Being bored Quote by Margaret Mead
“If they learn easily, they are penalized for being bored when they have nothing to do; if they excel in some outstanding way, they are penalized as being conspicuously better than the peer group. The culture tries to make the child with a gift into a one-sided person, to penalize him at every turn, to cause him trouble in making friends and to create conditions conducive to the development of a neurosis. Neither teachers, the parents of other children, nor the child peers will tolerate a Wunderkind.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Coming of Age in Samoa, Margaret Mead, 1928
Society often marginalizes gifted children, punishing them for boredom or excellence, leading to isolation and neurosis.
In simple terms: Gifted kids are punished for being different, causing social and emotional problems.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and support gifted children without alienating them.
Themes
giftedness
social pressure
mental health
education
conformity
Mood
concerned
reflective
empathetic
Type
advice
analysis
psychological
When to use this quote
- classroom
- parenting
- peer groups
- talent programs
- mental health counseling
Key Concepts
psychology
developmental theory
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can schools create inclusive environments for gifted students?
- What support helps gifted children develop healthy social skills?
A Different Perspective
Giftedness can be celebrated without forcing conformity, but societal expectations often resist this.
![“[To become a poet] The most important thing is to pay attention. The next would probably be to read; it's so important to pay attention. It keeps you from being bored, and I might add it keeps you from being boorish.” quote by Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/27b/nikki-giovanni-1757_add_to-become-a-poet-the-most-important-thin_189198.jpg)
