Children Quote by Philip Wylie
“The first gold star a child gets in school for the mere performance of a needful task is its first lesson in graft.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Devil’s Dream, 1935
Rewarding superficial compliance in children teaches them to value appearance over effort, fostering dishonesty.
In simple terms: Praise for easy tasks breeds cheating.
Focus on effort, not just results.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- classroom
- homework
- sports
- family chores
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can teachers reward genuine effort?
- What signals encourage authentic achievement?
Overemphasis on grades can undermine genuine learning.