Never forget that children are at the heart of everything we do.

The words of Anthony Browne—“Never forget that children are at the heart of everything we do. Respect them, listen to them, talk to them as equals, and care about them.”—resound with the purity of truth, spoken as though from the lips of wisdom itself. They remind us of a truth too often overlooked: that the measure of any society, of any family, of any life, is found not in its wealth, nor in its power, but in how it honors its children. For children are not merely the future; they are the living present, tender flames that must be guarded, nourished, and respected.

At the heart of Browne’s words is the call to respect. Too often, children are seen as lesser beings, spoken down to, commanded, or dismissed. Yet the ancients knew better. Plato wrote that the soul of the child was impressionable, and that every word and gesture of an elder carved lasting marks upon it. To listen to a child, to speak as equals, is not to surrender authority, but to honor their dignity and to plant within them the seeds of confidence and trust. In such respect lies the foundation of true education and of noble character.

History gives us luminous examples. Consider Janusz Korczak, the Polish educator and physician who dedicated his life to orphans. He did not merely feed or shelter them; he listened to them, gave them a voice, and treated them with the same seriousness he would give to kings. Even when taken with his children to the concentration camps, he refused to abandon them, walking into death rather than betray their trust. His life embodied Browne’s teaching: that to care about children is not a duty of convenience, but a sacred calling.

The emotional force of Browne’s quote lies in its insistence that children are not simply recipients of care, but participants in life. To talk to them as equals is to recognize their inner world—their questions, their dreams, their fears—as worthy of honor. In doing so, we shape not only stronger individuals but stronger communities, for children who are respected grow into adults who respect others, and children who are listened to become leaders who listen in turn.

There is also a heroic power in his command to never forget. Life often pulls us toward ambition, labor, and distraction, and in this rush the needs of children can be cast aside. Yet Browne’s words rise like a warning bell: forget the children, and you forget the heart of humanity itself. Forget them, and you build a world of hollow triumphs, brittle achievements, and fading glory. Remember them, and you build a world that endures.

The lesson is clear: children are the foundation of all that is lasting. If we respect them, we cultivate justice. If we listen to them, we learn humility. If we care for them, we preserve the flame of life from one generation to the next. Practically, this means giving time to hear their voices, encouraging their creativity, protecting them from harm, and showing them through action, not only words, that they matter. It means carrying their perspective into every decision, whether as parents, teachers, leaders, or citizens.

Thus, Anthony Browne’s words stand as a timeless teaching, a commandment for all ages: honor the child, and you honor humanity. For in every child lies both the present joy and the future hope of the world. Let us then pass this truth to future generations: that the truest legacy we can leave is not monuments or wealth, but children who have been respected, listened to, spoken to with equality, and cared for with love.