--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important thing about being a…" description: "\"The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive your kids, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/evander-holyfield-12330_able_the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-f_9791.jpg" --- # The most important thing about being a father is being… ![“The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive your kids, either.” quote by Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/evander-holyfield-12330_able_the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-f_9791.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/evander-holyfield-12330_able_the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-f_9791.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/evander-holyfield-12330_able_the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-f_9791.jpg) > “The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive your kids, either.” [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-forgiveness is essential for healthy parenting; without it, a parent cannot extend compassion to their children. **In simple terms:** Self-forgiveness underpins parental compassion. Key Takeaway Forgive yourself to forgive your kids. Themes parenting self-compassion emotional intelligence family dynamics personal growth Mood reflective empathetic hopeful Type advice reflection motivational When to use this quote - new parents struggling with guilt - parents dealing with past mistakes - family counseling sessions Key Concepts forgiveness self-awareness parent-child relationship Practical Applications - parenting workshops - self-help books Questions to Reflect On - How does your own self-judgment affect your parenting? - What steps can you take to practice self-forgiveness? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Being a father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-father/) [Don Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-forgive-358021/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive/) [Forgive Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-going-358019/) [Forgive Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-kids-358018/) [Forgive yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-yourself/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Going Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-forgive-358020/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [Don't forgive someone if you're not ready to forgive them or if you going to bring it up in later arguments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/don-t-forgive-someone-if-you-re-not-ready-to-forgive-them-or-if-you/) [Enhance Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enhance-dreams/) > [Forgive me-he mumbled against her lips. Please. Forgive me for what I'm going to do to you. ~Shade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larissa-ione/forgive-me-he-mumbled-against-her-lips-please-forgive-me-for-what-i-m/) [Larissa Ione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larissa-ione/) > [We all make mistakes, don't we? But if you can't forgive yourself, you'll always be an exile in your own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/we-all-make-mistakes-don-t-we-but-if-you-can-t-forgive-yourself-you/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [If you are going to forgive a person, Liz decides, it is best to do it sooner rather than later. Later, Liz knows from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/if-you-are-going-to-forgive-a-person-liz-decides-it-is-best-to-do-it/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [You always end up saying and doing such horrible things to your family, 'cause you know they're never going anywhere, and at some point,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendi-mclendon-covey/you-always-end-up-saying-and-doing-such-horrible-things-to-your/) [Wendi McLendon-Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendi-mclendon-covey/) > [When others hurt us in ways we don't deserve, at some point we will come to the crossroads of decision. We will have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-w-vredevelt/when-others-hurt-us-in-ways-we-don-t-deserve-at-some-point-we-will/) [Pam W. Vredevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-w-vredevelt/) > [We havent talked since our last fight, but I want to tell you that Im still the same friend you had before. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-josland/we-havent-talked-since-our-last-fight-but-i-want-to-tell-you-that-im/) [Azgraybebly Josland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azgraybebly-josland/) > [Im going to forgive and forget, forgive myself so being such an idiot and forget that you ever exsisted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-gibson/im-going-to-forgive-and-forget-forgive-myself-so-being-such-an-idiot/) [Eleanor Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-gibson/) > [If I have done wrong to another person, the correct course of action is to apologize and make amends to that person and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillahunty/if-i-have-done-wrong-to-another-person-the-correct-course-of-action/) [Matt Dillahunty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillahunty/) > [She's been conned, ruined, left for dead, and she's not going to forgive any of it. She will soldier on, if only out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/she-s-been-conned-ruined-left-for-dead-and-she-s-not-going-to-forgive/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [Just because you say 'i still love you' to me doesnt mean I'm going to forgive you for breaking my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole/just-because-you-say-i-still-love-you-to-me-doesnt-mean-i-m-going-to/) [Nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole/) > [As long as you don't forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy a rent-free space in your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-holland/as-long-as-you-don-t-forgive-who-and-whatever-it-is-will-occupy-a/) [Isabelle Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-holland/) > [“Forgiveness is about your peace of mind. When you don't forgive, you are the one who suffers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/forgiveness-is-about-your-peace-of-mind-when-you-don-t-forgive-you/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [When you don't forgive you break the bridge that him himself must cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-don-t-forgive-you-break-the-bridge-that-him-himself-must/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We don't forgive people because we are weak. We forgive people because we are strong enough to know we all make mistakes and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-don-t-forgive-people-because-we-are-weak-we-forgive-people-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Evander Holyfield > [I'm just one woman away, my mother, from being the same as Mike Tyson. I would've ended up like him if my mama had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-m-just-one-woman-away-my-mother-from-being-the-same-as-mike-tyson-i/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [“It's not the size of the man, but the size of his heart that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/it-s-not-the-size-of-the-man-but-the-size-of-his-heart-that-matters/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [Well, number one I like dancing. Number two I knew it would be challenging because I had never done this type of dance before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/well-number-one-i-like-dancing-number-two-i-knew-it-would-be/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [When at a young age you learn to face your fears, that makes the difference between people being champions and people not being champions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/when-at-a-young-age-you-learn-to-face-your-fears-that-makes-the/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [The cat and mouse game is smart, but people want to see fighters who come to win, or do not wait to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-cat-and-mouse-game-is-smart-but-people-want-to-see-fighters-who/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [A sight game is that I am hurt, but I aim to make you believe I am not even hurt, and with this confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/a-sight-game-is-that-i-am-hurt-but-i-aim-to-make-you-believe-i-am-not/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [Sugar leaves you stranded; I make sure I have the proper amount of protein before I work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/sugar-leaves-you-stranded-i-make-sure-i-have-the-proper-amount-of/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [A boxing match is hard because boxing isn't set for you to do good. You have to force your will upon someone, but dancing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/a-boxing-match-is-hard-because-boxing-isn-t-set-for-you-to-do-good/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [The main thing about Bruce Lee is that, he was a little guy. And you know, his quickness, his aggressiveness, his explosive power, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-main-thing-about-bruce-lee-is-that-he-was-a-little-guy-and-you/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [Either I believe I can be the best heavyweight fighter in the world and beat everyone, or I will not. I feel I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/either-i-believe-i-can-be-the-best-heavyweight-fighter-in-the-world/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [I have to have an adjustment before I go into the ring. I do believe in chiropractic. I found that going to a chiropractor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-have-to-have-an-adjustment-before-i-go-into-the-ring-i-do-believe/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [I've had a great life following my faith and my instincts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-ve-had-a-great-life-following-my-faith-and-my-instincts/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [That's the biggest problem with boxing in the United States. They do not promote it like they used to, when it used to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/that-s-the-biggest-problem-with-boxing-in-the-united-states-they-do/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [Odds are just the people opinion. Respect your own opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/odds-are-just-the-people-opinion-respect-your-own-opinion/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [I beat Larry Holmes and George Foreman. I whupped Mike Tyson twice. I had my ear chewed off and spat on the ground in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-beat-larry-holmes-and-george-foreman-i-whupped-mike-tyson-twice-i/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) [Explore all 55 Evander Holyfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) ## More Able 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/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. 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