The greatest thing in family life is to take a hint when a hint is intended—and not to take a hint when a hint isn’t intended.

Family! Thou art the home of all social evil, a charitable institution for comfortable women, an anchorage for house-fathers, and a hell for children.

Nobody, who has not been in the interior of a family, can say what the difficulties of any individual of that family may be.

God is our father, but even more is God our mother.

He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.

In peace, children inter their parents; war violates the order of nature and causes parents to inter their children.

Mother died today. Or maybe it was yesterday, I don’t know. 

Few sons are equal to their fathers; most fall short, all too few surpass them. 

If parents would only realize how they bore their children!

It’s frightening to think that you mark your children merely by being yourself… it seems unfair. You can’t assume the responsibility for everything you do—or don’t do.

I cannot bear a parent’s tears.