Acquisition Quote by Louise J. Kaplan
“In all times and in all places--in Constantinople, northwestern Zambia, Victorian England, Sparta, Arabia, . . . medieval France,Babylonia, . . . Carthage, Mahenjo-Daro, Patagonia, Kyushu, . . . Dresden--the time span between childhood and adulthood, however fleeting or prolonged, has been associated with the acquisition of virtue as it is differently defined in each society. A child may be good and morally obedient, but only in the process of arriving at womanhood or manhood does a human being become capable of virtue--that is, the qualities of mind and body that realize society's ideals.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Psychology of Coming of Age, 1998
Virtue develops as individuals transition from childhood to adulthood, shaped by cultural definitions and societal expectations.
In simple terms: Maturity brings moral growth shaped by culture.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate self‑awareness of cultural influences on virtue.
Themes
growth
culture
morality
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
sociological
psychological
When to use this quote
- education
- parenting
- community programs
- cross‑cultural studies
Key Concepts
Rite of passage
socialization
identity formation
Questions to Reflect On
- What cultural values shape your sense of virtue?
- How can societies foster inclusive moral development?
A Different Perspective
Virtue may be constrained by rigid traditions or oppressive norms.
![“No one suffers so much as he [the genius] with the people, and, therefore, for the people, with whom he lives. For, in a certain sense, it is certainly only "by suffering" that a man knows. If compassion is not itself clear, abstractly conceivable or visibly symbolic knowledge, it is, at any rate…” quote by Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bec/otto-weininger-11319_acquisition_no-one-suffers-so-much-as-he-the-genius_20597.jpg)
