PARENTS QUOTES II

quotations about parents

Parents quote

The founding fathers in their wisdom decided that children were an unnatural strain on parents. So they provided jails called schools, equipped with torture called education.

JOHN UPDIKE

The Centaur

Tags: John Updike


The behavior of parents toward their children gives sufficient evidence even to those who never had children, that the parental affection is common to mankind.

THOMAS REID

The Works of Thomas Reid

Tags: Thomas Reid


In most cases, bad parents beget bad children.

RABBI JEHUDA

attributed, Day's Collacon


The chief requisites that should constitute the fundamental parts of a system of parental authority, are obedience and truth.

L. AIME MARTIN

attributed, Day's Collacon


Parents aren't the people you come from. They're the people you want to be, when you grow up.

JODI PICOULT

Handle with Care


Through the blur, I wondered if I was alone or if other parents felt the same way I did -- that everything involving our children was painful in some way. The emotions, whether they were joy, sorrow, love or pride, were so deep and sharp that in the end they left you raw, exposed and yes, in pain. The human heart was not designed to beat outside the human body and yet, each child represented just that -- a parent's heart bared, beating forever outside its chest.

DEBRA GINSBERG

Raising Blaze: A Mother and Son's Long, Strange Journey into the World of Autism


You will never really know what kind of parent you were or if you did it right or wrong. Never. And you will worry about this and them as long as you live. But when your children have children and you watch them do what they do, you will have part of an answer.

ROBERT FULGHUM

It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It

Tags: Robert Fulghum


To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune -- to lose both seems like carelessness.

OSCAR WILDE

The Importance of Being Earnest

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The difference in affection, of parents towards their several children, is many times unequal; and sometimes unworthy; especially in the mothers; as Solomon saith, A wise son rejoiceth the father, but an ungracious son shames the mother. A man shall see, where there is a house full of children, one or two of the eldest respected, and the youngest made wantons; but in the midst, some that are as it were forgotten, who many times, nevertheless, prove the best. The illiberality of parents, in allowance towards their children, is an harmful error; makes them base; acquaints them with shifts; makes them sort with mean company; and makes them surfeit more when they come to plenty. And therefore the proof is best, when men keep their authority towards the children, but not their purse. Men have a foolish manner (both parents and schoolmasters and servants) in creating and breeding an emulation between brothers, during childhood, which many times sorteth to discord when they are men, and disturbeth families. The Italians make little difference between children, and nephews or near kinsfolks; but so they be of the lump, they care not though they pass not through their own body. And, to say truth, in nature it is much a like matter; insomuch that we see a nephew sometimes resembleth an uncle, or a kinsman, more than his own parent; as the blood happens. Let parents choose betimes, the vocations and courses they mean their children should take; for then they are most flexible; and let them not too much apply themselves to the disposition of their children, as thinking they will take best to that, which they have most mind to. It is true, that if the affection or aptness of the children be extraordinary, then it is good not to cross it; but generally the precept is good, optimum elige, suave et facile illud faciet consuetudo. Younger brothers are commonly fortunate, but seldom or never where the elder are disinherited.

FRANCIS BACON

"Of Parents And Children", The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral

Tags: Francis Bacon


Parents had some kind of sin radar.... They always called when you were in the middle of something you just knew they'd consider wrong. Or at least risky.

RACHEL CAINE

Midnight Alley


Parenting is the greatest of hum-a-few-bars-and-I'll-fake-it skills.

STEPHEN KING

Duma Key

Tags: Stephen King


Although your father and mother are dead, if you propose to yourself any good work, only reflect how it will make their names illustrious, and your purpose will be fixed.

CONFUCIUS

The Wisdom of Confucius


Is there anything as incredible as the love story of your own parents? Anything as hard to grasp as the fact that those two over-the-hill players, permanently on the disabled list, were once in the starting lineup? It's impossible to imagine my father, who in my experience was aroused mainly by the lowering of interest rates, suffering the acute, adolescent passions of the flesh.

JEFFREY EUGENIDES

Middlesex

Tags: Jeffrey Eugenides


All parents damage their children. It cannot be helped. Youth, like pristine glass, absorbs the prints of its handlers. Some parents smudge, others crack, a few shatter childhoods completely into jagged little pieces, beyond repair.

MITCH ALBOM

The Five People You Meet in Heaven


The deeds of the children are a testament to the upbringing they received from their parents.

CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI

Brisingr

Tags: Christopher Paolini


Have you ever noticed how parents can go from the most wonderful people in the world to totally embarrassing in three seconds?

RICK RIORDAN

The Red Pyramid


When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them.

RODNEY DANGERFIELD

stand-up routine

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Parents who are afraid to put their foot down usually have children who step on their toes.

CROFT M. PENTZ

The Complete Book of Zingers


Respect of parents curbs the spirit and restrains vices.

SENECA

attributed, Day's Collacon

Tags: Seneca


Parents are like God because you wanna know they're out there, and you want them to think well of you, but you really only call when you need something.

CHUCK PALAHNIUK

Invisible Monsters

Tags: Chuck Palahniuk