There was a time when we expected nothing of our children but obedience¹, as opposed to the present, when we expect everything of them but obedience.

Anatole Broyard

I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.

Anna Quindlen (1953 - )

Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome² for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900 - 1944), "The Little Prince", 1943

Human beings are the only creatures that allow their children to come back home.

Bill Cosby (1937 - )

People who get nostalgic about childhood were obviously never children.

Bill Watterson (1958 - ), Calvin and Hobbes

If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm.

Bruce Barton

To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.

Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC), Orator³, chapter 34, section 120

The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents, and the second half by our children.

Clarence Darrow (1857 - 1938)

One of the common causes of serious difficulty takes the form of parental⁴ self-discovery. The newly adopted child brings out submerged feelings or behavior in his parents that make them dislike themselves. This can be such a severe blow to their self- esteem⁵ that they must eradicate⁶ the cause of their distress⁷. Sometimes the only way that parents are able to do that is by returning the child.

Claudia Jewett Jarrett, Adopting the Older Child, 1978

The best way to learn to be an honest, responsible adult is to live with adults who act honestly and responsibly.

Claudia Jewett Jarrett, Adopting the Older Child, 1978

Facing a mirror you see merely your own countenance⁹; facing your child you finally understand how everyone else has seen you.

Daniel Raeburn, The New Yorker, 05-01-2006

If your parents never had children, chances are you won't, either.

Dick Cavett (1936 - )

The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 - 1945)

The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant--and let the air out of the tires.

Dorothy Parker (1893 - 1967)

Having a baby's sweet face so close to your own, for so long a time as it takes to nurse 'em, is a great tonic¹⁰ for a sad soul.

Erica Eisdorfer, The Wet Nurse's Tale, 2009

We do our children no favour by keeping them near, coddling them, or showing them off to adult visitors. Not that a nursemaid does not sometimes spoil them. But the greatest favour we can do our children is to give visible example of love and esteem to our spouse¹¹. As they grow up, they may then look forward to maturity¹³ so they too can find such love.

Eucharista Ward¹², Match For Mary Bennet, 2009

Ask your child what he wants for dinner only if he's buying.

Fran Lebowitz (1950 - )

I must take issue with the term 'a mere⁸ child,' for it has been my invariable experience that the company of a mere child is infinitely¹⁴ preferable to that of a mere adult.

Fran Lebowitz (1950 - )

Never have children, only grandchildren.

Gore¹⁵ Vidal (1925 - )

That's the funny thing about havin' a kid. They come with their own set of problems; make everything else you were worried about seem kinda silly.

Greg Garcia, Raising Hope, Dead Tooth, 09-28-10

Babies are cool, until you've done everything to do with 'em and you get bored. That's why T.V. shows about babies don't last more than a year.

Gregory Thomas Garcia, Alan Kirschenbaum, Raising Hope, Burt Rocks, November 30, 2010

A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.

Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)

My mother loved children -- she would have given anything if I had been one.

Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)

I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.

Harry¹⁶ S Truman (1884 - 1972)

It is not giving children more that spoils them; it is giving them more to avoid confrontation¹⁷.

John Gray, "Children Are From Heaven"

That's the great thing about being in the third grade. If you've got one polysyllabic adjective, everyone thinks you're a genius.

John Green, Vlogbrothers, My Name Is John Green. And I am a Nerd., 10-30-07

You know that children are growing up when they start asking questions that have answers.

John J. Plomp

I am amused when goody-goodies proclaim, from the safety of their armchairs, that children are naturally prejudice-free, that they only learn to "hate" from listening to bigoted¹⁸ adults. Nonsense. Tolerance¹⁹ is a learned trait, like riding a bike or playing the piano. Those of us who actually live among children, who see them in their natural environment, know the truth: Left to their own devices, children will gang up on and abuse anyone who is even slightly different from the norm.

Josh Lieb, I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President, 2009

Allowing children to fight their own battles is one of the hardest parenting skills to learn.

Julie A., M.A. Ross and Judy Corcoran, Joint²⁰ Custody²¹ with a Jerk: Raising a Child with an Uncooperative Ex, 2011

Children should feel loved because they exist, not because they’ve behaved in a certain way.

Julie A., M.A. Ross and Judy Corcoran, Joint Custody with a Jerk: Raising a Child with an Uncooperative Ex, 2011