--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's wrong with our children? Adults…" description: "\"What's wrong with our children? Adults telling children to be honest while lying and cheating. Adults telling children to not be violent while marketin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/marian-wright-edelman-2216_adults_what-s-wrong-with-our-children-adults-te_1629766.jpg" --- # What's wrong with our children? Adults telling children to… ![“What's wrong with our children? Adults telling children to be honest while lying and cheating. Adults telling children to not be violent while marketing and glorifying violence... I believe that adult hypocrisy is the biggest problem children face in America.” quote by Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/marian-wright-edelman-2216_adults_what-s-wrong-with-our-children-adults-te_1629766.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/marian-wright-edelman-2216_adults_what-s-wrong-with-our-children-adults-te_1629766.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/marian-wright-edelman-2216_adults_what-s-wrong-with-our-children-adults-te_1629766.jpg) > “What's wrong with our children? Adults telling children to be honest while lying and cheating. Adults telling children to not be violent while marketing and glorifying violence... I believe that adult hypocrisy is the biggest problem children face in America.” [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adults often model contradictory behavior, teaching children that hypocrisy is acceptable, which erodes trust and moral development. **In simple terms:** Kids learn from what adults do, not just what they say. Key Takeaway Model integrity consistently for children. Themes hypocrisy parenting trust morality Mood concerned hopeful Type advice observational When to use this quote - family meals - school curricula - media consumption - community programs Key Concepts social learning theory cognitive dissonance moral development Questions to Reflect On - How can adults align actions with words? - What systems can reinforce honest behavior in youth? A Different Perspective Children may still internalize negative examples despite adult intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Being honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) [Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Hypocrisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrisy/) [Hypocrite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrite/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Lying and cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying-and-cheating/) [Marketing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marketing/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-child/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) ## Related quotes > [I was a problem child, and problem children do the seemingly insane because they are trying to find out how to fit into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-mccarey/i-was-a-problem-child-and-problem-children-do-the-seemingly-insane/) Leo McCarey > [Future system busters will always seem like problem children. 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