---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The important thing to remember is you…"
description: "\"“The important thing to remember is you cannot give what you don’t have. If you want to be an effective relationship model for your kids, you definitel..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/gregory-k-popcak-53309_marriage_the-important-thing-to-remember-is-you-c_1135447.jpg"
---

#  The important thing to remember is you cannot give what…

![“The important thing to remember is you cannot give what you don’t have. If you want to be an effective relationship model for your kids, you definitely don’t have to have a perfect marriage (phew, right?) but you do have to show your kids that you take your relationship seriously and work hard at…” quote by Gregory K. Popcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/gregory-k-popcak-53309_marriage_the-important-thing-to-remember-is-you-c_1135447.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/gregory-k-popcak-53309_marriage_the-important-thing-to-remember-is-you-c_1135447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/gregory-k-popcak-53309_marriage_the-important-thing-to-remember-is-you-c_1135447.jpg)

> ““The important thing to remember is you cannot give what you don’t have. If you want to be an effective relationship model for your kids, you definitely don’t have to have a perfect marriage (phew, right?) but you do have to show your kids that you take your relationship seriously and work hard at it. Regardless, if you want to achieve a true Catholic sexuality, then the only answer is to love. Love””

[Gregory K. Popcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-k-popcak/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Effective relationships require the qualities you model; you cannot teach or give what you lack, so cultivate love and commitment first.

**In simple terms:** You must embody love before you can teach it.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate love and commitment before modeling relationships.

Themes

relationships parenting faith love modeling

Mood

reflective hopeful serious

Type

advice inspirational faith‑based

When to use this quote

- parent‑child teaching
- marriage counseling
- faith formation
- personal growth

Key Concepts

Catholic teaching emotional intelligence relationship dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you develop love in yourself before teaching it?
- What practical steps help maintain relationship seriousness?

A Different Perspective

If you lack love, you cannot authentically model it for children.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Catholic Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic-sexuality-3140436/) [Kids Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-relationship-3140435/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage Phew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-phew-3140437/) [Perfect marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-marriage/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/)

## Related quotes

> [When I was not working, when our children were little, our life was all about our kids and our relationship. We didn't spend tons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-e-peterson/when-i-was-not-working-when-our-children-were-little-our-life-was-all/)

[Sandra E. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-e-peterson/)

> [I've been very lucky. I come from a very close family. I'm also in a relationship that's been really good. Lasted a long time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-been-very-lucky-i-come-from-a-very-close-family-i-m-also-in-a/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [“Satan wants you to believe that you don't have a choice in the matter. You can't be happy until things go the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-rietzsch/satan-wants-you-to-believe-that-you-don-t-have-a-choice-in-the-matter/)

[Lindsey Rietzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-rietzsch/)

> [The great folk hymns are a perfect marriage of text and tune. There are those that have nice messages and some with good music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-wilberg/the-great-folk-hymns-are-a-perfect-marriage-of-text-and-tune-there/)

[Mack Wilberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-wilberg/)

> [If we were on NBC we would have been canceled by now. It's the perfect marriage with FX, they let us get away with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-day/if-we-were-on-nbc-we-would-have-been-canceled-by-now-it-s-the-perfect/)

[Charlie Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-day/)

> [Ruth and I don't have a perfect marriage, but we have a great one. How can I say two things that seem so contradictory?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/ruth-and-i-don-t-have-a-perfect-marriage-but-we-have-a-great-one-how/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [Next to the love between man and his Creator, The love of one man and one woman, Is the loftiest and the most illusive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-stuart-phelps-ward/next-to-the-love-between-man-and-his-creator-the-love-of-one-man-and/)

[Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-stuart-phelps-ward/)

> [A perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/a-perfect-marriage-is-just-two-imperfect-people-who-refuse-to-give-up/)

[Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/)

> [Sometimes the greatest deterrent to a great marriage is believing you have a perfect marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/sometimes-the-greatest-deterrent-to-a-great-marriage-is-believing-you/)

[Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/)

> [Good bread and good butter go together. They are one of the perfect marriages in gastronomy, and they never fail to cheer me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-beard/good-bread-and-good-butter-go-together-they-are-one-of-the-perfect/)

[James Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-beard/)

> [“Most of us begin, aided by almost every aspect of our culture, hoping for a perfect marriage. What this means is that we accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-g-heilbrun/most-of-us-begin-aided-by-almost-every-aspect-of-our-culture-hoping/)

[Carolyn G. Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-g-heilbrun/)

> [My parents did not have a perfect marriage. It was pretty good, but it was not perfect. My marriage is not perfect. My wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stockwell-day/my-parents-did-not-have-a-perfect-marriage-it-was-pretty-good-but-it/)

