--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Children know when they are being sold a…" description: "\"Children know when they are being sold a sanitised version of the world, and I think that's a betrayal of the relationship between author and reader.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/174/morris-gleitzman-12796_author_children-know-when-they-are-being-sold-a_2529097.jpg" --- # Children know when they are being sold a sanitised version… ![“Children know when they are being sold a sanitised version of the world, and I think that's a betrayal of the relationship between author and reader.” quote by Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/174/morris-gleitzman-12796_author_children-know-when-they-are-being-sold-a_2529097.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/174/morris-gleitzman-12796_author_children-know-when-they-are-being-sold-a_2529097.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/174/morris-gleitzman-12796_author_children-know-when-they-are-being-sold-a_2529097.jpg) > “Children know when they are being sold a sanitised version of the world, and I think that's a betrayal of the relationship between author and reader.” [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authors should present honest, complex realities rather than overly safe narratives, respecting young readers' intelligence. **In simple terms:** Don't sugar‑coat reality for kids. Key Takeaway Tell truth, trust readers. Themes integrity trust education Mood thoughtful concerned Type literary ethical When to use this quote - teaching - parenting - book clubs - school curricula Key Concepts literary ethics childhood perception Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance truth and age‑appropriateness? - What risks arise from sanitizing stories? A Different Perspective Overprotective content can stifle critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Betrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/) [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-know/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Sanitised Version](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanitised-version-1325931/) [Sold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sold/) [Sold Sanitised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sold-sanitised-1325927/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Betrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-betrayal-1325929/) [Version](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/version/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [People think it's a betrayal of authenticity if you do something different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-watt/people-think-it-s-a-betrayal-of-authenticity-if-you-do-something/) [Ben Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-watt/) > [I think that the greatest betrayal that a revolutionary can participate in is to become like the people you are struggling against. To become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/i-think-that-the-greatest-betrayal-that-a-revolutionary-can/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [It was like an older but better version of Young Talent Time because we had more time to spend on it. There were three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dannii-minogue/it-was-like-an-older-but-better-version-of-young-talent-time-because/) [Dannii Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dannii-minogue/) > [“She smiled, pretending to be unaware like every child, but she knew. Children know things even if they can’t explain them in words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-ruegg/she-smiled-pretending-to-be-unaware-like-every-child-but-she-knew/) [Cara Ruegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-ruegg/) > [You don't want the children to know how afraid / you are. You want to be sure their hold on life / is steady,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mazur/you-don-t-want-the-children-to-know-how-afraid-you-are-you-want-to-be/) [Gail Mazur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mazur/) > [Today our approaches to children are fragmented and partial. Those who care for well children know little of children who are sick. The deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/today-our-approaches-to-children-are-fragmented-and-partial-those-who/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [If children know there is someone standing over them who knows all the answers, they are less inclined to find the answers for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/if-children-know-there-is-someone-standing-over-them-who-knows-all/) [Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/) > [The Atlanta Braves are really all that our children know about this crazy baseball life, and we are so thankful for this upbringing for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/the-atlanta-braves-are-really-all-that-our-children-know-about-this/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [When you understand what you see, you will no longer be children. You will know that life is pain, that each of us hangs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/when-you-understand-what-you-see-you-will-no-longer-be-children-you/) [Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/) > [“Children know when they're loved. It's when you grow up that you're more easily fooled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-sotto/children-know-when-they-re-loved-it-s-when-you-grow-up-that-you-re/) [Samantha Sotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-sotto/) > [My children will never know what its like, not being able to see a movie because they are all rented out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-children-will-never-know-what-its-like-not-being-able-to-see-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are the smartest children i know. You just don't beleive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/you-are-the-smartest-children-i-know-you-just-don-t-beleive-it/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Many public-school children seem to know only two dates—1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/many-public-school-children-seem-to-know-only-two-dates-1492-and-4th/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To my future children; you will know the true meaning of Christmas just not you get gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-my-future-children-you-will-know-the-true-meaning-of-christmas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) ## More by Morris Gleitzman > [A little hope goes a long way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/a-little-hope-goes-a-long-way/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [I used to get stuck trying to find the first sentence of a story, then I realised that it was often because I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/i-used-to-get-stuck-trying-to-find-the-first-sentence-of-a-story-then/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [We may not be in Manchester but we will always be united](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/we-may-not-be-in-manchester-but-we-will-always-be-united/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [I like the idea of young readers using my stories as a sort of moral gym, where they can flex and develop their newly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/i-like-the-idea-of-young-readers-using-my-stories-as-a-sort-of-moral/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [I discovered you can get closer to a character's thoughts and feelings in a book than in a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/i-discovered-you-can-get-closer-to-a-character-s-thoughts-and/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [At around nine or 10 years of age, young people start to decide for themselves what's moral or not, and that's why I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/at-around-nine-or-10-years-of-age-young-people-start-to-decide-for/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [When I did finally live in the Dandenongs, the mountain ash forests became an important