This attitude (let's not call it a quote) seems to often be offered up as evidence that there isn't much merit to such inter-generational kvetching. But if this attitude was contemporaneous with Socrates and Plato, then the Hellenic world was indeed in decline (Rome would conquer Greece in only a few hundred years and in Spengler's regime the whole Apollonian world had already entered its autumn period) and why should the recurrence not be because our own world has reached a homologous point in its development?

Socrates is far from being the pinnacle; the pre-Socratic philosophers are seen as having accomplished little, whereas Plato and Aristotle are immensely influential, and presumably part of the generation referred to.

The quote is made up. And the important question is why do we have the strong desire to make up quotes like this. What exactly are we trying to deny?

Did you read the link? The paragraph wasn’t made up. It is a summation of attitudes towards children at the time.

My bet would be that it was falsely wrapped up into a quote because it simplifies origin and time frame to better underline the point.