--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't trust children with edge tools…" description: "\"Don't trust children with edge tools. Don't trust man, great God, with more power than he has until he has learned to use that little better. What a he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_children_don-t-trust-children-with-edge-tools-don_1445272.png" --- # Don't trust children with edge tools. Don't trust man… ![“Don't trust children with edge tools. Don't trust man, great God, with more power than he has until he has learned to use that little better. What a hell we should make of the world if we could do what we would!” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_children_don-t-trust-children-with-edge-tools-don_1445272.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_children_don-t-trust-children-with-edge-tools-don_1445272.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_children_don-t-trust-children-with-edge-tools-don_1445272.png) > “Don't trust children with edge tools. Don't trust man, great God, with more power than he has until he has learned to use that little better. What a hell we should make of the world if we could do what we would!” [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. Power without mastery leads to danger; we must learn to wield it responsibly. **In simple terms:** Power misused is dangerous. Key Takeaway Learn to use power responsibly. Themes responsibility power wisdom Mood reflective cautionary Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - politics - technology - leadership - personal growth Key Concepts ethical use self‑control human limitation Questions to Reflect On - How do we ensure responsible use of power? - What limits should be set? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt even the wise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edge/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Folks, I don't trust children. They're here to replace us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/folks-i-don-t-trust-children-they-re-here-to-replace-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To trust children we must first learn to trust ourselves...and most of us were taught as children that we could not be trusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holt/to-trust-children-we-must-first-learn-to-trust-ourselves-and-most-of/) [John Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holt/) > [Sustainable development: Holding our world in trust for our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-meacher/sustainable-development-holding-our-world-in-trust-for-our-children/) [Michael Meacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-meacher/) > [Remember, loving them is the powerful foundation for influencing those you want to help. ... As a companion to that love, trust them. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/remember-loving-them-is-the-powerful-foundation-for-influencing-those/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [“You should trust the children; they can stand more than we can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-l-travers-2/you-should-trust-the-children-they-can-stand-more-than-we-can/) [P.L. Travers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-l-travers-2/) > [There was a time when the respect and trust my children had for me would have made you sick to your stomach. They believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/there-was-a-time-when-the-respect-and-trust-my-children-had-for-me/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [The future which we hold in trust for our own children will be shaped by our fairness to other people's children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/the-future-which-we-hold-in-trust-for-our-own-children-will-be-shaped/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [My wife and I have built trust with our children and have always had open communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-springfield/my-wife-and-i-have-built-trust-with-our-children-and-have-always-had/) [Rick Springfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-springfield/) > [ I read that book How to Hug a Porcupine \[by Julie Ross\] - it's my parenting bible. They say you have to trust your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/i-read-that-book-how-to-hug-a-porcupine-by-julie-ross-it-s-my/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [“Your goodness must have some edge to it -- else it is none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/your-goodness-must-have-some-edge-to-it-else-it-is-none/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [We do not yet trust the unknown powers of thought. Whence came all these tools, inventions, book laws, parties, kingdoms? Out of the invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-yet-trust-the-unknown-powers-of-thought-whence-came-all/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The holiest of Christians, and those who understand best the gospel of Christ, find in themselves a constant inclination to look to the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-holiest-of-christians-and-those-who-understand-best-the-gospel-of/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [No pressure is greater than God's power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/no-pressure-is-greater-than-god-s-power/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [“God power will help you in times that you have a low will power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/god-power-will-help-you-in-times-that-you-have-a-low-will-power/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [God's power under us, in us, surging through us, is exactly what turns dependence into unforgettable experiences of completeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-wilkinson/god-s-power-under-us-in-us-surging-through-us-is-exactly-what-turns/) [Bruce Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-wilkinson/) ## 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. 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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 Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. 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Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. 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