- Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.
Interesting perspective (and one I can agree with), but I wonder if he would feel the same way today with such a large population who have fallen into a state of arrested development. It seems that there is no end to people amongst my peers (mid/late 30s) that not only never put away their childish things, but also never took up "adultish" things. For instance - those that spend more time of video games than providing for their families. People more interested in Facebook gossip than their country being at war. Enjoying "childish" things is perfectly fine and even healthy, as long as we are adult enough to keep them at the proper priority level in our lives.
Great point. Slightly related and an interesting concept to look at - The Theory of the Leisure Class.
"A mark of really arrested development," could be interpreted as a continuing desire to grow. But I agree that to respect things because they are adult, is exceedingly childish.