--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The worst fault of the working classes is…" description: "\"The worst fault of the working classes is telling their children they're not going to succeed, saying: There is life, but it's not for you.\" — John Mor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/john-mortimer-7362_children_the-worst-fault-of-the-working-classes-i_1266085.jpg" --- # The worst fault of the working classes is telling their… ![“The worst fault of the working classes is telling their children they're not going to succeed, saying: There is life, but it's not for you.” quote by John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/john-mortimer-7362_children_the-worst-fault-of-the-working-classes-i_1266085.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/john-mortimer-7362_children_the-worst-fault-of-the-working-classes-i_1266085.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/john-mortimer-7362_children_the-worst-fault-of-the-working-classes-i_1266085.jpg) > “The worst fault of the working classes is telling their children they're not going to succeed, saying: There is life, but it's not for you.” [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The working class often discourages children by implying success is unattainable for them. **In simple terms:** Parents may limit children's aspirations. Key Takeaway Encourage belief in possibilities. Themes education parenting social class aspiration Mood concerned hopeful Type advice observational When to use this quote - parent‑child conversations - school counseling - community programs - media messages Key Concepts self-fulfilling prophecy psychology socioeconomic mobility Questions to Reflect On - How does parental messaging shape a child's future? - What can society do to counteract limiting beliefs? A Different Perspective Not all working‑class families convey this view; many inspire ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Classes Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classes-telling-1282444/) [Faults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faults/) [Good life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Saying life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-life/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Telling Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-children-581436/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Working class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-class/) [Working Classes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-classes-986555/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst Fault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-fault-1282443/) ## Related quotes > [The worst fault of the working classes is telling their children they're not going to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/the-worst-fault-of-the-working-classes-is-telling-their-children-they/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [The way we look at nineteenth-century English social realism and appreciate the working classes of the emerging industrial revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-piccinini/the-way-we-look-at-nineteenth-century-english-social-realism-and/) [Patricia Piccinini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-piccinini/) > [Ultimately, imperialism made even the British working classes suffer. 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