Christianity Quote by Malcolm Bradbury
“Only the old are innocent. That is what the Victorians understood, and the Christians. Original sin is a property of the young. The old grow beyond corruption very quickly.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The History Man, Malcolm Bradbury, 1975
The quote suggests that innocence is a trait of age, implying that youth bears the burden of original sin while the elderly have moved beyond moral corruption.
In simple terms: Age brings innocence, youth bears sin.
Key Takeaway
Value the wisdom of age.
Themes
age
innocence
morality
original sin
generational perspective
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- intergenerational dialogue
- ethical education
- personal growth
Key Concepts
philosophical
cultural critique
ethical development
Questions to Reflect On
- How does society assign moral responsibility across ages?
- Can innocence be cultivated at any age?
A Different Perspective
Youth may be unfairly blamed for moral failings.
![“That's something that Francis [Ford Coppola] would always say. I remember when I was doing Tetro, he said, "Stay innocent. I'm 69 years old, and I'm still innocent."” quote by Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d2c/alden-ehrenreich-2752_innocent_that-s-something-that-francis-ford-coppo_1341645.jpg)
![“There's always something or someone to do.''But don't you ever find it too much work, Howard?' asks Flora, 'All this dressing and undressing, all these undistinguished climaxes, all this chasing for more of the same, is it really, really, worth the effort?''Of course' [...].” quote by Malcolm Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ef/malcolm-bradbury-14039_effort_there-s-always-something-or-someone-to-d_591633.jpg)
