--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I had to make a general rule for…" description: "\"If I had to make a general rule for living and working with children, it might be this: be wary of saying or doing anything to a child that you would n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/john-holt-14171_child_if-i-had-to-make-a-general-rule-for-livi_2454688.jpg" --- # If I had to make a general rule for living and working… ![“If I had to make a general rule for living and working with children, it might be this: be wary of saying or doing anything to a child that you would not do to another adult, whose good opinion and affection you valued.” quote by John Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/john-holt-14171_child_if-i-had-to-make-a-general-rule-for-livi_2454688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/john-holt-14171_child_if-i-had-to-make-a-general-rule-for-livi_2454688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/john-holt-14171_child_if-i-had-to-make-a-general-rule-for-livi_2454688.jpg) > “If I had to make a general rule for living and working with children, it might be this: be wary of saying or doing anything to a child that you would not do to another adult, whose good opinion and affection you valued.” [John Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treat children as adults in respect and affection, avoiding double standards that harm relationships. **In simple terms:** Respect children like adults. Key Takeaway Show consistent respect to kids. Themes respect parenting relationships Mood caring ethical Type advice When to use this quote - parent‑child interactions - teaching - discipline Key Concepts double standards affection ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance authority with respect? - What boundaries differ for children vs adults? A Different Perspective Adults may not always be appropriate models. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [“As a general rule the one who is not easily accessible is more valuable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/as-a-general-rule-the-one-who-is-not-easily-accessible-is-more/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [As a general rule, nobody has money who ought to have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/as-a-general-rule-nobody-has-money-who-ought-to-have-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [A general rule: if enough people predict something, it won't happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard/a-general-rule-if-enough-people-predict-something-it-won-t-happen/) [J. 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In well-ordered states, although every man has his own property,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/property-should-be-in-a-general-sense-common-but-as-a-general-rule/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The further you get into technology, the further you go into gaming. 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