--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Grown-ups desperately need to feel safe…" description: "\"Grown-ups desperately need to feel safe, and then they project onto the kids. But what none of us seem to realize is how smart kids are. They don’t lik..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/maurice-sendak-1273_dishes_grown-ups-desperately-need-to-feel-safe_2274722.jpg" --- # Grown-ups desperately need to feel safe, and then they… ![“Grown-ups desperately need to feel safe, and then they project onto the kids. But what none of us seem to realize is how smart kids are. They don’t like what we write for them, what we dish up for them, because it’s vapid, so they’ll go for the hard words, they’ll go for the hard concepts, they’ll…” quote by Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/maurice-sendak-1273_dishes_grown-ups-desperately-need-to-feel-safe_2274722.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/maurice-sendak-1273_dishes_grown-ups-desperately-need-to-feel-safe_2274722.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/maurice-sendak-1273_dishes_grown-ups-desperately-need-to-feel-safe_2274722.jpg) > “Grown-ups desperately need to feel safe, and then they project onto the kids. But what none of us seem to realize is how smart kids are. They don’t like what we write for them, what we dish up for them, because it’s vapid, so they’ll go for the hard words, they’ll go for the hard concepts, they’ll go for the stuff where they can learn something. Not didactic things, but passionate things.” [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adults seek safety and project onto children, but children crave challenging, meaningful content, not bland material. **In simple terms:** Kids want depth, not just safety. Key Takeaway Offer children complex ideas. Themes education creativity parenting Mood inspirational thoughtful Type educational literary When to use this quote - school curricula - family storytelling - media production Key Concepts developmental psychology literary criticism Questions to Reflect On - How can adults balance safety with intellectual challenge? - What topics excite children's curiosity? A Different Perspective Overprotective attitudes can stifle growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grown Ups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grown-ups/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Passionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passionate/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Can watching video lessons or using interactive software make people smart? No. But I would argue that it can do something even better: create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/can-watching-video-lessons-or-using-interactive-software-make-people/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [Part of intelligence is realizing how lucky you are to have what you have and be who you are. If you don't realize this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/part-of-intelligence-is-realizing-how-lucky-you-are-to-have-what-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you work with kids, you realize if they have a really good, stable family environment that they're going to be okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hill/when-you-work-with-kids-you-realize-if-they-have-a-really-good-stable/) [Amy Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hill/) > [You know you're a success when you look at your kids and realize they turned out better than you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/you-know-you-re-a-success-when-you-look-at-your-kids-and-realize-they/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [It really didn't matter how much work I had to put in... I was always going to give my best. And I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/it-really-didn-t-matter-how-much-work-i-had-to-put-in-i-was-always/) [Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/) > [I just wish all these young black kids would realize how significant it is to stop acting a fool out there, killing each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-just-wish-all-these-young-black-kids-would-realize-how-significant/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [It's important for kids to realize nothing is given to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/it-s-important-for-kids-to-realize-nothing-is-given-to-you/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [Hopefully, kids realize you can do anything you want. Skateboarding can be that gateway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-sheckler/hopefully-kids-realize-you-can-do-anything-you-want-skateboarding-can/) [Ryan Sheckler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-sheckler/) > [There's this moment when kids realize that they have power and that they can use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/there-s-this-moment-when-kids-realize-that-they-have-power-and-that/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [All these guys picking on smart kids and calling them geeks and dweebs are going to grow up and want to know why they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-coville/all-these-guys-picking-on-smart-kids-and-calling-them-geeks-and/) [Bruce Coville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-coville/) > [Rich, smart parents tend to have rich, smart kids - not because it's genetic but because they can create a home environment and sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kaiser/rich-smart-parents-tend-to-have-rich-smart-kids-not-because-it-s/) [George Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kaiser/) > [Not everyone’s a lifer in this world, but what separates the wheat from the chaff is intellect. Intellect is a true indication of taste.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-troxler/not-everyone-s-a-lifer-in-this-world-but-what-separates-the-wheat/) [Seth Troxler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-troxler/) > [“Few smart kids can spare the attention that popularity requires. Unless they also happen to be good-looking, natural athletes, or siblings of popular kids,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/few-smart-kids-can-spare-the-attention-that-popularity-requires/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [Dear teacher, its not fair to put all the smart kids into one group, sincerely failing and in need of the grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-fonner/dear-teacher-its-not-fair-to-put-all-the-smart-kids-into-one-group/) [Drew Fonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-fonner/) > [When there's so much freedom - financially and otherwise - smart kids get themselves into trouble. My parents did a good job of sheltering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-peck/when-there-s-so-much-freedom-financially-and-otherwise-smart-kids-get/) [Ethan Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-peck/) ## More by Maurice Sendak > [I never thought of Bumble-Ardy in that way. But I still have that same deep feeling for children who are in dire trouble. