--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Jews have a saying worth remembering…" description: "\"“The Jews have a saying worth remembering: \"Whoever doesn't teach his son some trade or business, teaches him to be a thief.\" As soon as ever I can, I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/cotton-mather-22749_business_the-jews-have-a-saying-worth-remembering_1138114.jpg" --- # The Jews have a saying worth remembering: "Whoever doesn't… ![“The Jews have a saying worth remembering: "Whoever doesn't teach his son some trade or business, teaches him to be a thief." As soon as ever I can, I will make my children apprehensive of the main end for which they are to live; that so they may as soon as may be, begin to live; and their youth…” quote by Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/cotton-mather-22749_business_the-jews-have-a-saying-worth-remembering_1138114.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/cotton-mather-22749_business_the-jews-have-a-saying-worth-remembering_1138114.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/cotton-mather-22749_business_the-jews-have-a-saying-worth-remembering_1138114.jpg) > ““The Jews have a saying worth remembering: "Whoever doesn't teach his son some trade or business, teaches him to be a thief." As soon as ever I can, I will make my children apprehensive of the main end for which they are to live; that so they may as soon as may be, begin to live; and their youth not be nothing but vanity. I will show them, that their main end must be, to, acknowledge the great God, and His glorious Christ; and bring others to acknowledge Him: and that they are never wise nor well, but when they are doing so. I will make them able to answer the grand question of why they live; and what is the end of the actions that fill their lives? I will teach them that their Creator and Redeemer is to be obeyed in everything, and everything is to be done in obedience to Him. I will teach them how even their diversions, and their ornaments, and the tasks of their education, must all be to fit them for the further service of Him to whom I have devoted them; and how in these also, His commandments must be the rule of all they do. I will sometimes therefore surprise them with an inquiry, "Child, what is this for? Give me a good account of why you do it?" How comfortably shall I see them walking in the light, if I may bring them wisely to answer this inquiry. -A Father's Resolutions, www.spurgeon.org/~phil/mather/resolvd... ”” [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A father should teach children purpose, work, and devotion to God, encouraging reflective living and moral accountability. **In simple terms:** Teach kids purpose, work, and faith. Key Takeaway Instill purpose and moral responsibility in children. Themes family faith purpose education morality Mood hopeful inspirational serious Type parental spiritual educational When to use this quote - child upbringing - career counseling - religious education - personal development Key Concepts spirituality vocational training ethical reflection parental guidance Questions to Reflect On - What purpose do you want your children to pursue? - How can you balance faith with personal autonomy? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on religious doctrine may limit personal freedom and critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Epistemologically-self-conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemologically-self-conscious-56661/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Jews Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jews-saying-2616641/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Life purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-purpose/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [Obedience Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience-teach-3160722/) [Obeyed Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obeyed-obedience-3160723/) [Teach Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-son-534502/) ## Related quotes > [Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/instant-obedience-will-teach-you-more-about-god-than-a-lifetime-of/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“Two hundred years from now people will find out how we have been influenced by our culture in ways we have yet to recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morecraft-iii/two-hundred-years-from-now-people-will-find-out-how-we-have-been/) [Joe Morecraft III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morecraft-iii/) > [It is easy to tell the difference between Jews and Gentiles. 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Want a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-mason/it-is-easy-to-tell-the-difference-between-jews-and-gentiles-after-the/) [Jackie Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-mason/) > [I will now teach my son Increase (and others of my children) the way of raising a lesson out of every verse in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/i-will-now-teach-my-son-increase-and-others-of-my-children-the-way-of/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) > [My mum brought me up but it's hard for a woman to try to teach a son man things, so I've had to practically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gray/my-mum-brought-me-up-but-it-s-hard-for-a-woman-to-try-to-teach-a-son/) [Andre Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gray/) > [Its a fathers job to teach his daughter her worth and his job to teach his son how to treat a woman!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-a-fathers-job-to-teach-his-daughter-her-worth-and-his-job-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I will teach my son to respect women. At the same time I will also teach my daughter to take care and be mindful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-teach-my-son-to-respect-women-at-the-same-time-i-will-also/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Respect For Women, Is one of the greatest thing a father can teach his son...!