"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them"

This quote by James A. Baldwin speaks with the idea that children often do not listen to their senior citizens, however they do imitate them. This is a typical phenomenon in lots of households, where kids might not take the recommendations of their parents or other adults, but they will often mimic their habits. This can be seen in the way children gown, talk, and act. They might not take the recommendations of their elders, but they will typically imitate their habits. This can be both a positive and an unfavorable thing, as it can result in kids learning from their senior citizens, however it can also cause them repeating mistakes or bad routines. Eventually, this quote talks to the concept that children are frequently most likely to mimic than to listen.