To understand your parents’ love you must raise children yourself.
—Chinese Proverb
The most important thing that parents can teach their children is how to get along without them.
—Frank A. Clark
When you teach your son, you teach your son’s son.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Parents were invented to make children happy by giving them something to ignore.
—Ogden Nash (1902–71) American Writer of Sophisticated Light Verse
The word no carries a lot more meaning when spoken by a parent who also knows how to say yes.
—Joyce Maynard (b.1953) American Novelist, Journalist
Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
I wish all the mothers, fathers and children out there realize how much I need them and how much I value their support.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
When thou art contemplating some base deed, let the presence of thy infant son act as a check on thy headlong course to sin.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
Parents often talk about the younger generation as if they didn’t have anything to do with it.
—Haim Ginott
He that does not bring up his son to some honest calling and employment, brings him up to be a thief.
—Yiddish Proverb
The sacred books of the ancient Persians say: If you would be holy instruct your children, because all the good acts they perform will be imputed to you.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
The trouble with parents is that by the time they are experienced, they are unemployed.
—Indian Proverb
Selective ignorance, a cornerstone of child rearing. You don’t put kids under surveillance: it might frighten you. Parents should sit tall in the saddle and look upon their troops with a noble and benevolent and extremely nearsighted gaze.
—Garrison Keillor (b.1942) American Author, Humorist, Radio Personality
Parents are not quite interested injustice, they are interested in quiet.
—Bill Cosby (b.1937) American Actor, Comedian, Activist, Producer, Author
I am the slave of my baptism. Parents, you have caused my misfortune, and you have caused your own.
—Arthur Rimbaud (1854–91) French Poet, Adventurer
To show a child what once delighted you, to find the child’s delight added to your own—this is happiness.
—J. B. Priestley (1894–1984) English Novelist, Playwright, Critic
The best training any parent can give a child is to train the child to train himself.
—A. P. Gouthey
Parenthood is not an object of appetite or even desire. It is an object of will. There is no appetite for parenthood; there is only a purpose or intention of parenthood.
—R. G. Collingwood (1889–1943) English Philosopher, Historian, Archaeologist
Your children need your presence more than presents.
—Jesse Jackson (b.1941) American Civil Rights Leader, Minister
Children need guidance and sympathy far more than instruction.
—Anne Sullivan Macy (1866–1936) American Educator
The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents and the second half by our children.
—Clarence Darrow (1857–1938) American Civil Liberties Lawyer
The parent is low, who having children, truly feels bored.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Philosopher
To nourish and raise children against odds is in any time, any place, more valuable than to fix bolts in cars or design nuclear weapons.
—Marilyn French (1929–2009) American Feminist Author
How selfhood begins with a walking away, and love is proved in the letting go.
—Cecil Day-Lewis (1904–72) British Poet, Critic
Parents who are always giving their children nothing but the best usually wind up with nothing but the worst
—Indian Proverb
There is no such penalty for error and folly as to see one’s children suffer for it.—There is no such reward for a well-spent life as to see one’s children well started in life, owing to their parents’ good health, good principles, fixed character, good breeding, and in general the whole outfit, that enables them to fight the battle of life with success.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
Listening to parents’ advice is sort of like watching commercials. You know what’s coming, you’ve heard it all before, it’s a big bore, but you listen anyway
—Unknown
How many hopes and fears, how many ardent wishes and anxious apprehensions are twisted together in the threads that connect the parent with the child!
—Samuel Griswold Goodrich (1793–1860) American Publisher, Writer
I wish you would moderate that fondness you have for your children. I do not mean you should abate any part of your care, or not do your duty to them in its utmost extent, but I would have you early prepare yourself for disappointments, which are heavy in proportion to their being surprising.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
As long as you have the blessing of your parents it does not matter even if you live in the mountains.
—Greek Proverb
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