“The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no respect for their parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint; they talk as if they alone know everything and what passes for wisdom in us foolishness in them. As for the girls, they are foolish and immodest and unwomanly in speech, behavior and dress.”
— Peter the Hermit, eleventh century AD
“Our young men have grown slothful. There is not a single honorable occupation for which they will toil night and day. They sing and dance and grow effeminate and curl their hair and learn womanish tricks of speech; they are as languid as women and deck themselves out with unbecoming ornaments. Without strength, without energy, they add nothing during life to the gifts with which they were born — then they complain of their lot.”
— Seneca, first century AD
“The children now love luxury; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in places of exercise. Children are tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up food at the table, cross their legs and tyrannize their teachers.”
— Socrates, fourth century 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, eighth century BC
“The denunciation of the young is a necessary part of the hygiene of older people, and greatly assists the circulation of the blood.”
— Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865-1946 AD
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