I married the first man I ever kissed. When I tell this to my children, they just about throw up.
Barbara BushRead
Your success as a family... our success as a nation... depends not on what happens inside the White House, but on what happens inside your house.
Interpretation
Family values and actions are fundamental to the success of a nation.
This quote by Barbara Bush emphasizes that the welfare and achievements of a family unit are crucial to the overall success of a nation. It suggests that the foundation of a strong society lies not in political leadership or governmental decisions, but in the relationships, values, and actions that take place within each household.
In practice
In a speech about family values, one might reference this quote to underscore the importance of home life.
I married the first man I ever kissed. When I tell this to my children, they just about throw up.
Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others.
You don't just luck into things as much as you would like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it is friendships or opportunities.
You have to love your children unselfishly. That's hard. But it's the only way.
The personal things should be left out of platforms at conventions. You can argue yourself blue in the face, and you're not going to change each other's minds. It's a waste of your time and my time.
To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.
I am technically "boss" of the family which I am carrying along-but I am grateful to know that it is only technically - that the real authority rests on the other side of the house. It is placed there by a beneficent Providence, who foresaw before I was born, or, if he did not, he has found it out since - that I am not in any way qualified to travel alone.
The family is one of nature's masterpieces.
The focus of my life begins at home with family, loved ones and friends. I want to use my resources to create a secure environment that fosters love, learning, laughter and mutual success. I will protect and value integrity. I will admit and quickly correct my mistakes. I will be a self-starter. I will be a caring person. I will be a good listener with an open mind. I will continue to grow and learn. I will facilitate and celebrate the success of others.
In Morocco, there is an insistence on authority. Children are not encouraged to speak up in front of their parents. My parents were not like this. I was the kind of girl who could tell her father, 'No, what you are saying is totally untrue, and I don't agree with you.'
My mother taught me to always be strong and always work hard. She's been working hard her whole life for me and my brother. I'm a lot like her in that I work hard for what I want. She taught me that.
I still can’t say whether I ever want children….I can only say how I feel now--grateful to be on my own. I also know that I won’t go forth and have children just in case I might regret missing it later in life; I don’t think this is a strong enough motivation to bring more babies onto the earth.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.