--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I had my way no one should be taught…" description: "\"If I had my way no one should be taught to read until after he had passed his hundredth year. In that way, and in that way only can we protect our yout..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/john-kendrick-bangs-25337_book_if-i-had-my-way-no-one-should-be-taught_282712.jpg" --- # If I had my way no one should be taught to read until… ![“If I had my way no one should be taught to read until after he had passed his hundredth year. In that way, and in that way only can we protect our youth from the dreadful influence of such novels as 'Three Cycles, Not To Mention The Rug,' which dreadful book I have found within the past month in…” quote by John Kendrick Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/john-kendrick-bangs-25337_book_if-i-had-my-way-no-one-should-be-taught_282712.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/john-kendrick-bangs-25337_book_if-i-had-my-way-no-one-should-be-taught_282712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/john-kendrick-bangs-25337_book_if-i-had-my-way-no-one-should-be-taught_282712.jpg) > “If I had my way no one should be taught to read until after he had passed his hundredth year. In that way, and in that way only can we protect our youth from the dreadful influence of such novels as 'Three Cycles, Not To Mention The Rug,' which dreadful book I have found within the past month in the hands of at least twenty children in the neighborhood, not one of whom was past sixty.” [John Kendrick Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kendrick-bangs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates delaying formal reading instruction to protect children from harmful literature. **In simple terms:** Delay teaching reading to shield youth from bad books. Key Takeaway Consider age‑appropriate reading material. Themes education protection literature Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - school curricula - parental guidance - library policies Key Concepts censorship developmental readiness Questions to Reflect On - What criteria define a ‘dreadful’ book? - How does early reading affect development? A Different Perspective May limit access to beneficial knowledge and critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hundredth Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundredth-year-2738627/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months/) [My way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-way/) [Neighborhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighborhood/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novels Cycles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels-cycles-2738626/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protect Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-youth-2738625/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sixty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sixty/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Taught Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-read-1049952/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) [Youth Dreadful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth-dreadful-2738624/) ## Related quotes > [We must do all we can to empower parents and communities to protect our youth and to encourage healthy behavior free from binge drinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-corzine/we-must-do-all-we-can-to-empower-parents-and-communities-to-protect/) [Jon Corzine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-corzine/) > [“We are taught how to read, write, to be polite, cautious and respectful. 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