--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As when my little son John offendeth: if…" description: "\"As when my little son John offendeth: if then I should not whip him, but call him to the table unto me, and give him sugar and plums, thereby, I should..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/martin-luther-106_education_as-when-my-little-son-john-offendeth-if_2811437.jpg" --- # As when my little son John offendeth: if then I should not… ![“As when my little son John offendeth: if then I should not whip him, but call him to the table unto me, and give him sugar and plums, thereby, I should make him worse, yea should quite spoil him.” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/martin-luther-106_education_as-when-my-little-son-john-offendeth-if_2811437.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/martin-luther-106_education_as-when-my-little-son-john-offendeth-if_2811437.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/martin-luther-106_education_as-when-my-little-son-john-offendeth-if_2811437.jpg) > “As when my little son John offendeth: if then I should not whip him, but call him to the table unto me, and give him sugar and plums, thereby, I should make him worse, yea should quite spoil him.” [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Instead of harsh punishment, offer kindness and temptation, which may worsen behavior. **In simple terms:** Kindness can backfire. Key Takeaway Use discipline wisely, not indulgence. Themes parenting discipline compassion Mood serious reflective Type didactic philosophical When to use this quote - child rearing - education - correction - reward systems Key Concepts behavioral psychology temptation Questions to Reflect On - When is kindness counterproductive? - How to balance empathy and authority? A Different Perspective May enable negative habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [If then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/if-then/) [John Offendeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-offendeth-3522813/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Make Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-worse-402587/) [Offendeth Whip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offendeth-whip-3522812/) [Plums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plums/) [Quite Spoil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quite-spoil-3522815/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Spoil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoil/) [Sugar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sugar/) [Table Unto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/table-unto-3522814/) [Tables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tables/) ## Related quotes > [“If then, Moses so distinctly announces that there is in us not only a faculty, but also a facility for keeping all commandments, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-then-moses-so-distinctly-announces-that-there-is-in-us-not-only-a/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“When we treat man as he is we make him worse than he is. 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