[Stockwell Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stockwell-day/)

> [The 'perfect marriage' of food and wine should allow for infidelity".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-andries-de-groot/the-perfect-marriage-of-food-and-wine-should-allow-for-infidelity/)

[Roy Andries De Groot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-andries-de-groot/)

> [“In this regard, Daisy reflected, her marriage to Matthew would not be unlike Lillian's with Westcliff. As two strong-willed people with very different sensibilities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/in-this-regard-daisy-reflected-her-marriage-to-matthew-would-not-be/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [It's all kind of a big illusion: the white picket fence and the perfect marriage and the kids. Check that box off, check that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/it-s-all-kind-of-a-big-illusion-the-white-picket-fence-and-the/)

[Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/)

## More by Gregory K. Popcak

> [“Thank you, Lord, for the gift of this day. Thank you for making Mommy to be a woman and Daddy to be a man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-k-popcak/thank-you-lord-for-the-gift-of-this-day-thank-you-for-making-mommy-to/)

[Gregory K. Popcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-k-popcak/)

> [“In order for your marriage to become that great love story there are certain things you need to establish in your early years together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-k-popcak/in-order-for-your-marriage-to-become-that-great-love-story-there-are/)

[Gregory K. Popcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-k-popcak/)

> [ “(When God said, “Be fruitful and multiply” \[Genesis 1:28\], he wasn’t giving math homework.)” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-k-popcak/when-god-said-be-fruitful-and-multiply-genesis-1-28-he-wasn-t-giving/)

[Gregory K. Popcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-k-popcak/)

> [“It is by making a sincere gift of ourselves that we discover the nature of our goodness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-k-popcak/it-is-by-making-a-sincere-gift-of-ourselves-that-we-discover-the/)

[Gregory K. Popcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-k-popcak/)

> [“1. individual and couple prayer 2. nurture your love 3. each other, but an even stronger commitment to your vows 4. learn new skills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-k-popcak/1-individual-and-couple-prayer-2-nurture-your-love-3-each-other-but/)

[Gregory K. Popcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-k-popcak/)

[Explore all 6 Gregory K. Popcak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-k-popcak/)

## More Marriage quotes

> [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/)

[John Whiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whiting/)

> [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/)

[Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/)

> [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/)

[Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/)

> [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/)

[Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/)

> [Luckily, the bullet that hit my chest never got to me. It was stopped by a silver case I got for my brother's wedding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/luckily-the-bullet-that-hit-my-chest-never-got-to-me-it-was-stopped/)

[James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/)

> [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [“Take an interest in his appearance. Keeping his clothes in order is your job; encouraging him to look his best, and admiring him when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-baker/take-an-interest-in-his-appearance-keeping-his-clothes-in-order-is/)

[Ellen Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-baker/)

> [Females always say, you can't turn a hoe into a house wife, but steady be trying to turn a dog into a faithful man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/females-always-say-you-can-t-turn-a-hoe-into-a-house-wife-but-steady/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/)

[William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/)

> [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/)

[Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/)

> [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/)

[Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/)

> [Most marriages don't add two people together. They subtract one from the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/most-marriages-don-t-add-two-people-together-they-subtract-one-from/)

[Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/)

> [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [“His own parents, the estimable Gilchrists, a couple who had taken the 'till death' part of their own wedding vows so seriously he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-blake/his-own-parents-the-estimable-gilchrists-a-couple-who-had-taken-the/)

[Ally Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-blake/)

[Browse all 31,920 Marriage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The important thing to remember is you cannot give what you don’t have. If you want to be an effective relationship model for your kids, you definitely don’t have to have a perfect marriage (phew, right?) but you do have to show your kids that you take your relationship seriously and work hard at it. Regardless, if you want to achieve a true Catholic sexuality, then the only answer is to love. Love”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gregory K. Popcak"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-k-popcak/the-important-thing-to-remember-is-you-cannot-give-what-you-don-t/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Marriage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-k-popcak/the-important-thing-to-remember-is-you-cannot-give-what-you-don-t/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/gregory-k-popcak-53309_marriage_the-important-thing-to-remember-is-you-c_1135447.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/gregory-k-popcak-53309_marriage_the-important-thing-to-remember-is-you-c_1135447.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fef/gregory-k-popcak-53309_marriage_the-important-thing-to-remember-is-you-c_1135447.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The important thing to remember is you cannot give what you don’t have. If you want to be an effective…” — Gregory K. Popcak",
                "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": "Gregory K. Popcak",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-k-popcak/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The important thing to remember is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-k-popcak/the-important-thing-to-remember-is-you-cannot-give-what-you-don-t/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-k-popcak/the-important-thing-to-remember-is-you-cannot-give-what-you-don-t/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
