"I'm not young enough to know everything..."
Oscar Wilde, (1854 – 1900)
"The world is passing through troublous times.
The young people of today think of nothing but themselves.
They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint.
They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them.
As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress."
Extract from a sermon preached by Peter the Hermit in AC 1274.
"What is happening to our young people?
They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents.
They ignore the law. They riot in the streets
inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying.
What is to become of them?"
Plato (427-347 BC)
"Today's young people love luxury.
They have bad manners, scorn authority,
have no respect for their elders and gossip
when they should be working. Young people don't
stand up any more when older people enter the room.
They contradict their parents, swagger around
in society, gobble up all the sweets on the table,
cross their legs and tyrannize their teachers."
Sokrates, (470-399 BC)
"I see no hope for the future of our people
if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today,
for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words...
When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders,
but the present youth are exceedingly disrespectful and impatient of restraint."
Hesiod, active between 750 and 650 BC.