---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I could make only one wish for a…"
description: "\"If I could make only one wish for a child, I'd wish him the quality of lovingness.\" — Benjamin Spock"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/benjamin-spock-9466_children_if-i-could-make-only-one-wish-for-a-chil_1390601.png"
---

#  If I could make only one wish for a child, I'd wish him…

![“If I could make only one wish for a child, I'd wish him the quality of lovingness.” quote by Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/benjamin-spock-9466_children_if-i-could-make-only-one-wish-for-a-chil_1390601.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/benjamin-spock-9466_children_if-i-could-make-only-one-wish-for-a-chil_1390601.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/benjamin-spock-9466_children_if-i-could-make-only-one-wish-for-a-chil_1390601.png)

> “If I could make only one wish for a child, I'd wish him the quality of lovingness.”

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Wishing a child love fosters emotional health, suggesting love is the essential quality for a fulfilling life.

**In simple terms:** Love is the best wish for a child.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate love.

Themes

parenting empathy development

Mood

nurturing optimistic

Type

parental philosophical

When to use this quote

- family life
- school environment
- community programs
- mental health

Key Concepts

emotional intelligence attachment theory

Questions to Reflect On

- How can love be taught?
- What other qualities matter?

A Different Perspective

Love alone may not solve all problems.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Child Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-wish-3015945/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [If i could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/if-i-could/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Make Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-wish/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Quality Lovingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality-lovingness-4845222/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Wish Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish-child-897069/)

## Related quotes

> [Never expect on something but wish it to come true. just like a child who wish to a fairytale and genie with an action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheil-bihag/never-expect-on-something-but-wish-it-to-come-true-just-like-a-child/)

[Sheil Bihag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheil-bihag/)

> [I wish I had been a child when the Smurfs came on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-asbury/i-wish-i-had-been-a-child-when-the-smurfs-came-on-television/)

[Kelly Asbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-asbury/)

> [Sometimes, when I see my granddaughters make small discoveries of their own, I wish I were a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/sometimes-when-i-see-my-granddaughters-make-small-discoveries-of/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [“Isn’t that an odd thing for a parent to wish for a child? That he would be less than what he is?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-guzeman/isn-t-that-an-odd-thing-for-a-parent-to-wish-for-a-child-that-he/)

[Tracy Guzeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-guzeman/)

> [As a mother, you have that impulse to wish that no child should ever be hurt, or abused, or go hungry, or not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/as-a-mother-you-have-that-impulse-to-wish-that-no-child-should-ever/)

[Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/)

> [“I wish for my child to have a mind as stark and wild as the winter, a spirit as clear and fine as my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-wish-for-my-child-to-have-a-mind-as-stark-and-wild-as-the-winter-a/)

[Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/)

> [I would love a family. I'm at the age where the wish for a child gets stronger. But who knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-diaz/i-would-love-a-family-i-m-at-the-age-where-the-wish-for-a-child-gets/)

[Cameron Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-diaz/)

> [“I wish for my child, for all our children, a world where they can be who they are and become their most loved, blessed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-frankel/i-wish-for-my-child-for-all-our-children-a-world-where-they-can-be/)

[Laurie Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-frankel/)

> [I can't wait till I'm older... when I can wish I was still a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-connolly/i-can-t-wait-till-i-m-older-when-i-can-wish-i-was-still-a-child/)

[Conor Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-connolly/)

> [It was my wish since I was a child to become something, to be able to stand on my own two feet, to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/qandeel-baloch/it-was-my-wish-since-i-was-a-child-to-become-something-to-be-able-to/)

[Qandeel Baloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/qandeel-baloch/)

> [Why do born-again people so often make you wish they'd never been born the first time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-whitehorn/why-do-born-again-people-so-often-make-you-wish-they-d-never-been/)

[Katharine Whitehorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-whitehorn/)

> [Proud of my mother for becoming a wish granter for the make a wish foundation. You inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/proud-of-my-mother-for-becoming-a-wish-granter-for-the-make-a-wish/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I believe in wishes and in a person's ability to make a wish come true, I really do. And a wish is more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-believe-in-wishes-and-in-a-person-s-ability-to-make-a-wish-come/)

[Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/)

> [Make a wish and place it in yo heart,anything you want,everything you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-a-wish-and-place-it-in-yo-heart-anything-you-want-everything-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Make a wish, Open your eyes, Live your dream...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/make-a-wish-open-your-eyes-live-your-dream/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

## More by Benjamin Spock

> [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [On the average, older parents are more flexible, tolerant, understanding, and happy in child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/on-the-average-older-parents-are-more-flexible-tolerant-understanding/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [I was so afraid of being bad and being caught at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/i-was-so-afraid-of-being-bad-and-being-caught-at-it/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [I really learned it all from mothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/i-really-learned-it-all-from-mothers/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [Can we make a better world for our children? I believe we can, if enough people are concerned and get involved in changing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/can-we-make-a-better-world-for-our-children-i-believe-we-can-if/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [Like my parents, I have never been a regular church member or churchgoer. It doesn't seem plausible to me that there is the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/like-my-parents-i-have-never-been-a-regular-church-member-or/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [Without freedom of choice, there is no creativity. Without creativity, there is no life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/without-freedom-of-choice-there-is-no-creativity-without-creativity/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [This present system by which industry is motivated exclusively by the quest for maximal profits - though it may have helped a great deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/this-present-system-by-which-industry-is-motivated-exclusively-by-the/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [When I was 88 years old, I gave up meat entirely and switched to a plant foods diet following a slight stroke. During the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/when-i-was-88-years-old-i-gave-up-meat-entirely-and-switched-to-a/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [It's an ideal existence. Out in the open. Berating the president of he United States... I'm free to thwart and torment the authorities -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/it-s-an-ideal-existence-out-in-the-open-berating-the-president-of-he/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [What is the use of physicians like myself trying to help parents to bring up children healthy and happy, to have them killed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/what-is-the-use-of-physicians-like-myself-trying-to-help-parents-to/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [Grandparents have the freedom to see their grandchildren uncritically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/grandparents-have-the-freedom-to-see-their-grandchildren-uncritically/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [A surprising number of scientific advances have been made and masterpieces of art created by individuals just on the threshold of adulthood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/a-surprising-number-of-scientific-advances-have-been-made-and/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [How to fold a diaper depends on the size of the baby and the diaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/how-to-fold-a-diaper-depends-on-the-size-of-the-baby-and-the-diaper/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [You know more than you think you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/you-know-more-than-you-think-you-do/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

[Explore all 71 Benjamin Spock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

## More Children quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/)

[Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/)

[Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/)

[Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/)

[Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/)

[Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/)

> [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/)

[Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/)

[Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If I could make only one wish for a child, I'd wish him the quality of lovingness.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Benjamin Spock"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/if-i-could-make-only-one-wish-for-a-child-i-d-wish-him-the-quality-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Children"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/if-i-could-make-only-one-wish-for-a-child-i-d-wish-him-the-quality-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/benjamin-spock-9466_children_if-i-could-make-only-one-wish-for-a-chil_1390601.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/benjamin-spock-9466_children_if-i-could-make-only-one-wish-for-a-chil_1390601.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/benjamin-spock-9466_children_if-i-could-make-only-one-wish-for-a-chil_1390601.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If I could make only one wish for a child, I'd wish him the quality of lovingness.” — Benjamin Spock",
                "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": "Benjamin Spock",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If I could make only one...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/if-i-could-make-only-one-wish-for-a-child-i-d-wish-him-the-quality-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/if-i-could-make-only-one-wish-for-a-child-i-d-wish-him-the-quality-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
