--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I keep thinking, we teach children to use…" description: "\"I keep thinking, we teach children to use language to solve their disputes. We teach them not to hit and fight and bite. Then look what adults do!\" — N..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2d/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_adult_i-keep-thinking-we-teach-children-to-use_2614360.png" --- # I keep thinking, we teach children to use language to… ![“I keep thinking, we teach children to use language to solve their disputes. We teach them not to hit and fight and bite. Then look what adults do!” quote by Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2d/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_adult_i-keep-thinking-we-teach-children-to-use_2614360.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2d/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_adult_i-keep-thinking-we-teach-children-to-use_2614360.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2d/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_adult_i-keep-thinking-we-teach-children-to-use_2614360.png) > “I keep thinking, we teach children to use language to solve their disputes. We teach them not to hit and fight and bite. Then look what adults do!” [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children are taught to resolve conflicts with words, yet adults often resort to violence, highlighting a societal inconsistency. **In simple terms:** Kids learn peace, adults act violently. Key Takeaway Model non‑violent conflict resolution. Themes conflict resolution education role modeling Mood reflective concerned Type ethical educational When to use this quote - family discussions - school curricula - community mediation - parenting workshops Key Concepts peaceful communication social learning Questions to Reflect On - How can we bridge the gap between taught values and adult behavior? - What systems reinforce adult aggression? A Different Perspective Adults may lack the patience to apply taught principles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adult/) [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Bite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bite/) [Bites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bites/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-use-801534/) [Disputes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disputes/) [Disputes Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disputes-teach-2055267/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Hit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit/) [Keep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Solve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solve/) [Solve Disputes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solve-disputes-2055268/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-children/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-teach-2055269/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [Children?have no use for psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/children-have-no-use-for-psychology/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [WTF is the use of a white crayon? Dumbass Crayola dont think children use white paper????](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-simmons/wtf-is-the-use-of-a-white-crayon-dumbass-crayola-dont-think-children/) [Scar Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-simmons/) > [“God hasn’t just sent you to do his work in the lives of your children; he will use the lives of your children to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/god-hasn-t-just-sent-you-to-do-his-work-in-the-lives-of-your-children/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [Children use the fist until they are of age to use the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/children-use-the-fist-until-they-are-of-age-to-use-the-brain/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [You have to give your fans and your children something they can use in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepa/you-have-to-give-your-fans-and-your-children-something-they-can-use/) [Pepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepa/) > [And in fact, I think one of the best guides to telling you who you are, and I think children use it all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/and-in-fact-i-think-one-of-the-best-guides-to-telling-you-who-you-are/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [I realize the differences between my children and use what works for each of them individually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/i-realize-the-differences-between-my-children-and-use-what-works-for/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [Children use all their wiles to get their way with adults. 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And… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libby-houston/children-use-up-the-same-part-of-my-head-as-poetry-does-to-deal-with/) [Libby Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libby-houston/) > [The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-w-eisner/the-arts-teach-children-that-problems-can-have-more-than-one-solution/) [Elliot W. Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-w-eisner/) > [“If you teach your children, teach them the Truth of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-you-teach-your-children-teach-them-the-truth-of-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I teach my children that in life, there is no control of what tomorrow is going to bring. There really isn't. But in whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-winans/i-teach-my-children-that-in-life-there-is-no-control-of-what-tomorrow/) [BeBe Winans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-winans/) > [I started a list of things I want to teach my children, and that list is eight points long. 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Tip a waiter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/remembering-your-mistakes-more-acutely-than-any-minor-success-this/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“Grief is an ambush. You’re walking along feeling fine, look down, see a leaf, and begin to weep. —Jack”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/grief-is-an-ambush-you-re-walking-along-feeling-fine-look-down-see-a/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“Every day is a poetry day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/every-day-is-a-poetry-day/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [Teaching and writing are separate, but serve/feed one another in so many ways. 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