--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We spend the first twelve months of our…" description: "\"“We spend the first twelve months of our children's' lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve years telling them to sit down and shut u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/phyllis-diller-1622_children_we-spend-the-first-twelve-months-of-our_432803.png" --- # We spend the first twelve months of our children's' lives… ![“We spend the first twelve months of our children's' lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve years telling them to sit down and shut up.” quote by Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/phyllis-diller-1622_children_we-spend-the-first-twelve-months-of-our_432803.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/phyllis-diller-1622_children_we-spend-the-first-twelve-months-of-our_432803.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/phyllis-diller-1622_children_we-spend-the-first-twelve-months-of-our_432803.png) > ““We spend the first twelve months of our children's' lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve years telling them to sit down and shut up.”” [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society teaches basic skills early, then suppresses children's natural curiosity and speech. **In simple terms:** Early teaching, later silencing. Key Takeaway Encourage lifelong curiosity. Themes education speech expression Mood humorous critical Type satire social commentary When to use this quote - schools - parenting - media - political discourse Key Concepts critical thinking creativity freedom of speech Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance teaching and listening? - What spaces foster open expression? A Different Perspective Cultural norms may value obedience over curiosity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) ## Related quotes > [“We spend the first 12 months of our children's lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next 12 months teaching them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/we-spend-the-first-12-months-of-our-children-s-lives-teaching-them-to-2/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [“We spend the first 12 months of our children’s lives teaching them to walk and talk, and the next 12 months telling them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/we-spend-the-first-12-months-of-our-children-s-lives-teaching-them-to/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [Children: You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. 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