--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is always self-defeating to pretend to…" description: "\"It is always self-defeating to pretend to a generation younger than your own; it simply erases your own experience in history.\" — Renata Adler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/renata-adler-9400_experience_it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-t_553660.jpg" --- # It is always self-defeating to pretend to a generation… ![“It is always self-defeating to pretend to a generation younger than your own; it simply erases your own experience in history.” quote by Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/renata-adler-9400_experience_it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-t_553660.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/renata-adler-9400_experience_it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-t_553660.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/renata-adler-9400_experience_it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-t_553660.jpg) > “It is always self-defeating to pretend to a generation younger than your own; it simply erases your own experience in history.” [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pretending to be younger erases the value of one’s own lived experience and history. **In simple terms:** Pretending to be younger erases your experience. Key Takeaway Respect and learn from your own generation. Themes generational identity history self‑awareness Mood reflective thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - family storytelling - teaching - personal memoir - cultural criticism Key Concepts cultural memory intergenerational dialogue Questions to Reflect On - How does your generation benefit from older experiences? - What is lost when we ignore our own history? A Different Perspective May overlook valuable lessons from older perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [Generation y](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation-y/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ## Related quotes > [It is always self-defeating to pretend to the style of a generation younger than your own; it simply erases your own experience in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-to-the-style-of-a-generation/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [There's one thing about freedom ... each generation of people begins by thinking they've got it for the first time in history, and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/there-s-one-thing-about-freedom-each-generation-of-people-begins-by/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [I think with each generation comes more opportunity. At least that's the way that I see it. I grew up in a generation that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/i-think-with-each-generation-comes-more-opportunity-at-least-that-s/) [Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/) > [The number of people my age, younger now, a whole generation younger, who are fiercely bright, over-educated, under-employed and who are politicised and purposeless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/the-number-of-people-my-age-younger-now-a-whole-generation-younger/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [You're talking about a younger generation, Generation Y, whose interpersonal communication skills are different from Generation X. The younger generation is more comfortable saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-qualman/you-re-talking-about-a-younger-generation-generation-y-whose/) [Erik Qualman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-qualman/) > [I don't have time to download all the apps that seem to make the world go round for people not even a generation younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/i-don-t-have-time-to-download-all-the-apps-that-seem-to-make-the/) [Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/) > [I don't want this music to die.The older people are passing it on to the younger generation so the younger generation can pass it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vy-higginsen/i-don-t-want-this-music-to-die-the-older-people-are-passing-it-on-to/) Vy Higginsen > [Music has always been in my family down to my dad through my uncle. I'm just the next generation, since it's always been around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-latimore/music-has-always-been-in-my-family-down-to-my-dad-through-my-uncle-i/) [Jacob Latimore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-latimore/) > [What people say about millennials is the same thing they've said about every generation: Younger people are obsessed with technology, and selfish, and they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/what-people-say-about-millennials-is-the-same-thing-they-ve-said/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [There is this whole level of communication that I think our generation and younger is used to that does have this weird effect on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-jones/there-is-this-whole-level-of-communication-that-i-think-our/) [Duncan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-jones/) > [The end of the First World War had thrown Germany's youth into great turmoil. The reins of power had fallen from the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/the-end-of-the-first-world-war-had-thrown-germany-s-youth-into-great/) [Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/) > [Like so many of my generation and those younger, I have spent most of my life in the E.U., and my instincts were naturally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-leadsom/like-so-many-of-my-generation-and-those-younger-i-have-spent-most-of/) [Andrea Leadsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-leadsom/) > [I feel education is more important even now for the younger generation than when I was younger. The kids really need to buckle down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/i-feel-education-is-more-important-even-now-for-the-younger/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [ \[A\] new generation, innocent of the divisions of the Cold War, this coming-of-age. ... If its members do not feel the urgency to escape… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-schell/a-new-generation-innocent-of-the-divisions-of-the-cold-war-this/) [Jonathan Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-schell/) > [With a generation of younger folks who have thrived on the success of their companies, there is a big opportunity for many of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/with-a-generation-of-younger-folks-who-have-thrived-on-the-success-of/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) ## More by Renata Adler > [A favorite strategy was the paragraph-terminating: Right? Followed immediately by Wrong. This linear invitation to a mugging was considered a strategy of wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/a-favorite-strategy-was-the-paragraph-terminating-right-followed/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [There are so many different types of writers. It's just sheer coincidence that they're all called writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/there-are-so-many-different-types-of-writers-it-s-just-sheer/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [“I think that when you are truly stuck, when you have stood still in the same spot for too long, you throw a grenade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/i-think-that-when-you-are-truly-stuck-when-you-have-stood-still-in/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [“The dishes that were meant to be hot were never quite as warm as those that were meant to be chilled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/the-dishes-that-were-meant-to-be-hot-were-never-quite-as-warm-as/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [There are times when every act, no matter how private and unconscious, becomes political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/there-are-times-when-every-act-no-matter-how-private-and-unconscious/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [My grandmother refused to concede that any member of the family died of natural causes. An uncle's cancer in middle age occurred because all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/my-grandmother-refused-to-concede-that-any-member-of-the-family-died/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [“he writer has a grudge against society, which he documents with accounts of unsatisfying sex, unrealized ambition, unmitigated lo neliness, and a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/he-writer-has-a-grudge-against-society-which-he-documents-with/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [Things have changed very much, several times, since I grew up, and, like everyone in New York except the intellectuals, I have led several…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/things-have-changed-very-much-several-times-since-i-grew-up-and-like/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [“Every love story,every commercial trade, every secret, every matter in which trust is involved, is a gentle transaction of hostages. Everything is, to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/every-love-story-every-commercial-trade-every-secret-every-matter-in/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [My capacity for having a good time exists. It surfaces, however, on odd occasions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/my-capacity-for-having-a-good-time-exists-it-surfaces-however-on-odd/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [Fear . . . is forward. No one is afraid of yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/fear-is-forward-no-one-is-afraid-of-yesterday/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [“I've had our paper's gossip column since last month. It is egalitarian. 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But there are some writers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/i-think-maybe-writers-come-from-different-planets-i-mean-not-in-any/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) > [There is a difference, of course, between real sentiment and the trash of shared experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/there-is-a-difference-of-course-between-real-sentiment-and-the-trash/) [Renata Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) [Explore all 73 Renata Adler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) Michael Bugeja > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is always self-defeating to pretend to a generation younger than your own; it simply erases your own experience in history.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Renata Adler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-to-a-generation-younger-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Experience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-to-a-generation-younger-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/renata-adler-9400_experience_it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-t_553660.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/renata-adler-9400_experience_it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-t_553660.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/renata-adler-9400_experience_it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-t_553660.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is always self-defeating to pretend to a generation younger than your own; it simply erases your own…” — Renata Adler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Renata Adler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renata-adler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is always self-defeating to pretend...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-to-a-generation-younger-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renata-adler/it-is-always-self-defeating-to-pretend-to-a-generation-younger-than/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```