The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.

Summary

This quote, often misattributed to Socrates, highlights a concern about the behavior of children in society. It suggests that the younger generation has become indulgent in luxuries, lacking discipline and respect for authority figures. They are seen as disregarding traditional values such as showing deference to elders and behaving properly in social settings. The quote paints a negative picture of children as self-centered and controlling, implying that they are no longer fulfilling their traditional role as obedient members of the household.