The youth have faculties that, with proper cultivation, would qualify them for almost any position of trust. If they had made it their object in obtaining an education to so exercise and develop the powers that God has given them that they might be useful and prove a blessing to others, their minds would not be dwarfed to an inferior standard. They would show depth of thought and firmness of principle, and would command influence and respect. They might have an elevating influence upon others, which would lead souls to see and acknowledge the power of an intelligent Christian life. Those who have greater care to ornament their persons for display than to educate the mind and exercise their powers for the greatest usefulness, that they may glorify God, do not realize their accountability to God. They will be inclined to be superficial in all they undertake and will narrow their usefulness and dwarf their intellect. {3T 367.2}

Det gør mig inderligt ondt for disse unge menneskers fædre og mødre såvel som for børnene. I disse børns opdragelse har der været en mangel, for hvilken der et eller andet sted hviler et tungt ansvar. Forældre, som har forkælet deres børn og føjet dem i stedet for på en skønsom måde at ave dem på grundlag af principper, ser her de karakterer, de har dannet. Som opdragelsen har været, således bliver karakteren.