My parents were very poor, but we never felt any sense of need or want. It was a very close, loving, tightly-knit family growing up, and I never felt any sense of deprivation or anything like that.
Interpretation
Despite financial struggles, the importance of love and closeness in a family can create a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
This quote by George J. Mitchell reflects on the significance of familial bonds and emotional wealth over material wealth. He emphasizes that, despite his family's poverty, the love and tight-knit nature of their relationship provided a strong sense of security and contentment, showcasing how emotional support can often outweigh material needs.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of family support during challenges, you might quote this to emphasize emotional wealth.
In every society in human history, including the United States, those in power seek to imbue themselves with the attributes of religion and patriotism as a way of getting greater support for their policy and insulating themselves from any criticism.
As they say, one thing led to another, and, ultimately, the British and Irish governments asked me to serve as chairman of the peace negotiations, which ironically began six years ago this week.
I never had children, never even thought I would have children. Now I have 152 daughters; expecting 75 more next year. That is some type of gestation period.
My mother never, ever told me about evilness. She only saw the beautiful things... she wanted to protect me from it.
Society should see parenting as a public health issue and help parents to bring their children up feeling loved. We have birthing classes, but no parenting classes. The latter is desperately needed if we are to avoid self-destruction.
What good mothers and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is usually best after all.
In the fields of southwest Iowa, my parents and grandparents worked and sacrificed. Like so many Iowans, the American Dream for them was never about wealth or fame. Their dream was to leave their children and grandchildren a better life, with greater opportunity, than their own.
All of these things we do without children, and suddenly we don't do them anymore, and it comes home to us in a real way, that it's very different to have the responsibility of a child.
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