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

About Dorothy Parker

Dorothy Parker (née Rothschild; August 22, 1893 – June 7, 1967) was an American poet, literary critic and writer of fiction. Based in New York, she was known for her caustic wisecracks, and eye for 20th-century urban foibles.

More quotations from Dorothy Parker

They sicken of the calm, who knew the storm.

—Dorothy Parker

That would be a good thing for them to cut on my tombstone: Wherever she went, including here, it was against her better judgment.

—Dorothy Parker

I'm never going to be famous. My name will never be writ large on the roster of Those Who Do Things. I don't do any thing. Not one single thing. I used to bite my nails, but I don't even do that any more.

—Dorothy Parker

She runs the gamut of emotions from A to B.

—Dorothy Parker

emotions

If all the girls who attended the Yale prom were laid end to end, I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

—Dorothy Parker

girls

More quotations tagged with “parenting”

How insulting is it to suggest that the best thing women can do is raise other people to do incredible things? I'm betting some of those women would like to do great things of their own.

—Jessica Valenti in Why Have Kids?

accomplishment feminism women parenting motherhood sexism

As far as rearing children goes, the basic idea I try to keep in mind is that a child is a person. Just because they happen to be a little shorter than you doesn't mean they are dumber than you. A lot of people make that mistake, and forget how much value there is in raw intuition—and there's plenty of that in every child. They may not have verbal skills or manual skills yet, but that is no reason to treat them like they're inferior little lumps whose destiny it is to grow up to be inferior big lumps like you.

—Frank Zappa

children parenting skills

The child who was happy with herself meant the parents had won the jackpot.

—Meg Wolitzer in The Interestings

children happiness parents luck parenting

When love is gone, there's always justice./ And when justice is gone, there's always force./ And when force is gone, there's always Mom./ Hi, Mom!

—Laurie Anderson

justice love force parenting mothers dependability Mom

I love my daughter. She and I have shared my body. There is a part of her mind that is a part of mine. But when she was born, she sprang from me like a slippery fish, and has been swimming away ever since.

—Amy Tan

love mind birth parenting

History

4 Oct 2013 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

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