part of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/when-i-did-finally-live-in-the-dandenongs-the-mountain-ash-forests/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [“Potato slices, crispy and fragrant. And toast glistening with what looks like actual creamy butter. And three fried eggs. That’s more eggs than I’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/potato-slices-crispy-and-fragrant-and-toast-glistening-with-what/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [“De repente quiero que me clave una de las jeringuillas, para poder caer en un sueño profundo y no despertarme nunca, para no volver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/de-repente-quiero-que-me-clave-una-de-las-jeringuillas-para-poder/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [I think the best writers use the language they use every day when they talk to friends. When we talk to each other, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/i-think-the-best-writers-use-the-language-they-use-every-day-when/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [Stories can bring alive the moral universe in a very vivid, useful, engaging way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/stories-can-bring-alive-the-moral-universe-in-a-very-vivid-useful/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [“Dear Reader Once and its sequel Then are two parts of the same story, but they were written and published as two separate books.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/dear-reader-once-and-its-sequel-then-are-two-parts-of-the-same-story/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [Don't sit back and wait for God to do it all. Ask for His advice, but be prepared to do the hard yards yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/don-t-sit-back-and-wait-for-god-to-do-it-all-ask-for-his-advice-but/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [My capacity for humour may have come largely from my father - he liked to entertain people, make people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/my-capacity-for-humour-may-have-come-largely-from-my-father-he-liked/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [Boys, particularly, like stories where they can have images in their imagination, where they can go to scary places and experiment with what can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/boys-particularly-like-stories-where-they-can-have-images-in-their/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) [Explore all 51 Morris Gleitzman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) ## More Author quotes > [An author departs; he does not die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-author-departs-he-does-not-die/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Writers whose thoughts are expressed with clarity and precision are assumed by readers to be superficial. Where the meaning is obscured, then readers give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/writers-whose-thoughts-are-expressed-with-clarity-and-precision-are/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“There's a word for an author who doesn't give up... published.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-word-for-an-author-who-doesn-t-give-up-published/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A children's author on a soapbox is not a pleasant sight but I have become drawn into issues, slightly unwillingly, relating to young people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/a-children-s-author-on-a-soapbox-is-not-a-pleasant-sight-but-i-have/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [“Grayson: Fiction is just a lie anyway. Brianna: But it's not - it's a different kind of truth - it would be your truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/grayson-fiction-is-just-a-lie-anyway-brianna-but-it-s-not-it-s-a/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Religion is like wax. How anyone deals with it is decisive for how it will look like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-midland/religion-is-like-wax-how-anyone-deals-with-it-is-decisive-for-how-it/) [Ben Midland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-midland/) > [“Expression is a function of intention and intention emanates from your thought faculty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/expression-is-a-function-of-intention-and-intention-emanates-from/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-is-no-shortcut-for-hard-work-that-leads-to-effectiveness-you/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [I come from a working-class family. They're the people I know and the people I love, I guess. I do not write about them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-petterson/i-come-from-a-working-class-family-they-re-the-people-i-know-and-the/) [Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/) > [I am a completely horizontal author. I can't think unless I'm lying down, either in bed or stretched on a couch and with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-am-a-completely-horizontal-author-i-can-t-think-unless-i-m-lying/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [The author I wish I was reading right now and always is Nora Ephron. I love the humor, the awareness, the sense of self-deprecation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garance-dore/the-author-i-wish-i-was-reading-right-now-and-always-is-nora-ephron-i/) [Garance Dore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garance-dore/) > [“Betsy was so full of joy that she had to be alone. She went upstairs to her bedroom and sat down on Uncle Keith's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-hart-lovelace/betsy-was-so-full-of-joy-that-she-had-to-be-alone-she-went-upstairs/) [Maud Hart Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-hart-lovelace/) > [Writing is a intensely personal activity. I can pen down my best thoughts when I'm alone. But when one is elevated into the stature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/writing-is-a-intensely-personal-activity-i-can-pen-down-my-best/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [Meg Cabot is the best author ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/meg-cabot-is-the-best-author-ever/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [“WHEN THE ALMIGHTY HAS PREDESTINED YOU, THERE IS NOONE IN THIS PHYSICAL LIFE THAT CAN BLOCK YOUR BLESSINGS…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muffin/when-the-almighty-has-predestined-you-there-is-noone-in-this-physical/) [Muffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muffin/) [Browse all 1,048 Author quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Children know when they are being sold a sanitised version of the world, and I think that's a betrayal of the relationship between author and reader.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Morris Gleitzman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/children-know-when-they-are-being-sold-a-sanitised-version-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Author" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/children-know-when-they-are-being-sold-a-sanitised-version-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/174/morris-gleitzman-12796_author_children-know-when-they-are-being-sold-a_2529097.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/174/morris-gleitzman-12796_author_children-know-when-they-are-being-sold-a_2529097.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/174/morris-gleitzman-12796_author_children-know-when-they-are-being-sold-a_2529097.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Children know when they are being sold a sanitised version of the world, and I think that's a betrayal of…” — Morris Gleitzman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Morris Gleitzman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Children know when they are being...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/children-know-when-they-are-being-sold-a-sanitised-version-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/children-know-when-they-are-being-sold-a-sanitised-version-of-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```