-dryden-491_adulthood_men-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth_132233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/john-dryden-491_adulthood_men-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth_132233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/john-dryden-491_adulthood_men-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth_132233.jpg) > “Men are but children of a larger growth.” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human growth is akin to childlike development, suggesting continual learning and evolution. **In simple terms:** Humans grow like children. Key Takeaway Embrace lifelong learning. Themes growth development human nature learning evolution Mood optimistic thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal development - mentoring - education policy Key Concepts psychology education philosophy self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - How can we nurture continual growth? - What obstacles impede human development? A Different Perspective Growth may be hindered by stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adulthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adulthood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Men and women are but children of a larger growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/men-and-women-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Women, then, are only children of a larger growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/women-then-are-only-children-of-a-larger-growth/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Children, and sometimes those of larger growth, will not read dialect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-jacobs/children-and-sometimes-those-of-larger-growth-will-not-read-dialect/) [Joseph Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-jacobs/) > [Physical punishment teaches children that the larger, stronger person has the power to get his way, whether or not he is in the right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/physical-punishment-teaches-children-that-the-larger-stronger-person/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [Old men are children for the second time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menander/old-men-are-children-for-the-second-time/) [Menander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menander/) > [If God had meant men to have children, he would have given them a PVC apron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-wood/if-god-had-meant-men-to-have-children-he-would-have-given-them-a-pvc/) [Victoria Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-wood/) > [“The answer to the question ‘How many children do you have?’ and the one to the question ‘How many children are you raising?’ are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/the-answer-to-the-question-how-many-children-do-you-have-and-the-one/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [There is not a single extant study that supports all the arguments against men being with their children. It's absolute bollocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-geldof/there-is-not-a-single-extant-study-that-supports-all-the-arguments/) [Bob Geldof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-geldof/) > [Most sorts of diversion in men, children and other animals, are in imitation of fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/most-sorts-of-diversion-in-men-children-and-other-animals-are-in/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Women's love is for their men, not for their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/women-s-love-is-for-their-men-not-for-their-children/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“It is possible the world is divided into three genders - there are men, there are women and then there are women who choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christos-tsiolkas/it-is-possible-the-world-is-divided-into-three-genders-there-are-men/) [Christos Tsiolkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christos-tsiolkas/) > [All men are children, and of one family. The same tale sends them all to bed, and wakes them in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-men-are-children-and-of-one-family-the-same-tale-sends-them-all/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [All men are children, and of one family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-men-are-children-and-of-one-family/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Old men are children once again a dream that sways and wavers into the hard light of day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/old-men-are-children-once-again-a-dream-that-sways-and-wavers-into/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [They say that children become men, and men become children. Many generations have grown up, become men, and gone hence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sholom-aleichem/they-say-that-children-become-men-and-men-become-children-many/) [Sholom Aleichem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sholom-aleichem/) ## More by John Dryden > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Stiff opinion, always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/stiff-opinion-always-in-the-wrong/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-s-virtues-i-have-commended-as-freely-as-i-have-taxed-their-crimes/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-without-success-is-a-fair-picture-shown-by-an-ill-light-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More Adulthood quotes > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [People often say that you should never work with child actors. I think that's all wrong. Children have not had the imagination kicked out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/people-often-say-that-you-should-never-work-with-child-actors-i-think/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [Two things suck about becoming an adult male - paying taxes and getting a finger in your butt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-code/two-things-suck-about-becoming-an-adult-male-paying-taxes-and-getting/) Guy Code > [You can only pretend for so long before reality hits and you realize he/she is not who you thought or what you truly want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/you-can-only-pretend-for-so-long-before-reality-hits-and-you-realize/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [If I were entering adulthood now instead of in the environment of fifty years ago, I would choose a career that kept me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/if-i-were-entering-adulthood-now-instead-of-in-the-environment-of/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [“English: "Being an adult doesn't mean killing the child we once were; it means being able to protect him." Česky: „Být dospělým neznamená zabít…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebasti-n-wortys/english-being-an-adult-doesn-t-mean-killing-the-child-we-once-were-it/) [Sebastián Wortys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebasti-n-wortys/) > [“I wondered what a man I had encountered the day before on the plane en route to Chicago's O'Hare airport would have made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/i-wondered-what-a-man-i-had-encountered-the-day-before-on-the-plane/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [“Sometimes your kids will say the nastiest things, won't they, Rose? You want to ask,'Whose child is this?'" Rose chuckled. "But usually, they're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/sometimes-your-kids-will-say-the-nastiest-things-won-t-they-rose-you/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [No one, it has been said, will ever look at the Moon in the same way again. More significantly can one say that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/no-one-it-has-been-said-will-ever-look-at-the-moon-in-the-same-way/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [Being an adult is the ability to postpone a want for the sake of a family need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/being-an-adult-is-the-ability-to-postpone-a-want-for-the-sake-of-a/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [“one Secret of Adulthood is “Never start a sentence with the words ‘No offense’”? “And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-secret-of-adulthood-is-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [In their youth, mortals behave more like nymphs. Adulthood seems impossibly distant, let alone the enfeeblement of old age. But ponderously, inevitably, it overtakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/in-their-youth-mortals-behave-more-like-nymphs-adulthood-seems/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [Public schools were designed as the great equalizers of our society - the place where all children could have access to educational opportunities to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-napolitano/public-schools-were-designed-as-the-great-equalizers-of-our-society/) [Janet Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-napolitano/) > [“Yet GenX'er teens didn't slow down--they were just as likely to drive, drink alcohol, and date as their Boomer peers and more likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/yet-genx-er-teens-didn-t-slow-down-they-were-just-as-likely-to-drive/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“The entrepreneurs are only about my age, probably younger, but they don't seem so. Their tailored clothes and unbending hairdos, their clipboards and laser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-baume/the-entrepreneurs-are-only-about-my-age-probably-younger-but-they-don/) [Sara Baume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-baume/) [Browse all 651 Adulthood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adulthood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men are but children of a larger growth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dryden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adulthood" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/john-dryden-491_adulthood_men-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth_132233.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/john-dryden-491_adulthood_men-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth_132233.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/john-dryden-491_adulthood_men-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth_132233.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men are but children of a larger growth.” — John Dryden", "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": "John Dryden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Men are but children of a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-are-but-children-of-a-larger-growth/#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 } } ] } ```