--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not think the youth has no force…" description: "\"“Do not think the youth has no force, because he cannot speak to you and me. Hark! in the next room his voice is sufficiently clear and emphatic. It se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_youth_do-not-think-the-youth-has-no-force-beca_1233733.png" --- # Do not think the youth has no force, because he cannot… ![“Do not think the youth has no force, because he cannot speak to you and me. Hark! in the next room his voice is sufficiently clear and emphatic. It seems he knows how to speak to his contemporaries. Bashful or bold then, he will know how to make us seniors very unnecessary.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_youth_do-not-think-the-youth-has-no-force-beca_1233733.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_youth_do-not-think-the-youth-has-no-force-beca_1233733.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_youth_do-not-think-the-youth-has-no-force-beca_1233733.png) > ““Do not think the youth has no force, because he cannot speak to you and me. Hark! in the next room his voice is sufficiently clear and emphatic. It seems he knows how to speak to his contemporaries. Bashful or bold then, he will know how to make us seniors very unnecessary.”” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Youth possesses a distinct, powerful voice that can render older generations irrelevant if ignored. **In simple terms:** Young people have strong, clear ideas that can outshine seniors. Key Takeaway Listen to and value youthful perspectives. Themes generational change communication authority relevance Mood reflective hopeful Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - family meetings - workplace mentorship - political activism - community planning Key Concepts Sociology intergenerational dynamics voice Questions to Reflect On - How can seniors stay relevant in a changing world? - What can youth do to be heard respectfully? A Different Perspective Older voices may lack relevance if they dismiss youth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Force Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force-speak-3424293/) [Seniors Unnecessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seniors-unnecessary-3825222/) [Speak Contemporaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-contemporaries-3825224/) [Think Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-youth-2162419/) [Voice Sufficiently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice-sufficiently-3825223/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [“Sometimes we try to calm but our environment will force us to speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-uzih/sometimes-we-try-to-calm-but-our-environment-will-force-us-to-speak/) [Lord Uzih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-uzih/) > [Every generation has had some sort of focus for their unrest and discomfort with growing up. But today, the music that's in the charts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siouxsie-sioux/every-generation-has-had-some-sort-of-focus-for-their-unrest-and/) [Siouxsie Sioux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siouxsie-sioux/) > [Unfortunately, very few governments think about youth unemployment when they are drawing up their national plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/unfortunately-very-few-governments-think-about-youth-unemployment/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“I don't have any kids, so I'm not as worried about my heirs as the rest of you, but still: I think the youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-don-t-have-any-kids-so-i-m-not-as-worried-about-my-heirs-as-the/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [How we are almost nothing. We think, in our youth, we are the centre of the universe, but we simply respond, go this way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/how-we-are-almost-nothing-we-think-in-our-youth-we-are-the-centre-of/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [When you see the way things deteriorate before your very eyes. Everything running down hill. It's kind of silly to even think about youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/when-you-see-the-way-things-deteriorate-before-your-very-eyes/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [I don't think there is enough youth employment or enough push for youths to kind of do want they want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaya-scodelario/i-don-t-think-there-is-enough-youth-employment-or-enough-push-for/) [Kaya Scodelario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaya-scodelario/) > [I think that youth culture is now very deliberately designed by both corporate entities and by governments to not involve people directly. Because as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-gilmore/i-think-that-youth-culture-is-now-very-deliberately-designed-by-both/) [Thea Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-gilmore/) > [We think in youth that our bodies are identical to ourselves and have the same interests, but discover later in life that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/we-think-in-youth-that-our-bodies-are-identical-to-ourselves-and-have/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [“When I think of my youth, he went in, what we took for granted, what we assumed was for ever certain, for ever permanent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-boyd/when-i-think-of-my-youth-he-went-in-what-we-took-for-granted-what-we/) [William Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-boyd/) > [The age doesn't really matter to me as it seems to matter to other people. A lot of people think that youth or age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/the-age-doesn-t-really-matter-to-me-as-it-seems-to-matter-to-other/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Where did we get the idea of insultin' folks by pointin' out their age? ... It seems that we think youth is some special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-childress/where-did-we-get-the-idea-of-insultin-folks-by-pointin-out-their-age/) [Alice Childress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-childress/) > [“Chaos, I think, is youth. Youth at any age. Because as long as you have chaos, you are free of responsibility. When you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-laskas/chaos-i-think-is-youth-youth-at-any-age-because-as-long-as-you-have/) [Jeanne Marie Laskas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-laskas/) > [Shot glasses make me think of youth and a mode of drinking and living that was never mine, even when I was the age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumaan-alam/shot-glasses-make-me-think-of-youth-and-a-mode-of-drinking-and-living/) [Rumaan Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumaan-alam/) > [Ultimately, if you think about all the youth that everybody has mentioned here in Africa, if everybody is raising living standards to the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/ultimately-if-you-think-about-all-the-youth-that-everybody-has/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Youth quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [If your life's at a juncture and you need to think about things, there's nowhere better than home. However old you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/if-your-life-s-at-a-juncture-and-you-need-to-think-about-things-there/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [A lot of young guys coming up in this league, they're given the spotlight right away, depending on draft stature or whatever the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/a-lot-of-young-guys-coming-up-in-this-league-they-re-given-the/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [When you step up as a young talent, you need to challenge the old lads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/when-you-step-up-as-a-young-talent-you-need-to-challenge-the-old-lads/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [My days – the blossom of my youth and the flower of my manhood – have been darkened by the dreariness of servitude. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-connell/my-days-the-blossom-of-my-youth-and-the-flower-of-my-manhood-have/) [Daniel O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-connell/) > [“Adolescent youths cry out for us to help them contextualize their life experiences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gurian/adolescent-youths-cry-out-for-us-to-help-them-contextualize-their/) [Michael Gurian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gurian/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [The young people today are the 21st century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/the-young-people-today-are-the-21st-century/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) [Browse all 12,126 Youth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Do not think the youth has no force, because he cannot speak to you and me. Hark! in the next room his voice is sufficiently clear and emphatic. It seems he knows how to speak to his contemporaries. 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