“We should always remember that the education of the child really begins from its very birth, and is best given by the parents themselves. The use of threats and punishments, and the practice of gorging the children with food, are an outrage on the principles of true education. The example and practice of the parents necessarily shape the conduct and character of the children. The very first duty of a man is to give such education to his children as will make them honest and truthful, and an ornament to the society in which they live. It is the solemn duty of all virtuous parents to train their children in noble ways.”
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Source: A Guide to Health (1921), Part II, Chapter IX 'Care of the Child'.
About this quote
Children absorb character from what the adults around them actually do, long before any formal lesson lands. The claim is that daily example — how you handle anger, honesty, food, rest — teaches far more than rules or punishment, and that this shaping starts much earlier than most people assume.
When to use it
- A father who wants his kids to read puts his own phone down and picks up a book each evening.
- Parents who apologize to each other after an argument raise children who apologize more easily.
- Instead of forcing a toddler to clear every plate, a caregiver offers small portions and lets appetite guide seconds.