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-never-thought-of-bumble-ardy-in-that-way-but-i-still-have-that-same/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I was a very sickly child. My parents were immigrants. They were not decorous. They were not discreet. They always thought I was gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-was-a-very-sickly-child-my-parents-were-immigrants-they-were-not/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [The distinctions of fine art bore me to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/the-distinctions-of-fine-art-bore-me-to-death/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [The fan mail I get from kids are asking me questions which they do not ask their mothers and fathers. Because if they had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/the-fan-mail-i-get-from-kids-are-asking-me-questions-which-they-do/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [“May I ask what you have in your black leather bag with gold buckles?" "Everything." They were climbing a narrow staircase. Rhoda stopped to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/may-i-ask-what-you-have-in-your-black-leather-bag-with-gold-buckles/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I grew up in a house that was in a constant state of mourning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-grew-up-in-a-house-that-was-in-a-constant-state-of-mourning/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [Illustrations have as much to say as the text. The trick is to say the same thing, but in a different way. It's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/illustrations-have-as-much-to-say-as-the-text-the-trick-is-to-say-the/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I'm a lucky buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-m-a-lucky-buck/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I've convinced myself - I hope I'm right - that children despair of you if you don't tell them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-ve-convinced-myself-i-hope-i-m-right-that-children-despair-of-you/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [It's no fun being lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/it-s-no-fun-being-lonely/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [It dawned on me that art was the way I could survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/it-dawned-on-me-that-art-was-the-way-i-could-survive/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I cry a lot because I miss people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-cry-a-lot-because-i-miss-people/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [You cannot write for children They're much too complicated. You can only write books that are of interest to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/you-cannot-write-for-children-they-re-much-too-complicated-you-can/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [All I liked to do when I was a kid was draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/all-i-liked-to-do-when-i-was-a-kid-was-draw/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I'm still as enamored and turned on by work as I was when I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-m-still-as-enamored-and-turned-on-by-work-as-i-was-when-i-was-young/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) [Explore all 262 Maurice Sendak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) ## More Dishes quotes > [I enjoy cooking, but stick to modern dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/i-enjoy-cooking-but-stick-to-modern-dishes/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [I had my first French meal and I never got over it. It was just marvelous. We had oysters and a lovely dry white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/i-had-my-first-french-meal-and-i-never-got-over-it-it-was-just/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [I go to my mom's house and she'll make me do the dishes or clean up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriella-wilson/i-go-to-my-mom-s-house-and-she-ll-make-me-do-the-dishes-or-clean-up/) [Gabriella Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriella-wilson/) > [Simple diet is best: for many dishes bring many diseases, and rich sauces are worse than even heaping several meats upon each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/simple-diet-is-best-for-many-dishes-bring-many-diseases-and-rich/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Really, I don't know what I'd do with myself if I retire. Wash dishes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/really-i-don-t-know-what-i-d-do-with-myself-if-i-retire-wash-dishes/) [Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/) > [The thought processes that go through my head when I'm playing a game compared to the thought processes in real life are very, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-romero/the-thought-processes-that-go-through-my-head-when-i-m-playing-a-game/) [John Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-romero/) > [I don't like turkey. I mean, I do. But I don't like it on Thanksgiving. I don't need it. There are about 20 other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/i-don-t-like-turkey-i-mean-i-do-but-i-don-t-like-it-on-thanksgiving-i/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [Snobs are people who look down on other people, but that does not justify our looking down on them. Who can say what dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/snobs-are-people-who-look-down-on-other-people-but-that-does-not/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Holy is the dish and drain, the soap and sink, and the cup and plate and the warm wool socks, and the cold white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-newcomer/holy-is-the-dish-and-drain-the-soap-and-sink-and-the-cup-and-plate/) [Carrie Newcomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-newcomer/) > [That's what actually caused me to run for office is, you know, my family story, the experience of growing up in a family where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/that-s-what-actually-caused-me-to-run-for-office-is-you-know-my/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Women are dirt searchers; their greatest worth is irradicating rings on collars and tables. Never mind real-estate boards' corruption and racism, here's your soapsuds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florynce-kennedy/women-are-dirt-searchers-their-greatest-worth-is-irradicating-rings/) [Florynce Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florynce-kennedy/) > [If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-i-am-incapable-of-washing-dishes-joyfully-if-i-want-to-finish-them/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [My mom had Julia Child and 'The Fannie Farmer Cookbook' on top of the refrigerator, and she had a small repertoire of French dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/my-mom-had-julia-child-and-the-fannie-farmer-cookbook-on-top-of-the/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [I tell everybody the same thing: You have to make every dish so when you taste it, you should remember it when you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-puck/i-tell-everybody-the-same-thing-you-have-to-make-every-dish-so-when/) [Wolfgang Puck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-puck/) > [I find myself dreaming of doing normal things - like staying home and washing dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shalom-harlow/i-find-myself-dreaming-of-doing-normal-things-like-staying-home-and/) [Shalom Harlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shalom-harlow/) Browse all 813 Dishes quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Grown-ups desperately need to feel safe, and then they project onto the kids. 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