Children Quote by Kurt Vonnegut
““Mackay told us that the Children’s Crusade started in 1213, when two monks got the idea of raising armies of children in Germany and France, and selling them in North Africa as slaves. Thirty thousand children volunteered, thinking they were going to Palestine. They were no doubt idle and deserted children who generally swarm in great cities, nurtured on vice and daring, said Mackay, and ready for anything.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, 1969
The quote highlights how children were exploited and misled into war, reflecting the tragic manipulation of youth for profit and power.
In simple terms: Children were misled into war for profit.
Key Takeaway
Beware of exploiting vulnerable groups.
Themes
exploitation
war
childhood
manipulation
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
historical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- educational curricula
- human rights advocacy
- historical documentaries
Key Concepts
historical tragedy
propaganda
economic gain
Questions to Reflect On
- How do societies protect children from exploitation?
- What lessons can modern policy draw from this history?
A Different Perspective
The account may oversimplify complex medieval dynamics.
![“Thomas Jefferson High School [..] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on the subject of human liberty.” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/73a/kurt-vonnegut-41_freedom_thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-sc_9727.jpg)
