--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't take up a man's time talking about…" description: "\"Don't take up a man's time talking about the smartness of your children; he wants to talk to you about the smartness of his children.\" — E. W. Howe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e52/e-w-howe-2815_children_don-t-take-up-a-man-s-time-talking-about_2372788.png" --- # Don't take up a man's time talking about the smartness of… ![“Don't take up a man's time talking about the smartness of your children; he wants to talk to you about the smartness of his children.” quote by E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e52/e-w-howe-2815_children_don-t-take-up-a-man-s-time-talking-about_2372788.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e52/e-w-howe-2815_children_don-t-take-up-a-man-s-time-talking-about_2372788.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e52/e-w-howe-2815_children_don-t-take-up-a-man-s-time-talking-about_2372788.png) > “Don't take up a man's time talking about the smartness of your children; he wants to talk to you about the smartness of his children.” [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Warns against boasting about one's children to a parent who prefers to hear about his own kids. **In simple terms:** Don't brag about your kids to a parent who wants to talk about his. Key Takeaway Listen to others' concerns before sharing your own. Themes family dynamics humility communication Mood reflective considerate Type advice social When to use this quote - family gatherings - parent‑child meetings - social events Key Concepts parental pride social etiquette Questions to Reflect On - How can you show interest in others without turning the conversation to yourself? - What does this reveal about humility in relationships? A Different Perspective May overlook the other parent's feelings and cause tension. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [My dad and I didn't speak for a long time, but we're talking again now, which is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-mcpartlin/my-dad-and-i-didn-t-speak-for-a-long-time-but-we-re-talking-again-now/) [Ant McPartlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-mcpartlin/) > [I feel that we Germans are spending less and less time talking to each other. And even less time listening to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-walter-steinmeier/i-feel-that-we-germans-are-spending-less-and-less-time-talking-to/) [Frank-Walter Steinmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-walter-steinmeier/) > [We spend most of our time talking about nothing, but I just want to let u know that all of these nothings have meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-spend-most-of-our-time-talking-about-nothing-but-i-just-want-to-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Consider spending less time talking, and more time prototyping, especially if you're not very good at talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-buchheit/consider-spending-less-time-talking-and-more-time-prototyping/) [Paul Buchheit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-buchheit/) > [As a goalkeeper, you have so much time back there where you're alone, and you're talking to yourself in your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zack-steffen/as-a-goalkeeper-you-have-so-much-time-back-there-where-you-re-alone/) [Zack Steffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zack-steffen/) > [Waste no more time talking about great souls and how they should be, become one yourself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/waste-no-more-time-talking-about-great-souls-and-how-they-should-be/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We spend too much time talking about each other, at each other, past each other, and not enough time talking with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/we-spend-too-much-time-talking-about-each-other-at-each-other-past/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [We do not spend a great deal of time talking to management.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/we-do-not-spend-a-great-deal-of-time-talking-to-management/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [In my time, talking to a girl was like talking to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/in-my-time-talking-to-a-girl-was-like-talking-to-god/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [“Those who spend most of the time talking about their relationship don't have one anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-ruyle/those-who-spend-most-of-the-time-talking-about-their-relationship-don/) [Gene Ruyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-ruyle/) > [“Some people are not really good listeners. They are merely good at keeping quiet for a long time, while someone is talking to them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-people-are-not-really-good-listeners-they-are-merely-good-at/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Time will do the talking, years will do the walking, I'll just find a comfy spot and wait it out, time will do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/time-will-do-the-talking-years-will-do-the-walking-i-ll-just-find-a/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [We spend most of our time talking about nothing, but I just want to let you know that all those nothings have meant so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/we-spend-most-of-our-time-talking-about-nothing-but-i-just-want-to/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [The more time you spend talking about what you have been doing, the less time you have to do what you have been talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-ralph-augustine/the-more-time-you-spend-talking-about-what-you-have-been-doing-the/) [Norman Ralph Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-ralph-augustine/) > [Every human being is in need of talking to somebody. In this country nobody has time. It seems that talking to a friend has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/every-human-being-is-in-need-of-talking-to-somebody-in-this-country/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) ## More by E. W. Howe > [There is always a type of man who says he loves his fellow men, and expects to make a living at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/there-is-always-a-type-of-man-who-says-he-loves-his-fellow-men-and/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [I believe in grumbling; it is the politest form of fighting known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/i-believe-in-grumbling-it-is-the-politest-form-of-fighting-known/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [A theory is no more like a fact than a photograph is like a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/a-theory-is-no-more-like-a-fact-than-a-photograph-is-like-a-person/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Few men progress, except as they are pushed along by events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/few-men-progress-except-as-they-are-pushed-along-by-events/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Men are a good deal better collectively than they are individually. Many a man will do that privately which he will denounce in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively-than-they-are-individually/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [The modest person is usually admired, if people ever hear of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-modest-person-is-usually-admired-if-people-ever-hear-of-them/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [The greatest thing in the world is for a man to be able to do something well, and say nothing about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-greatest-thing-in-the-world-is-for-a-man-to-be-able-to-do/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [No man would listen to you talk if he didn't know it was his turn next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/no-man-would-listen-to-you-talk-if-he-didn-t-know-it-was-his-turn-next/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [People never have confidence in a Big Talker. They know his statements must be cut down, but they can never tell how much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/people-never-have-confidence-in-a-big-talker-they-know-his-statements/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [The only gambling tip which amounts to anything is to keep out of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-only-gambling-tip-which-amounts-to-anything-is-to-keep-out-of-the/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [One has fear in front of a goat, in back of a mule, and on every side of a fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/one-has-fear-in-front-of-a-goat-in-back-of-a-mule-and-on-every-side/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [No man's credit is ever as good as his money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/no-man-s-credit-is-ever-as-good-as-his-money/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their-lives-and-die-in-the/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [There is something in the red of a raspberry pie that looks as good to a man as the red in a sheep looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/there-is-something-in-the-red-of-a-raspberry-pie-that-looks-as-good/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Love affairs have always greatly interested me, but I do not greatly care for them in books or moving pictures. In a love affair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/love-affairs-have-always-greatly-interested-me-but-i-do-not-greatly/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) [Explore all 149 E. W. Howe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) ## 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. 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