“Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book”
— Marcus Tullius Cicero
Simplified Meaning:
In simpler terms, the quote means that people often think the world is getting worse over time. Back in the old days, adults would complain that kids didn't listen to their parents anymore and that too many people were trying to be authors. This is an example of how people always see the past as better than the present. Imagine a grandparent saying, "When I was young, we respected our elders and didn't waste our time on silly things." This shows they believe things were better in their youth. However, every generation says similar things about the one after them. This quote also tells us that worrying about modern changes is not new; it's been happening for a long time. So, instead of stressing about how things are changing, we could try to understand and adapt to new ways, realizing that each generation faces its own unique challenges and opportunities.