Who said “Anyone who has a child today should train him to be either a physicist or a ballet…”?

Verified

W. H. Auden. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Table Talk of W. H. Auden (1991), 15 January 1947

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“Anyone who has a child today should train him to be either a physicist or a ballet dancer. Then he'll escape.”
VerifiedThe Table Talk of W. H. Auden (1991), 15 January 1947 · evidenceUpbringing
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Table Talk of W. H. Auden (1991), 15 January 1947.

APA

Auden, W. H. (n.d.). Anyone who has a child today should train him to be either a physicist or a ballet dancer. Then he'll escape. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41126-anyone-who-has-a-child-today-should-train/

MLA

Auden, W. H. “Anyone who has a child today should train him to be either a physicist or a ballet dancer. Then he'll escape.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41126-anyone-who-has-a-child-today-should-train/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Auden, W. H. “Anyone who has a child today should train him to be either a physicist or a ballet dancer. Then he'll escape.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41126-anyone-who-has-a-child-today-should-train/.