Children Quote by Rousseau, Jean-Jacques
““Children are taught to look down on their nurses (nannies), to treat them as mere servants. When their task is completed the child is withdrawn or the nurse is dismissed. Her visits to her foster-child are discouraged by a cold reception. After a few years the child never sees her again. The mother expects to take her place, and to repair by her cruelty the results of her own neglect. But she is greatly mistaken; she is making an ungrateful foster-child, not an affectionate son; she is teaching him ingratitude, and she is preparing him to despise at a later day the mother who bore him, as he now despises his nurse.””
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Emile, 1762
Neglectful parenting replaces nurturing caregivers with harsh authority, breeding resentment and ingratitude.
In simple terms: Harsh parents cause children to resent caregivers.
Key Takeaway
Promote empathy and consistent care.
Themes
parenting
neglect
authority
empathy
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- family dynamics
- childcare
- education
- discipline
Key Concepts
psychology
social development
Questions to Reflect On
- How does caregiver treatment shape adult attitudes?
- What alternatives exist for nurturing children without resentment?
A Different Perspective
The view may idealize caregivers and ignore cultural contexts.
