--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People warned us that if we went to them…" description: "\"People warned us that if we went to them whenever they cried and refused to spank them, we would harm them irrevocably, but we decided there's simply n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/692/mike-farrell-20941_apples_people-warned-us-that-if-we-went-to-them_1153010.png" --- # People warned us that if we went to them whenever they… ![“People warned us that if we went to them whenever they cried and refused to spank them, we would harm them irrevocably, but we decided there's simply no way to spoil a child. After all, they aren't apples.” quote by Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/692/mike-farrell-20941_apples_people-warned-us-that-if-we-went-to-them_1153010.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/692/mike-farrell-20941_apples_people-warned-us-that-if-we-went-to-them_1153010.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/692/mike-farrell-20941_apples_people-warned-us-that-if-we-went-to-them_1153010.png) > “People warned us that if we went to them whenever they cried and refused to spank them, we would harm them irrevocably, but we decided there's simply no way to spoil a child. After all, they aren't apples.” [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People believed strict discipline was necessary, but the speaker argues children should not be treated as objects to be controlled. **In simple terms:** Children need nurturing, not harsh control. Key Takeaway Treat children with care. Themes parenting discipline childhood autonomy compassion Mood thoughtful concerned Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - raising toddlers - educating teens - balancing boundaries Key Concepts psychology developmental theory ethical caregiving Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance guidance and freedom? - What boundaries are essential? A Different Perspective Excessive leniency may hinder learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Spare the rod and spoil the child - that is true. But, beside the rod, keep an apple to give him when he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/spare-the-rod-and-spoil-the-child-that-is-true-but-beside-the-rod/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The photo shoots were not easy. I cried and refused to do anything that would shame my mother and father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-mitchell/the-photo-shoots-were-not-easy-i-cried-and-refused-to-do-anything/) [Liz Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-mitchell/) > [The movie 'Scandal Makers' did so much better than I had thought. During that phase of my career, the people around me warned me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-bo-young/the-movie-scandal-makers-did-so-much-better-than-i-had-thought-during/) [Park Bo-young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-bo-young/) > [“People had warned me about the culture shock of going to Africa. Nothing prepared me for the culture shock of coming the other way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dowden/people-had-warned-me-about-the-culture-shock-of-going-to-africa/) Richard Dowden > [A lot of people have warned President Clinton that Bosnia will turn into another Vietnam, which would be embarrassing for him because he'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/a-lot-of-people-have-warned-president-clinton-that-bosnia-will-turn/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [People warned us off lots of countries. Someone would say, for instance, 'Stay away from Sudan. It's full of thieves.' And we'd say, 'Have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/people-warned-us-off-lots-of-countries-someone-would-say-for-instance/) [Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/) > [Spare the rod and spoil the child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/spare-the-rod-and-spoil-the-child/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [It is not possible to 'spoil' a child with love and affection...a child needs all the love and affection it can possibly get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/it-is-not-possible-to-spoil-a-child-with-love-and-affection-a-child/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [Love is a boy, by poets styled, Then spare the rod, and spoil the child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/love-is-a-boy-by-poets-styled-then-spare-the-rod-and-spoil-the-child/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“As a child abuse and neglect therapist I do battle daily with Christians enamored of the Old Testament phrase "Spare the rod and spoil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/as-a-child-abuse-and-neglect-therapist-i-do-battle-daily-with/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) > [Fortunately, like most children, I had learned what is most valuable, most indispensable for life before school years began, taught by apple trees, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/fortunately-like-most-children-i-had-learned-what-is-most-valuable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“In the back of the fridge I checked out some stewed apples destined to fester. I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [I think, however, that Astaire's coordination is better than Kelly's... his sense of rhythm is uncanny. Kelly, on the other hand, is the stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-think-however-that-astaire-s-coordination-is-better-than-kelly-s/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I named my son Noah for the same reason Chris Martin named his apple: we're asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-named-my-son-noah-for-the-same-reason-chris-martin-named-his-apple/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) ## More by Mike Farrell > [It's a losers' game to try and guess, it really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/it-s-a-losers-game-to-try-and-guess-it-really-is/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [No politician after the Nixon-Agnew years would say, 'I was against the death penalty,' because they replaced 'soft on communism' with 'soft on crime.