--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Father! My father knows the proper way…" description: "\"“Father! My father knows the proper way The nation should be run; He tells us children every day Just what should now be done. He knows the way to fix ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/edgar-albert-guest-68907_children_father-my-father-knows-the-proper-way-th_2445283.jpg" --- # Father! My father knows the proper way The nation should… ![“Father! My father knows the proper way The nation should be run; He tells us children every day Just what should now be done. He knows the way to fix the trusts, He has a simple plan; But if the furnace needs repairs, We have to hire a man. My father, in a day or two Could land big thieves in…” quote by Edgar Albert Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/edgar-albert-guest-68907_children_father-my-father-knows-the-proper-way-th_2445283.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/edgar-albert-guest-68907_children_father-my-father-knows-the-proper-way-th_2445283.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/edgar-albert-guest-68907_children_father-my-father-knows-the-proper-way-th_2445283.jpg) > ““Father! My father knows the proper way The nation should be run; He tells us children every day Just what should now be done. He knows the way to fix the trusts, He has a simple plan; But if the furnace needs repairs, We have to hire a man. My father, in a day or two Could land big thieves in jail; There's nothing that he cannot do, He knows no word like "fail." "Our confidence" he would restore, Of that there is no doubt; But if there is a chair to mend, We have to send it out. All public questions that arise, He settles on the spot; He waits not till the tumult dies, But grabs it while it's hot. In matters of finance he can Tell Congress what to do; But, O, he finds it hard to meet His bills as they fall due. It almost makes him sick to read The things law-makers say; Why, father's just the man they need, He never goes astray. All wars he'd very quickly end, As fast as I can write it; But when a neighbor starts a fuss, 'Tis mother has to fight it. In conversation father can Do many wondrous things; He's built upon a wiser plan Than presidents or kings. He knows the ins and outs of each And every deep transaction; We look to him for theories, But look to ma for action”” [Edgar Albert Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-albert-guest/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker praises a father figure as an all‑knowing, decisive leader who can solve big problems instantly but relies on others for mundane tasks, highlighting a paradox of authority and practicality. **In simple terms:** Father is seen as a powerful problem‑solver but not for everyday chores. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of expertise and delegate accordingly. Themes authority family leadership paradox delegation Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type advice observational philosophical When to use this quote - political decision‑making - family conflict resolution - financial planning - war strategy - everyday repairs Key Concepts hierarchy expertise practicality dependence Questions to Reflect On - What problems do you expect others to solve for you? - How do you balance expertise with practical action? A Different Perspective The father’s omnipotence may be idealized; real leaders cannot handle all issues alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Conversation Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation-father-400307/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-father/) [Father Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-knows-312147/) [Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fathers/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Say Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-father/) [Simple plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-plan/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [A happy family needs a loving and caring father, and he who knows how to be a mother sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-happy-family-needs-a-loving-and-caring-father-and-he-who-knows-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A father knows his child's heart, as only a child can know his fathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-koike/a-father-knows-his-child-s-heart-as-only-a-child-can-know-his-fathers/) [Kazuo Koike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-koike/) > [“A father is an animal the moment he loves his public reputation more than his children but the father becomes a father of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahad-basheer/a-father-is-an-animal-the-moment-he-loves-his-public-reputation-more/) [Fahad Basheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahad-basheer/) > [My father never really encouraged me or even took an interest after I walked away from the family business. No one did except my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juergen-teller/my-father-never-really-encouraged-me-or-even-took-an-interest-after-i/) [Juergen Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juergen-teller/) > [I feel like every conversation with my father is like an M. Night Shyamalan movie; 90 minutes of build-up to no payoff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-feel-like-every-conversation-with-my-father-is-like-an-m-night/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [“When my father was 17, he went to Montreal and found these submarine sandwich shops that were really successful, and weren't in Toronto \[his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reitman/when-my-father-was-17-he-went-to-montreal-and-found-these-submarine/) [Jason Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reitman/) > [“Yeah, alright." Anything to end this conversation about her father's breast.