25 Quotes by Edgar Friedenberg

The atmosphere [in the school lunchroom] is not quite that of a prison, because the students are permitted to talk quietly, under the frowning scrutiny of teachers standing around on duty, during their meal-they are not supposed to talk while standing in line, though this rule is only sporadically enforced.

Adolescents tend to be passionate people, and passion is no less real because it is directed toward a hot-rod, a commercialized popular singer, or the leader of a black-jacketed gang.

Every major industrial society believes it has a serious youth problem.

Romance, like alcohol, should be enjoyed but must not be allowed to become necessary.

Most Americans would say that they disapproved of violence. But what they really mean is that they believe it should be the monopoly of the state.

Part of the American dream is to live long and die young.

All weakness tends to corrupt, and impotence corrupts absolutely.

It is idle to talk of civil liberties to adults who were systematically taught in adolescence that they had none; and it is sheer hypocrisy to call such people freedom loving.

If a people have no word for something, either it does not matter to them or it matters too much to talk about.