You Learn by Living: Eleven Keys for a More Fulfilling Life

by Eleanor Roosevelt

Of course, there is one problem involved in encouraging the young to express their opinions freely at home: that is, they can get into trouble outside the home if they take for granted that they will be listened to in the same way. They must learn to take into consideration the people they are with. This is what I mean by social conformity; not the surrender of one’s beliefs but an awareness of when one is justified in forcing them and when it is not allowable if you have good manners. It should be a part of every young person’s development to learn to be aware of other people, to study them, not to antagonize them if it can be avoided. It is all right to argue to your heart’s content at home, where divergences of opinion are acceptable; but there are other homes and other groups where older people are not willing to have a child express his opinions, and the child must learn to feel his way. This awareness of other people’s desires and feelings is an important part of learning to live with other people and in a society.