--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What gives me concern in so much of the…" description: "\"What gives me concern in so much of the comment is the implication that the people of Hong Kong have to be given a reward, like children, for being goo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/john-james-cowperthwaite-26791_attitude_what-gives-me-concern-in-so-much-of-the_339755.jpg" --- # What gives me concern in so much of the comment is the… ![“What gives me concern in so much of the comment is the implication that the people of Hong Kong have to be given a reward, like children, for being good last year, and bribed, like children, into being good next year. I myself repudiate this paternalistic, indeed colonialist, attitude as a gross…” quote by John James Cowperthwaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/john-james-cowperthwaite-26791_attitude_what-gives-me-concern-in-so-much-of-the_339755.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/john-james-cowperthwaite-26791_attitude_what-gives-me-concern-in-so-much-of-the_339755.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/john-james-cowperthwaite-26791_attitude_what-gives-me-concern-in-so-much-of-the_339755.jpg) > “What gives me concern in so much of the comment is the implication that the people of Hong Kong have to be given a reward, like children, for being good last year, and bribed, like children, into being good next year. I myself repudiate this paternalistic, indeed colonialist, attitude as a gross insult to our people.” [John James Cowperthwaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-cowperthwaite/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker condemns treating Hong Kong citizens as children who need rewards or bribes to behave, calling it paternalistic and colonialist. **In simple terms:** Treating adults like children with rewards is insulting. Key Takeaway Respect adult agency and avoid patronizing policies. Themes respect colonialism governance human dignity Mood critical defiant Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy design - public communication - education reform - community engagement Key Concepts paternalism colonial attitudes political legitimacy Questions to Reflect On - How can policies empower citizens without condescension? - What alternatives promote genuine civic responsibility? A Different Perspective Reward systems can undermine intrinsic motivation and foster dependency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hong kong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hong-kong/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) ## Related quotes > [The least pain in our little finger gives us more concern and uneasiness than the destruction of millions of our fellow-beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-least-pain-in-our-little-finger-gives-us-more-concern-and/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The smallest pain in our little finger gives us more concern than the destruction of millions of our fellow beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-smallest-pain-in-our-little-finger-gives-us-more-concern-than-the/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [If we lose our Money, it gives us some Concern. 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