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-ward/yeah-alright-anything-to-end-this-conversation-about-her-father-s/) [Tracey Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-ward/) > [My last conversation with my father was an argument we'd had. When I came to know of his hospitalisation, I'd lost him within seven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouni-roy/my-last-conversation-with-my-father-was-an-argument-we-d-had-when-i/) [Mouni Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouni-roy/) > [“I'm reminded of a conversation I had with your father when you wanted to go to Arrida to ransom Erak. I told him, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/i-m-reminded-of-a-conversation-i-had-with-your-father-when-you-wanted/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [The best way for women to acquire knowledge is from conversation with a father, a brother, or a friend, in the way of family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/the-best-way-for-women-to-acquire-knowledge-is-from-conversation-with/) [Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/) > [“Get out of your own way… stop the paralysis by analysis… decide what you want, create a simple plan, and get moving!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/get-out-of-your-own-way-stop-the-paralysis-by-analysis-decide-what/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [I have wrought my simple plan If I give one hour of joy To the boy who’s half a man, Or the man who’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/i-have-wrought-my-simple-plan-if-i-give-one-hour-of-joy-to-the-boy/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I have a simple plan to solve the economic crisis. Give every American a $100 credit to the dog track of their choice. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-geist/i-have-a-simple-plan-to-solve-the-economic-crisis-give-every-american/) [Willie Geist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-geist/) > [Heavy role in the movies that I've done that I have loved and fit my soul; A Simple Plan, Monster's Ball, Sling Blade, One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/heavy-role-in-the-movies-that-i-ve-done-that-i-have-loved-and-fit-my/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [President-elect Donald Trump says he's looking for a simple plan for defeating ISIS within his first 30 days of taking office. But even as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/president-elect-donald-trump-says-he-s-looking-for-a-simple-plan-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Edgar Albert Guest > [“Somebody said it couldn't be done. But he with a chuckle replied, That maybe it couldn't, but he would be one Who wouldn't say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-albert-guest/somebody-said-it-couldn-t-be-done-but-he-with-a-chuckle-replied-that/) [Edgar Albert Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-albert-guest/) > [“ My Creed To live as gently as I can; To be, no matter where, a man; To take what comes of good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-albert-guest/my-creed-to-live-as-gently-as-i-can-to-be-no-matter-where-a-man-to/) [Edgar Albert Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-albert-guest/) > [“See It Through When you’re up against a trouble, Meet it squarely, face to face; Lift your chin and set your shoulders, Plant your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-albert-guest/see-it-through-when-you-re-up-against-a-trouble-meet-it-squarely-face/) [EDGAR ALBERT GUEST](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-albert-guest/) [Explore all 4 Edgar Albert Guest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-albert-guest/) ## 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": "“Father! My father knows the proper way The nation should be run; He tells us children every day Just what should now be done. He knows the way to fix the trusts, He has a simple plan; But if the furnace needs repairs, We have to hire a man. My father, in a day or two Could land big thieves in jail; There's nothing that he cannot do, He knows no word like \"fail.\" \"Our confidence\" he would restore, Of that there is no doubt; But if there is a chair to mend, We have to send it out. All public questions that arise, He settles on the spot; He waits not till the tumult dies, But grabs it while it's hot. In matters of finance he can Tell Congress what to do; But, O, he finds it hard to meet His bills as they fall due. It almost makes him sick to read The things law-makers say; Why, father's just the man they need, He never goes astray. All wars he'd very quickly end, As fast as I can write it; But when a neighbor starts a fuss, 'Tis mother has to fight it. In conversation father can Do many wondrous things; He's built upon a wiser plan Than presidents or kings. He knows the ins and outs of each And every deep transaction; We look to him for theories, But look to ma for action”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edgar Albert Guest" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-albert-guest/father-my-father-knows-the-proper-way-the-nation-should-be-run-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-albert-guest/father-my-father-knows-the-proper-way-the-nation-should-be-run-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/edgar-albert-guest-68907_children_father-my-father-knows-the-proper-way-th_2445283.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/edgar-albert-guest-68907_children_father-my-father-knows-the-proper-way-th_2445283.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/edgar-albert-guest-68907_children_father-my-father-knows-the-proper-way-th_2445283.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Father! My father knows the proper way The nation should be run; He tells us children every day Just what…” — Edgar Albert Guest", "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": "Edgar Albert Guest", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-albert-guest/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Father! My father knows the proper...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-albert-guest/father-my-father-knows-the-proper-way-the-nation-should-be-run-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-albert-guest/father-my-father-knows-the-proper-way-the-nation-should-be-run-he/#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 } } ] } ```