August 29

“The tiniest bits of opinion sown in the minds of children in private life, afterwards issue forth to the world and become a public opinion; for nations are gathered out of nurseries, and they who hold the leading strings of children may even exercise a greater power than those who hold the reins of government.”

“He made it a rule (from which he never departed), not to take a child suspected of a fault, at unawares, by sudden question or hasty accusation, the stronger thus taking an unfair advantage of the weaker and defenceless creature, who, in the mere confusion of the moment, might be tempted to deny or equivocate. . . .
“He was careful, too, not to confuse or ‘confound’ his children by a multiplicity of small rules. Certain broad distinct laws of conduct were laid down. ‘It is difficult enough to keep the Ten Commandments,’ he would say, ‘without making an eleventh in every direction.’ This, combined with his equable rule, gave them a sense of utter confidence and perfect freedom with him. They knew what they were about, and where to find him, for he had no ‘moods’ with them, while with theirs he could yet sympathise and be patient.”

From Life of Charles Kingsley