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/no-politician-after-the-nixon-agnew-years-would-say-i-was-against-the/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [I was raised in Hollywood and knew, from as early as grammar school, classmates who were in the business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/i-was-raised-in-hollywood-and-knew-from-as-early-as-grammar-school/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [I gave away two dogs years ago because I felt guilty at not being able to give them the time and attention they deserved.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/i-gave-away-two-dogs-years-ago-because-i-felt-guilty-at-not-being/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [I think it's appropriate for the international community in situations like this to intervene in Kosovo. I am in favor of an intervention. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/i-think-it-s-appropriate-for-the-international-community-in/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [I think the media could be a very good force for good, and I think Hollywood can, as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/i-think-the-media-could-be-a-very-good-force-for-good-and-i-think/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [I am often stunned and charmed by the simple brilliance of what children say. But you have to be willing to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/i-am-often-stunned-and-charmed-by-the-simple-brilliance-of-what/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [A life sentence without parole protects public safety while sparing us the barbarity of killing our own. It teaches our children that violence will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/a-life-sentence-without-parole-protects-public-safety-while-sparing/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [Its mostly the financial chicanery thats going on. People are saying What kind of trust can we put in this market?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/its-mostly-the-financial-chicanery-thats-going-on-people-are-saying/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [We have seen economic growth. But we have not seen earnings growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/we-have-seen-economic-growth-but-we-have-not-seen-earnings-growth/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [I believe that no one should be executed, guilty or innocent. There are appropriate sanctions that protect society and punish wrongdoers without forcing us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/i-believe-that-no-one-should-be-executed-guilty-or-innocent-there-are/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [When Radar goes home, Peg and Erin go down to meet him. Erin sees Radar in uniform and calls him Daddy. It so incredibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/when-radar-goes-home-peg-and-erin-go-down-to-meet-him-erin-sees-radar/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [People seem to see no difference between an intimate conversation and a conversation at the water cooler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/people-seem-to-see-no-difference-between-an-intimate-conversation-and/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > [What one gets, I hope, is that all you can do is the best you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/what-one-gets-i-hope-is-that-all-you-can-do-is-the-best-you-can-do/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) > ['M\*A\*S\*H,' to me, was about something. It had value beyond the laughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-farrell/m-a-s-h-to-me-was-about-something-it-had-value-beyond-the-laughs/) [Mike Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) [Explore all 30 Mike Farrell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-farrell/) ## More Apples quotes > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I named my son Noah for the same reason Chris Martin named his apple: we're asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-named-my-son-noah-for-the-same-reason-chris-martin-named-his-apple/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I think, however, that Astaire's coordination is better than Kelly's... his sense of rhythm is uncanny. Kelly, on the other hand, is the stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-think-however-that-astaire-s-coordination-is-better-than-kelly-s/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [“In the back of the fridge I checked out some stewed apples destined to fester. I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [Fortunately, like most children, I had learned what is most valuable, most indispensable for life before school years began, taught by apple trees, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/fortunately-like-most-children-i-had-learned-what-is-most-valuable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I'm not only a fan of Apple products, I have stock in the company. I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-love-to-eat-an-apple-after-a-meal-just-to-cleanse-my-teeth-they/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [I have a friend who is a juggler. If I'm at his house, I don't like to take food from him, if it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-have-a-friend-who-is-a-juggler-if-i-m-at-his-house-i-don-t-like-to/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [A comely sight indeed it is to see, a world of blossoms on an apple tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/a-comely-sight-indeed-it-is-to-see-a-world-of-blossoms-on-an-apple/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Like a satellite in orbit, Apple is perpetually falling. It just happens to miss Earth every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-dediu/like-a-satellite-in-orbit-apple-is-perpetually-falling-it-just/) Horace Dediu > [I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-have-always-said-if-there-ever-came-a-day-when-i-could-no-longer/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [Therein lies the rub of a place like Berkeley Bowl. 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