Adulthood Quote by Wendell Berry
““To both the racist and the puritan, childhood is not a time of life that we grow out of, as the life of the child grows out of the life of the parent or as a plant grows out of the soil, but a time and state of consciousness to be left behind, to cut oneself off from ... The child may be joyous, the man must be sober and self-denying; the child may be free, the man is to be "responsible"; the child may be candid in his feelings, the man must be polite, restrained, mindful of the demands of convention; the child may be playful, the man must be industrious. I am not necessarily objecting to the manly virtues, but I am objecting that they should be so exclusively assigned to grownups, and that grownups should be so exclusively restricted to them. A man may have all the prescribed adult virtues and, if he lacks the childhood virtues, still be a dunce and a bore and a liar.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Unsettling of America, 1970
The quote argues that adulthood should not discard childlike qualities; adult virtues and child virtues both matter for a full human experience.
In simple terms: Adults should keep childlike wonder and honesty alongside responsibility.
Key Takeaway
Blend childlike openness with adult duties.
Themes
growth
authenticity
balance
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- parenting
- leadership
- personal growth
- education
- therapy
Key Concepts
Human development
psychology
social norms
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you honor childlike curiosity in adult roles?
- What adult virtues can benefit from childlike honesty?
A Different Perspective
Adults may face social pressure to suppress childlike traits, limiting authenticity.
