A FEW PROVERBS ABOUT CHILDREN AND CHILDHOOD

Abstract

The literature of almost every country is replete with proverbs about children and childhood.¹ Those listed below are just a few from the literature of the West.

1. Childhood often holds a truth in its feeble fingers, which the grasp of manhood cannot retain, and which it is the pride of utmost age to recover—Ruskin

2. Childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day—Milton

3. Childhood and youth see the world in persons—Emerson

4. Childhood is the sleep of reason—Rousseau

5. Children are very nice observers, and they will often perceive your slightest defects—Fénelon

6. Children have more need of models than of critics—Joubert

7. Children should have their times of being off duty, like soldiers—Ruskin

8. Children sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter—Bacon

9. How little is the promise of the child fulfilled in the man—Ovid