Quote of the day by Socrates for kids: Be as you wish to seem

In their effort to prove themselves to others, kids often strive to demonstrate themselves as kind, bright, confident, or polite. However, according to the teachings of Socrates, it is not enough to just seem like someone; one needs to actually become such a person in his or her deeds. "Be as you wish to seem." This quote tells children that authenticity is important. Rather than playing some characters to demonstrate their positive sides, they need to embody the desirable virtues in their everyday lives.

Be real, not just impressive

According to the quote under consideration, children need to be themselves instead of trying to look impressive. While sometimes kids may pretend to be someone they are not, the point is that one should demonstrate his or her inner beauty through sincere actions. In other words, to make others respect him or her as a kind person, one should really show kindness in his or her behavior.

Actions matter more than words

It is easy for children to say that they are honest or helpful; yet, what really counts here is how they behave. For instance, saying that one is responsible is nothing compared to proving one's responsibility by doing things on time. Thus, if children can manage to combine their deeds with words, this will help them gain a reputation as a reliable person.

Build the qualities you admire

Many times children may admire in other people different qualities. For instance, kids often admire confidence or kindness in others. The given quote motivates children to develop all the qualities that they find attractive because it is much easier to demonstrate something rather than just pretend.

Honesty builds strong character

Honesty and consistency are important factors of successful personality development. If children can maintain their principles and values despite any circumstances, then they will definitely develop a strong character. On the contrary, trying to please someone or act the way other people would like to see them will lead only to inconsistency and low self-confidence.

True respect comes from authenticity

To conclude, the main idea of this quote is that people respect only those individuals who demonstrate their true nature to others. Therefore, it is better to do things that one finds essential than to pretend to be someone else.