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/respect-for-women-is-one-of-the-greatest-thing-a-father-can-teach-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't teach a son to be loyal if the father is not loyal. The same applies with the mother and her daughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/you-can-t-teach-a-son-to-be-loyal-if-the-father-is-not-loyal-the-same/) [Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/) > [I'm gonna teach my son to treat a girl right. Like a priority, not like an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-gonna-teach-my-son-to-treat-a-girl-right-like-a-priority-not-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One thing I want to teach my son is sensitivity to other people. I want to teach him not to be this macho freak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/one-thing-i-want-to-teach-my-son-is-sensitivity-to-other-people-i/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [There is no place for fear. Stay informed, but also be smart enough to decipher what is noise and what is real. Always remembering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rowland/there-is-no-place-for-fear-stay-informed-but-also-be-smart-enough-to/) [Kelly Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-rowland/) > [I try to teach my son about sanitation, especially when handling foods like chicken that could be dangerous. I remind him to wash his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emeril-lagasse/i-try-to-teach-my-son-about-sanitation-especially-when-handling-foods/) [Emeril Lagasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emeril-lagasse/) > [When you teach your son, you teach your son's son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-teach-your-son-you-teach-your-son-s-son/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The mother must teach her son how to respect and follow the rules. She must teach him how to compete successfully with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/the-mother-must-teach-her-son-how-to-respect-and-follow-the-rules-she/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) ## More by Cotton Mather > [What Must I Do to Be Saved? It is impossible to ask a more weighty Question! It is deplorable that we hear it asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/what-must-i-do-to-be-saved-it-is-impossible-to-ask-a-more-weighty/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) > [Is this dying? Is this all? Is this what I feared when I prayed against a hard death? Oh, I can bear this! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/is-this-dying-is-this-all-is-this-what-i-feared-when-i-prayed-against/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) > [That there is a Devil is a thing doubted by none but such as are under the influence of the Devil. 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Let not what should be sauce, rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/be-not-so-set-upon-poetry-as-to-be-always-poring-on-the-passionate/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) > [Ah! destructive Ignorance, what shall be done to chase thee out of the World!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/ah-destructive-ignorance-what-shall-be-done-to-chase-thee-out-of-the/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) > [That there is a Devil, is a thing doubted by none but such as are under the influences of the Devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/that-there-is-a-devil-is-a-thing-doubted-by-none-but-such-as-are-2/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) > [Chrysostom, I remember, mentions a twofold book of God: the book of the creatures, and the book of the scriptures. God, having taught us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/chrysostom-i-remember-mentions-a-twofold-book-of-god-the-book-of-the/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) > [Charity ... is kind, it is not easily provok'd, it thinks no evil, it believes all things, hopes all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/charity-is-kind-it-is-not-easily-provok-d-it-thinks-no-evil-it/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) > [There may be some so very Ignorant, that they know not how to Pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/there-may-be-some-so-very-ignorant-that-they-know-not-how-to-pray/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) > [“The New-Englanders are a People of God settled in those, which were once the Devil's Territories; and it may easily be supposed that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/the-new-englanders-are-a-people-of-god-settled-in-those-which-were/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) > [What was it that obliged Jerome to write his book, Concerning Illustrious Men? It was the common reproach of old cast upon Christians, 'That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-mather/what-was-it-that-obliged-jerome-to-write-his-book-concerning/) [Cotton Mather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) [Explore all 27 Cotton Mather quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cotton-mather/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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I will show them, that their main end must be, to, acknowledge the great God, and His glorious Christ; and bring others to acknowledge Him: and that they are never wise nor well, but when they are doing so. I will make them able to answer the grand question of why they live; and what is the end of the actions that fill their lives? I will teach them that their Creator and Redeemer is to be obeyed in everything, and everything is to be done in obedience to Him. I will teach them how even their diversions, and their ornaments, and the tasks of their education, must all be to fit them for the further service of Him to whom I have devoted them; and how in these also, His commandments must be the rule of all they do. I will sometimes therefore surprise them with an inquiry, \"Child, what is this for? 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