And the wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws.
Maurice SendakRead
We’ve educated children to think that spontaneity is inappropriate. Children are willing to expose themselves to experiences. We aren’t. Grownups always say they protect their children, but they’re really protecting themselves. Besides, you can’t protect children. They know everything.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the contrast between the spontaneity of children and the cautiousness of adults, suggesting that adults often prioritize their own comfort over genuine protection of children.
Maurice Sendak emphasizes the importance of allowing children to embrace spontaneity and experiences, while critiquing the tendency of adults to impose restrictions out of their own fears. He argues that while adults believe they are protecting children, they are often more concerned about their own sensibilities, which can hinder a child's natural curiosity and learning. Ultimately, Sendak suggests that children are inherently knowledgeable and resilient, and should be allowed the freedom to explore their world without excessive interference.
Themes
SpontaneityChildrenProtectionExperienceAdults
In practice
Example use cases
In a parenting workshop discussing the importance of allowing children to explore their creativity.
More from Maurice Sendak
All quotes →From their earliest years children live on familiar terms with disrupting emotions, fear and anxiety are an intrinsic part of their everyday lives, they continually cope with frustrations as best they can. And it is through fantasy that children achieve catharsis. It is the best means they have for taming Wild Things.
Maurice SendakRead
I'm totally crazy, I know that. I don't say that to be a smartass, but I know that that's the very essence of what makes my work good. And I know my work is good. Not everybody likes it, that's fine. I don't do it for everybody. Or anybody. I do it because I can't not do it.
Maurice SendakRead
That always seemed to be the most critical test that a child was confronted with - loss of parents, loss of direction, loss of love. Can you live without a mother and a father?
Maurice SendakRead
One of the few graces of getting old - and God knows there are few graces - is that if you've worked hard and kept your nose to the grindstone, something happens: The body gets old but the creative mechanism is refreshed, smoothed and oiled and honed. That is the grace. That is what's happening to me.
Maurice SendakRead
To get a child's trust - you may know or not - is a very hard thing to do. They're so used to not believing adults - because adults tell tales and lies all the time.
Maurice SendakRead
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