--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we get civilised, I believe children…" description: "\"When we get civilised, I believe children will go by number until they get old enough to choose their own names.\" — Myrtle Reed" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/myrtle-reed-5134_believe_when-we-get-civilised-i-believe-children_113736.png" --- # When we get civilised, I believe children will go by… ![“When we get civilised, I believe children will go by number until they get old enough to choose their own names.” quote by Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/myrtle-reed-5134_believe_when-we-get-civilised-i-believe-children_113736.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/myrtle-reed-5134_believe_when-we-get-civilised-i-believe-children_113736.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/myrtle-reed-5134_believe_when-we-get-civilised-i-believe-children_113736.png) > “When we get civilised, I believe children will go by number until they get old enough to choose their own names.” [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that as societies become more refined, children may be reduced to numbers until they mature enough to claim personal identities. **In simple terms:** Children become nameless until they choose their own names. Key Takeaway Identity emerges through personal choice. Themes identity socialization individuality growth Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - school enrollment numbers - hospital newborn tags - online user IDs - military serial numbers Key Concepts self‑definition cultural naming conventions Practical Applications - Encourage early self‑expression - Use names rather than numbers in child‑focused systems Questions to Reflect On - When do we stop assigning labels to people? - How does naming affect self‑esteem? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ## Related quotes > [The safety of our children should be our number-one priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spanberger/the-safety-of-our-children-should-be-our-number-one-priority/) [Abigail Spanberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spanberger/) > [“Man Code 44 Children. The number one rule in this section is: If you have kids, take care of them. You aren't a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esquire-sr-charles/man-code-44-children-the-number-one-rule-in-this-section-is-if-you/) Esquire Sr., Charles > [When I got signed with WWE, I got to choose names, and I originally wanted Macey Evans, my real maiden name. And then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-evans/when-i-got-signed-with-wwe-i-got-to-choose-names-and-i-originally/) [Lacey Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-evans/) > [“My dearest one, it is not proper for men to be without names. There was a time when each man had a name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/my-dearest-one-it-is-not-proper-for-men-to-be-without-names-there-was/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [My parents were both born in Birmingham, Alabama, and come from large Catholic families with lots of Michaels, Marks, and Patricks, so they wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/my-parents-were-both-born-in-birmingham-alabama-and-come-from-large/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [“One does not accept a name. The ancestors choose our names for us. We do not have a choice of accepting — we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-hollidaye/one-does-not-accept-a-name-the-ancestors-choose-our-names-for-us-we/) Faye Hollidaye > [I believe the children are our future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-houston/i-believe-the-children-are-our-future/) [Whitney Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-houston/) > [“Education is like Christmas. We’re all just opening our gifts, one at a time. And it is a fact that each and every child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-melton/education-is-like-christmas-we-re-all-just-opening-our-gifts-one-at-a/) [Glennon Melton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-melton/) > [I believe all children deserve quality health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-believe-all-children-deserve-quality-health-care/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [All of my children's books are attempts to tap into what I believe to be children's, and to some extent human beings', fantasies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/all-of-my-children-s-books-are-attempts-to-tap-into-what-i-believe-to/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [I continue to believe that if children are given the necessary tools to succeed, they will succeed beyond their wildest dreams!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-vitter/i-continue-to-believe-that-if-children-are-given-the-necessary-tools/) [David Vitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-vitter/) > [I believe that children long for form just as grownups do, and that it releases rather than cramps creative energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-believe-that-children-long-for-form-just-as-grownups-do-and-that-it/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [There are those who want to believe but can't, and there are those who believe as children and it's no problem for them at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-von-sydow/there-are-those-who-want-to-believe-but-can-t-and-there-are-those-who/) [Max von Sydow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-von-sydow/) > [What is the greatest mistake a parent can make?' she asked. 'To believe that your children will be just like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/what-is-the-greatest-mistake-a-parent-can-make-she-asked-to-believe/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [I do believe that children are all blessings from god. And I feel it's all positive, it's positive experience. You know, I don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadya-suleman/i-do-believe-that-children-are-all-blessings-from-god-and-i-feel-it-s/) [Nadya Suleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadya-suleman/) ## More by Myrtle Reed > [When a little pleasure has flashed for a moment against the dark, I have made that jewel mine. I have hundreds of them ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/when-a-little-pleasure-has-flashed-for-a-moment-against-the-dark-i/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [marriage is a great strain upon love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/marriage-is-a-great-strain-upon-love/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [The appointed thing comes at the appointed time in the appointed way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/the-appointed-thing-comes-at-the-appointed-time-in-the-appointed-way/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [Revolution is obstructed evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/revolution-is-obstructed-evolution/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [Pedestals are always lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/pedestals-are-always-lonely/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [Love is an orchid which thrives principally on hot air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/love-is-an-orchid-which-thrives-principally-on-hot-air/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [Lots of people think they're charitable if they give away their old clothes and things they don't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/lots-of-people-think-they-re-charitable-if-they-give-away-their-old/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [All we can do in this world is the thing that seems to us the best. 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You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we get civilised, I believe children will go by number until they get old enough to choose their own names.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Myrtle Reed" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/when-we-get-civilised-i-believe-children-will-go-by-number-until-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/when-we-get-civilised-i-believe-children-will-go-by-number-until-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/myrtle-reed-5134_believe_when-we-get-civilised-i-believe-children_113736.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/myrtle-reed-5134_believe_when-we-get-civilised-i-believe-children_113736.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/myrtle-reed-5134_believe_when-we-get-civilised-i-believe-children_113736.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we get civilised, I believe children will go by number until they get old enough to choose their own…” — Myrtle Reed", "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": "Myrtle Reed", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we get civilised, I believe...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/when-we-get-civilised-i-believe-children-will-go-by-number-until-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/when-we-get-civilised-i-believe-children-will-go-by-number-until-they/#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 } } ] } ```