--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be careful to leave your sons [and…" description: "\"“Be careful to leave your sons [and daughters] well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the igno..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/epictetus-413_children_be-careful-to-leave-your-sons-and-daught_131001.jpg" --- # Be careful to leave your sons \[and daughters\] well… ![“Be careful to leave your sons [and daughters] well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant." [in brackets: though I have only sons, I am--of course--someone's daughter]” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/epictetus-413_children_be-careful-to-leave-your-sons-and-daught_131001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/epictetus-413_children_be-careful-to-leave-your-sons-and-daught_131001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/epictetus-413_children_be-careful-to-leave-your-sons-and-daught_131001.jpg) > ““Be careful to leave your sons \[and daughters\] well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant." \[in brackets: though I have only sons, I am--of course--someone's daughter\]”” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teach children well rather than making them rich, because educated hopes surpass material wealth. **In simple terms:** Education outweighs wealth for future generations. Key Takeaway Prioritize knowledge over riches. Themes education values wealth future hope Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - family - schooling - mentorship Key Concepts parenting moral instruction societal development Questions to Reflect On - What balance between wealth and education is ideal? - How does moral education shape society? A Different Perspective Wealth can provide opportunities education. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Instructed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instructed/) ## Related quotes > [Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/be-careful-to-leave-your-sons-well-instructed-rather-than-rich-for/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [I was instructed by people in higher rank to stand there and hold this leash and look at the camera. We were doing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynndie-england/i-was-instructed-by-people-in-higher-rank-to-stand-there-and-hold/) [Lynndie England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynndie-england/) > [. . . for the most part the worst instructed, and the least knowing of any of their rank, I ever went amongst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burnet/for-the-most-part-the-worst-instructed-and-the-least-knowing-of-any/) [Gilbert Burnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burnet/) > [Her curiosity instructed her more than the answers she was given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/her-curiosity-instructed-her-more-than-the-answers-she-was-given/) [Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/) > [David was the kind of guy who was totally supportive of the actors and instructed the writing staff to trust the actor's instincts, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-devane/david-was-the-kind-of-guy-who-was-totally-supportive-of-the-actors/) [William Devane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-devane/) > [“the wise may be instructed by a fool”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/the-wise-may-be-instructed-by-a-fool/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Education is the period during which you are being instructed by somebody you do not know, about something you do not want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/education-is-the-period-during-which-you-are-being-instructed-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If everyone does as I’ve instructed, then things should work out the way they’re meant to. (Acheron) And if we don’t? (Talon) We’re all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/if-everyone-does-as-i-ve-instructed-then-things-should-work-out-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Oh, the positive power of an instructed tongue! How many weary people do we encounter day after day who could use a sustaining word?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/oh-the-positive-power-of-an-instructed-tongue-how-many-weary-people/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [“specifically instructed, moving from one model that”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-haynes/specifically-instructed-moving-from-one-model-that/) [Elizabeth Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-haynes/) > [Every boy in a free country ought to be instructed in boxing, wrestling, and the use of weapons. 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What if they had all been instructed: You may lie?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/what-if-others-adults-had-upon-becoming-twelves-received-in-their/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [Maids in India have egos. Big egos. They do not like being spoken to curtly, and they do not like to be abruptly instructed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karisma-kapoor/maids-in-india-have-egos-big-egos-they-do-not-like-being-spoken-to/) [Karisma Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karisma-kapoor/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. 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The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## 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. 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