PARENTS QUOTES II
quotations about parents
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
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
In most cases, bad parents beget bad children.
RABBI JEHUDA
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
Parenting is the greatest of hum-a-few-bars-and-I'll-fake-it skills.
STEPHEN KING
Duma Key
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
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
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
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
To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune -- to lose both seems like carelessness.
OSCAR WILDE
The Importance of Being Earnest
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
When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them.
RODNEY DANGERFIELD
stand-up routine
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
Respect of parents curbs the spirit and restrains vices.
SENECA
attributed, Day's Collacon
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
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
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
The deeds of the children are a testament to the upbringing they received from their parents.
CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI
Brisingr
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