--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is it that is done to our children…" description: "\"What is it that is done to our children that their puberty should deform them? They have the joy of movement; they have an enterprising curiosity; they..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf9/kurt-hahn-28783_child_what-is-it-that-is-done-to-our-children_1479768.png" --- # What is it that is done to our children that their puberty… ![“What is it that is done to our children that their puberty should deform them? They have the joy of movement; they have an enterprising curiosity; they are ready for sensible self-denial; they dream ahead, and they have a faithful memory, and, above all, great compassion... The well-meaning…” quote by Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf9/kurt-hahn-28783_child_what-is-it-that-is-done-to-our-children_1479768.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf9/kurt-hahn-28783_child_what-is-it-that-is-done-to-our-children_1479768.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf9/kurt-hahn-28783_child_what-is-it-that-is-done-to-our-children_1479768.png) > “What is it that is done to our children that their puberty should deform them? They have the joy of movement; they have an enterprising curiosity; they are ready for sensible self-denial; they dream ahead, and they have a faithful memory, and, above all, great compassion... The well-meaning educator who flatters and humours the young not only does a disservice to the community, but also damages the individual by depriving him of the opportunities of self-discovery.” [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that overprotective education stifles children's natural curiosity, resilience, and compassion, harming their development. **In simple terms:** Overprotective schooling harms children. Key Takeaway Foster self‑discovery in education. Themes education child development resilience Mood reflective inspirational Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - classroom practices - parental guidance - curriculum design Key Concepts pedagogy self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - How can schools encourage independent thinking? - What role should parents play? A Different Perspective Balancing guidance with freedom is challenging in structured systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Puberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-puberty-5391017/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [Deform Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deform-joy-5391018/) [Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) [Depriving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depriving/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Disservice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disservice/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Educator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educator/) [Enterprising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprising/) [Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy Of Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-of-movement-219440/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Puberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puberty/) [Puberty Deform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puberty-deform-5391016/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-denial/) [Self discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-discovery/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) [Sensible Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible-self-5391019/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [If we would have anything of benefit, we must earn it, and earning it become shrewd, inventive, ingenious, active, enterprising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/if-we-would-have-anything-of-benefit-we-must-earn-it-and-earning-it/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The most noteworthy thing about gardeners is that they are always optimistic, always enterprising, and never satisfied. They always look forward to doing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/the-most-noteworthy-thing-about-gardeners-is-that-they-are-always/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) > [I have said, and I believe, that potentially we have in this country a free enterprise system of radio and television which is superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/i-have-said-and-i-believe-that-potentially-we-have-in-this-country-a/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Marriage, by making us more contented, causes us often to be less enterprising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/marriage-by-making-us-more-contented-causes-us-often-to-be-less/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [There is no contest between the company that buys the grudging compliance of its work force and the company that enjoys the enterprising participation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/there-is-no-contest-between-the-company-that-buys-the-grudging/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [Morale - the will to win, the fighting heart - are the honored hallmarks of the football coach and player. Likewise, they are characteristic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/morale-the-will-to-win-the-fighting-heart-are-the-honored-hallmarks/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [To rush in upon an event before its significance has had time to separate from the surrounding circumstances may be enterprising, but is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/to-rush-in-upon-an-event-before-its-significance-has-had-time-to/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [“The newcomer struck him as an enterprising sort of man. The kind that would slit your throat for a box of tissues in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-newcomer-struck-him-as-an-enterprising-sort-of-man-the-kind-that/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [The determining trait of the enterprising (or active, or aggressive) investor is his willingness to devote time and care to the selection of securities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-determining-trait-of-the-enterprising-or-active-or-aggressive/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [The sober people of America are weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. They have seen with regret and indignation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-sober-people-of-america-are-weary-of-the-fluctuating-policy-which/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Utopia's quite another land; In her enterprising movements, She is England--with improvements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/utopia-s-quite-another-land-in-her-enterprising-movements-she-is/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [An enterprising person is one who comes across a pile of scrap metal and sees the making of a wonderful sculpture. An enterprising person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/an-enterprising-person-is-one-who-comes-across-a-pile-of-scrap-metal/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [An enterprising person is one who sees opportunity in all areas of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/an-enterprising-person-is-one-who-sees-opportunity-in-all-areas-of/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [FICKLENESS, n. The iterated satiety of an enterprising affection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/fickleness-n-the-iterated-satiety-of-an-enterprising-affection/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The whole dear notion of one's own Self-marvelous old free-willed, free- enterprising, autonomous, independent, isolated island of a Self- is a myth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/the-whole-dear-notion-of-one-s-own-self-marvelous-old-free-willed/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) ## More by Kurt Hahn > [We are all better than we know. If only we can be brought to realise this, we may never be prepared to settle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/we-are-all-better-than-we-know-if-only-we-can-be-brought-to-realise/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [The worth of a faith does not consist in the clarity with which it is stated but in the steadfastness with which it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/the-worth-of-a-faith-does-not-consist-in-the-clarity-with-which-it-is/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [Expeditions can greatly contribute towards building strength of character. Joseph Conrad in Lord Jim tells us that it is necessary for a youth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/expeditions-can-greatly-contribute-towards-building-strength-of/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [There are three ways of trying to win the young. There is persuasion, there is compulsion, and there is attraction. You can preach at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/there-are-three-ways-of-trying-to-win-the-young-there-is-persuasion/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [Your disability is your opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/your-disability-is-your-opportunity/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [Education must enable young people to effect what they have recognized to be right, despite hardships, despite dangers, despite inner skepticism, despite boredom, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/education-must-enable-young-people-to-effect-what-they-have/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [“There is more in us than we know if we could be made to see it; perhaps, for the rest of our lives we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/there-is-more-in-us-than-we-know-if-we-could-be-made-to-see-it/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [It is a sin of the soul to force young people into opinions ... but it is culpable neglect not to impel young people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/it-is-a-sin-of-the-soul-to-force-young-people-into-opinions-but-it-is/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [Without the instinct for adventure, any civilization, however enlightened; any state, however well-ordered, will wilt and wither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/without-the-instinct-for-adventure-any-civilization-however/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [The experience of helping a fellow man in danger, or even of training in a realistic manner to be ready to give this help,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/the-experience-of-helping-a-fellow-man-in-danger-or-even-of-training/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [There is more in you than you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/there-is-more-in-you-than-you-think/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [I regard it as the foremost task of education to insure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/i-regard-it-as-the-foremost-task-of-education-to-insure-the-survival/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [There can be no doubt that the young of today have to be protected against certain poisonous effects inherent in present-day civilization. Five social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/there-can-be-no-doubt-that-the-young-of-today-have-to-be-protected/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [There exists within everyone a grand passion, an outlandish thirst for adventure, a desire to live boldly and vividly through the journey of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/there-exists-within-everyone-a-grand-passion-an-outlandish-thirst-for/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [Whenever you have to deal with a boy who is a rebel, remember that you must not fail at some time or other to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/whenever-you-have-to-deal-with-a-boy-who-is-a-rebel-remember-that-you/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) [Explore all 19 Kurt Hahn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) ## More Child quotes > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. 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Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/) > [Bring up your children in the way you think other peoples children should go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/bring-up-your-children-in-the-way-you-think-other-peoples-children/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) [Browse all 10,700 Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is it that is done to our children that their puberty should deform them? 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