--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Awful things, children. Needy…" description: "\"“Awful things, children. Needy, self-centered tyrants, the boys all teeth and firsts, the girls all claws and spit. Gathering into sniveling packs and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a26/steven-erikson-588_bullying_awful-things-children-needy-self-centere_3119904.jpg" --- # Awful things, children. Needy, self-centered tyrants, the… ![“Awful things, children. Needy, self-centered tyrants, the boys all teeth and firsts, the girls all claws and spit. Gathering into sniveling packs and sniffing out vulnerabilities — and woe to the child not cunning enough to hide their own — the others would close in like the grubby shark they…” quote by Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a26/steven-erikson-588_bullying_awful-things-children-needy-self-centere_3119904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a26/steven-erikson-588_bullying_awful-things-children-needy-self-centere_3119904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a26/steven-erikson-588_bullying_awful-things-children-needy-self-centere_3119904.jpg) > ““Awful things, children. Needy, self-centered tyrants, the boys all teeth and firsts, the girls all claws and spit. Gathering into sniveling packs and sniffing out vulnerabilities — and woe to the child not cunning enough to hide their own — the others would close in like the grubby shark they were. Great pastime, savaging someone.”” [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children are portrayed as ruthless, forming violent groups that prey on the vulnerable, reflecting a dark view of human nature. **In simple terms:** Kids are shown as cruel and predatory. Key Takeaway Recognize the impact of harsh environments on behavior. Themes violence power dynamics childhood survival Mood dark grim cynical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - schoolyard bullying - gang dynamics - war zones - online harassment Key Concepts human nature psychology social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - What societal factors create such aggression? - Can empathy reduce this cruelty? A Different Perspective The depiction may exaggerate for dramatic effect, not reflecting typical children. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bullying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullying/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [Never teach your child to be cunning or you may be certain you will be one of the very first victims of his shrewdness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/never-teach-your-child-to-be-cunning-or-you-may-be-certain-you-will/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [“Two greatest things we can give children are wings to help fly over their troubles and despair and common sense to repair them when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/two-greatest-things-we-can-give-children-are-wings-to-help-fly-over/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [I really feel strongly that we don't need to dumb things down for children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-really-feel-strongly-that-we-don-t-need-to-dumb-things-down-for/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [Theatre is one of those things that children will love if they're helped to get there to see it. No child will find his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/theatre-is-one-of-those-things-that-children-will-love-if-they-re/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Final things are for children, because infinity scares children, and it is important that children sleep peacefully at night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-zamyatin/final-things-are-for-children-because-infinity-scares-children-and-it/) [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-zamyatin/) > [I always try to see things with children's eyes. Are they happy? Sad? What do they need? 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There were none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/well-you-don-t-get-to-do-things-that-other-children-get-to-do-having/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I think one of the most important things I can give my children is the right to be themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-bond/i-think-one-of-the-most-important-things-i-can-give-my-children-is/) [Samantha Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-bond/) > [All of these things we do without children, and suddenly we don't do them anymore, and it comes home to us in a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/all-of-these-things-we-do-without-children-and-suddenly-we-don-t-do/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [We may outgrow the things of children, without acquiring sense and relish for those which become a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/we-may-outgrow-the-things-of-children-without-acquiring-sense-and/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) ## More by Steven Erikson > [“No matter, they weren’t going anywhere. 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