--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What makes you a man isnt the ability to…" description: "\"What makes you a man isnt the ability to conceive a child; its having the courage to raise one.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/barack-obama-17_being-a-father_what-makes-you-a-man-isnt-the-ability-to_1145618.jpg" --- # What makes you a man isnt the ability to conceive a child… ![“What makes you a man isnt the ability to conceive a child; its having the courage to raise one.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/barack-obama-17_being-a-father_what-makes-you-a-man-isnt-the-ability-to_1145618.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/barack-obama-17_being-a-father_what-makes-you-a-man-isnt-the-ability-to_1145618.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/barack-obama-17_being-a-father_what-makes-you-a-man-isnt-the-ability-to_1145618.jpg) > “What makes you a man isnt the ability to conceive a child; its having the courage to raise one.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True manhood lies in the responsibility and bravery of raising a child, not just biological creation. **In simple terms:** Being a man is about raising a child. Key Takeaway Embrace parental responsibility. Themes parenthood courage responsibility Mood hopeful inspirational Type motivational ethical When to use this quote - adoption - single parenting - military families - foster care Key Concepts masculinity ethics family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can we support fathers in caregiving roles? - What defines courage in modern parenthood? A Different Perspective Courage can be lacking without societal support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being a father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-father/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Dads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dads/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fathers/) [Parenthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenthood/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [Being a father is sometimes my hardest but always my most rewarding job. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/being-a-father-is-sometimes-my-hardest-but-always-my-most-rewarding/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Language is courage: the ability to conceive a thought, to speak it, and by doing so to make it true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/language-is-courage-the-ability-to-conceive-a-thought-to-speak-it-and/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I don't like the way the Bible views women, this thing about the Virgin Mary conceiving a child without having sex, so if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/i-don-t-like-the-way-the-bible-views-women-this-thing-about-the/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [It takes a MAN and WOMAN, To lay down together to conceive a child, The MAN becomes a FATHER, The WOMAN becomes a MOTHER,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/it-takes-a-man-and-woman-to-lay-down-together-to-conceive-a-child-the/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [Happy Fathers Day to the Uncles, Step Dads, Grandpas and men that are raising someone else's kid. It takes a real man to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/happy-fathers-day-to-the-uncles-step-dads-grandpas-and-men-that-are/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Im a dad now... This will be different..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stark/im-a-dad-now-this-will-be-different/) [Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stark/) > [Happy Father's Day to the SINGLE DADS that are being both the mother and father to their kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/happy-father-s-day-to-the-single-dads-that-are-being-both-the-mother/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [F-fantastic, A-awesome, T-terrific, H-honorable, E-excellent, R-remarkable This sums up my dad...Happy Fathers Day to all you wonderful dads out there!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/f-fantastic-a-awesome-t-terrific-h-honorable-e-excellent-r-remarkable/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Any man can help create a child but it takes a real man to love, cherish and raise that child. Happy Father's Day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/any-man-can-help-create-a-child-but-it-takes-a-real-man-to-love/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-dad-is-someone-who-wants-to-catch-you-before-you-fall-but-instead/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most important. And we are called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/of-all-the-rocks-upon-which-we-build-our-lives-we-are-reminded-today-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Real men don't babysit their kids, they Raise them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roumain/real-men-don-t-babysit-their-kids-they-raise-them/) [Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roumain/) > [We should all aspire in life to do a multitude of things well - to be a great father, to be a good husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-modine/we-should-all-aspire-in-life-to-do-a-multitude-of-things-well-to-be-a/) [Matthew Modine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-modine/) > [My favorite job is being a father. I have four girls now. They're a captive audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/my-favorite-job-is-being-a-father-i-have-four-girls-now-they-re-a/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Being a father quotes > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [My favorite job is being a father. I have four girls now. They're a captive audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/my-favorite-job-is-being-a-father-i-have-four-girls-now-they-re-a/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [We should all aspire in life to do a multitude of things well - to be a great father, to be a good husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-modine/we-should-all-aspire-in-life-to-do-a-multitude-of-things-well-to-be-a/) [Matthew Modine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-modine/) > [Real men don't babysit their kids, they Raise them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roumain/real-men-don-t-babysit-their-kids-they-raise-them/) [Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roumain/) > [Ive always liked the idea of being a father. And Ive always romanticised it, because I lost my father when I was young. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/ive-always-liked-the-idea-of-being-a-father-and-ive-always/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > ['Smurfs' just seemed like a great way to represent a young father to be, guy in a marriage, work in conflict, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-represent-a-young-father-to-be/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Christ sits in the body at the right hand of God the Father, but we do not hold that the right hand of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/christ-sits-in-the-body-at-the-right-hand-of-god-the-father-but-we-do/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [Taking Care Of My Son Is My Top Priority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrell-flowers/taking-care-of-my-son-is-my-top-priority/) Gerrell Flowers > [I'm much more proud of being a father than being an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/i-m-much-more-proud-of-being-a-father-than-being-an-actor/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [The Lord has directed, Bring up your children in light and truth. To me, there is no more important human effort. Being a father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-lord-has-directed-bring-up-your-children-in-light-and-truth-to-me/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [People say you don't need a father to be successful. I take offense to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-howard/people-say-you-don-t-need-a-father-to-be-successful-i-take-offense-to/) [Dwight Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-howard/) > [The purpose of my life is being a father to my kids and being a husband to my wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/the-purpose-of-my-life-is-being-a-father-to-my-kids-and-being-a/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-dad-is-someone-who-wants-to-catch-you-before-you-fall-but-instead/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [My favorite thing about being a father is just seeing my kids grow and do some of the same things that I did when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-father-is-just-seeing-my-kids-grow/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [I will hold you tight, support you, guide you, teach you, hug you, protect you and love you with all my soul. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-hold-you-tight-support-you-guide-you-teach-you-hug-you-protect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 122 Being a father quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-father/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What makes you a man isnt the ability to conceive a child; its having the courage to raise one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-makes-you-a-man-isnt-the-ability-to-conceive-a-child-its-having/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being a father" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-makes-you-a-man-isnt-the-ability-to-conceive-a-child-its-having/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/barack-obama-17_being-a-father_what-makes-you-a-man-isnt-the-ability-to_1145618.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/barack-obama-17_being-a-father_what-makes-you-a-man-isnt-the-ability-to_1145618.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/barack-obama-17_being-a-father_what-makes-you-a-man-isnt-the-ability-to_1145618.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What makes you a man isnt the ability to conceive a child; its having the courage to raise one.” — Barack Obama", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barack Obama", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What makes you a man isnt...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-makes-you-a-man-isnt-the-ability-to-conceive-a-child-its-having/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-makes-you-a-man-isnt-the-ability-to-conceive-a-child-its-having/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```