Adults Quote by Jonathan Lethem
“Those promises we make to ourselves when we are younger, about how we mean to conduct our adult lives, can it be true we break every last one of them? All except for one, I suppose: the promise to judge ourselves by those standards, the promise to remember the child who would be so appalled by compromise, the child who would find jadedness wicked.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Book of Daniel by Jonathan Lethem, 2012
We often set idealistic personal standards in youth, yet repeatedly fail to meet them, except for judging ourselves by those standards.
In simple terms: We break most youthful promises, but still judge ourselves by them.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the gap between youthful ideals and adult reality.
Themes
self‑reflection
idealism
disillusionment
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career planning
- personal growth
- ethical decision‑making
- parenting
- therapy
Key Concepts
moral development
psychology
nostalgia
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you still hold your childhood standards?
- How do you reconcile compromise with those standards?
A Different Perspective
Idealistic promises may be unrealistic and cause self‑criticism.
![“He [an earnest young reporter] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/katherine-paterson-2365_adults_he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-s_6101.jpg)
