 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
They (= Children) have a dislike of humbug, which usually disappears in later life. The habit of screening them from the knowledge of disagreeable truths is not adopted for their sakes although adults may think it is ; it is adopted because adults themselves find candour painful.
Source: Bertrand Russell: On protecting children from reality (written in Oct. 5, 1932 and pub. in Mortals and Others, v.1, 1975.
More info.:https://russell-j.com/CHILD-P.HTM
* a brief comment: original text in Japanese, translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Children do not know much about "humbug" or "decption" in the world. Children get angry when they discover "humbug" in adults. However, in the process of growing up, they discover many "humbug", realize that they cannot survive if they get angry at every single one of them, and acquire the habit of turning a blind eye. In this way, they become tolerant of their own "humbug" and grow up to be "respectable" adults who are fully capable of "condescension. Happy, happy, happy?