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Children wish fathers looked but with their eyes; fathers that children with their judgment looked; and either may be wrong.
William Shakespeare
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the disconnect between children's perceptions of their fathers and fathers' expectations of their children.

In this quote, Shakespeare emphasizes the generational gap in understanding and perspective between fathers and children. Children often see their fathers through a lens of admiration and desire for approval, while fathers may expect their children to possess the maturity and judgment they have developed over years. This inherent difference can lead to misunderstandings where either party might be wrong in their assumptions about the other.

Themes

FathersChildrenPerspectiveJudgmentUnderstanding

In practice

Example use cases

In a father-child relationship workshop, this quote can inspire discussions about perceptions and expectations.

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As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
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Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
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Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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