--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They had been brought up to think that…" description: "\"“They had been brought up to think that the domestic virtues were self-evident and universal; they had been starved of the knowledge that most attracts..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/thornton-wilder-1495_character_they-had-been-brought-up-to-think-that-t_2563801.jpg" --- # They had been brought up to think that the domestic… ![“They had been brought up to think that the domestic virtues were self-evident and universal; they had been starved of the knowledge that most attracts the young mind: that the crown of life is the exercise of choice” quote by Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/thornton-wilder-1495_character_they-had-been-brought-up-to-think-that-t_2563801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/thornton-wilder-1495_character_they-had-been-brought-up-to-think-that-t_2563801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/thornton-wilder-1495_character_they-had-been-brought-up-to-think-that-t_2563801.jpg) > ““They had been brought up to think that the domestic virtues were self-evident and universal; they had been starved of the knowledge that most attracts the young mind: that the crown of life is the exercise of choice”” [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society imposes fixed roles, but true freedom lies in choosing one's path, not accepting inherited norms. **In simple terms:** Freedom is choosing, not conforming. Key Takeaway Question norms and make conscious choices. Themes freedom choice social critique Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - educational pursuits - personal relationships Key Concepts individualism norms self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What choice defines you? - How do you resist societal pressure? A Different Perspective Choosing can be constrained by limited options or fear of consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/we-are-drowning-in-information-but-starved-for-knowledge/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [We are drowning in information and starved for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/we-are-drowning-in-information-and-starved-for-knowledge/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [“At that moment I saw my duty. ‘I will assist.’ I exclaimed, ‘this good divine in his struggle to uphold those domestic virtues without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/at-that-moment-i-saw-my-duty-i-will-assist-i-exclaimed-this-good/) [Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/) > [Man is naturally more disposed to beneficent than selfish actions. This we learn even from the history of savages. The domestic virtues have something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/man-is-naturally-more-disposed-to-beneficent-than-selfish-actions/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [“...if they would but think how hard it is for the very poor to have engendered in their hearts, that love of home from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/if-they-would-but-think-how-hard-it-is-for-the-very-poor-to-have/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The philosophy asserts that virtue (meaning, chiefly, the four cardinal virtues of self-control, courage, justice, and wisdom) is happiness, and it is our perceptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-philosophy-asserts-that-virtue-meaning-chiefly-the-four-cardinal-2/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The philosophy asserts that virtue (meaning, chiefly, the four cardinal virtues of self-control, courage, justice, and wisdom) is happiness, and it is our perceptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-philosophy-asserts-that-virtue-meaning-chiefly-the-four-cardinal/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The main reason for moral inconsistencies and betrayals, Ayn Rand believed, is that men have been taught to pursue ideals that are irrational and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-james-bidinotto/the-main-reason-for-moral-inconsistencies-and-betrayals-ayn-rand/) Robert James Bidinotto > [It's not the length but the quality of life that matters to me. 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And think of the positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reolope/when-you-hate-someone-divert-your-mind-and-think-about-all-the/) [Janet Reolope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reolope/) > [I was long brought up to think that it was nothing short of a crime to miss a sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/i-was-long-brought-up-to-think-that-it-was-nothing-short-of-a-crime/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) ## More by Thornton Wilder > [“He respected the slight nervous shadow that crossed her face when he came too near her. But there arose out of this denial itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/he-respected-the-slight-nervous-shadow-that-crossed-her-face-when-he/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [When you're safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you're having an adventure you wish you were safe at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/when-you-re-safe-at-home-you-wish-you-were-having-an-adventure-when/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [“Simon Stimson: "...That's what it was to be alive. To move about in a cloud of ignorance; to go up and down trampling on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/simon-stimson-that-s-what-it-was-to-be-alive-to-move-about-in-a-cloud/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [“Love as education is one of the great powers of the world, but it hangs in a delicate suspension; it achieves its harmony as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/love-as-education-is-one-of-the-great-powers-of-the-world-but-it/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [Many great writers have been extraordinarily awkward in daily exchange, but the greatest give the impression that their style was nursed by the closest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/many-great-writers-have-been-extraordinarily-awkward-in-daily/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [A man looks pretty small at a wedding, George. 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His life has been one long flight from reflection. At least he is clever enough not to expose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/cesar-is-not-a-philosophical-man-his-life-has-been-one-long-flight/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [Every person who has ever lived has lived an unbroken succession of unique occasions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/every-person-who-has-ever-lived-has-lived-an-unbroken-succession-of/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [“Without your wounds where would your power be? It is your melancholy that makes your low voice tremble into the hearts of men and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/without-your-wounds-where-would-your-power-be-it-is-your-melancholy/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [Ninety-nine per cent of the people in the world are fools and the rest of us are in great danger of contagion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/ninety-nine-per-cent-of-the-people-in-the-world-are-fools-and-the/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [There's nothing like mixing with woman to bring out all the foolishness in a man of sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/there-s-nothing-like-mixing-with-woman-to-bring-out-all-the/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) [Explore all 232 Thornton Wilder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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