--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the way they put it, we as a society have…" description: "\"“the way they put it, we as a society have decided not to modify the society but to modify the children.”\" — Noam Chomsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/noam-chomsky-42_child_the-way-they-put-it-we-as-a-society-have_3214115.jpg" --- # the way they put it, we as a society have decided not to… ![“the way they put it, we as a society have decided not to modify the society but to modify the children.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/noam-chomsky-42_child_the-way-they-put-it-we-as-a-society-have_3214115.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/noam-chomsky-42_child_the-way-they-put-it-we-as-a-society-have_3214115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/noam-chomsky-42_child_the-way-they-put-it-we-as-a-society-have_3214115.jpg) > ““the way they put it, we as a society have decided not to modify the society but to modify the children.”” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society chooses to change children rather than the broader system. **In simple terms:** We modify kids, not society. Key Takeaway Address systemic issues, not just individuals. Themes education society control Mood critical analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - school curricula - parenting styles - policy reforms Key Concepts structural change parental influence Questions to Reflect On - How can we reform institutions? - What role do parents play in societal change? A Different Perspective Changing children alone cannot fix deep societal problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ## Related quotes > [We learn the social norms of our society and modify our behaviour accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/we-learn-the-social-norms-of-our-society-and-modify-our-behaviour/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [I love how much dance is sneaking its way back into society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-lu-richardson/i-love-how-much-dance-is-sneaking-its-way-back-into-society/) [Haley Lu Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-lu-richardson/) > [I don't like the way I see society going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hodgson/i-don-t-like-the-way-i-see-society-going/) [Roy Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hodgson/) > [We lost our way, our society lost our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ervine/we-lost-our-way-our-society-lost-our-way/) David Ervine > [I don't join the New Atheists. 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Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. 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That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/) [Johnnetta B. 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