--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are two lasting bequests we can…" description: "\"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: one is roots, the other is wings.\" — Hodding Carter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/hodding-carter-62593_children_there-are-two-lasting-bequests-we-can-gi_3098579.jpg" --- # There are two lasting bequests we can give our children… ![“There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: one is roots, the other is wings.” quote by Hodding Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/hodding-carter-62593_children_there-are-two-lasting-bequests-we-can-gi_3098579.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/hodding-carter-62593_children_there-are-two-lasting-bequests-we-can-gi_3098579.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/hodding-carter-62593_children_there-are-two-lasting-bequests-we-can-gi_3098579.jpg) > “There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: one is roots, the other is wings.” [Hodding Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents should give children both a strong foundation (roots) and the freedom to explore (wings). **In simple terms:** Give kids stability and freedom. Key Takeaway Balance grounding with empowerment. Themes parenting growth freedom foundation exploration Mood hopeful inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - family counseling - education policy - personal mentorship - community programs Key Concepts developmental psychology intergenerational legacy empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture both roots and wings? - What balance works for your family? A Different Perspective Too much focus on one can hinder the other, leading to either stagnation or lack of direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ## Related quotes > [There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-are-only-two-lasting-bequests-we-can-hope-to-give-our-children/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“i have two lasting bequests to give you my child. one is roots. the other is wings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter/i-have-two-lasting-bequests-to-give-you-my-child-one-is-roots-the/) [Hodding Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter/) > [Two great things you can give your children: one is roots, the other is wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter/two-great-things-you-can-give-your-children-one-is-roots-the-other-is/) [Hodding Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter/) > [There are two gifts we should give to our children: One is roots. The other is wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-gifts-we-should-give-to-our-children-one-is-roots-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are two gifts we should give to our children.One is roots,and other is wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-gifts-we-should-give-to-our-children-one-is-roots-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are two things parents should give their children roots and wings. Roots to give them bearing and a sense of belonging, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-are-two-things-parents-should-give-their-children-roots-and/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I am rich from the bequests other gifted people have seen fit to leave to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/i-am-rich-from-the-bequests-other-gifted-people-have-seen-fit-to/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [“All those who are left legacies in my will…will obtain my bequests only on one condition, that they cut my body in pieces and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petronius/all-those-who-are-left-legacies-in-my-will-will-obtain-my-bequests/) [Petronius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petronius/) > [kindnesses have wings and roots ... wings that never droop, and roots that never die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louisa-molesworth/kindnesses-have-wings-and-roots-wings-that-never-droop-and-roots-that/) [Mary Louisa Molesworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louisa-molesworth/) > [“It's been said that parents should give their children roots and wings. That was a perfect description of my parents. Even in a wheelchair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/it-s-been-said-that-parents-should-give-their-children-roots-and/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [The greatest gift you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-your-children-are-the-roots-of/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Good parents give their children Roots and Wings. Roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what's been taught them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-salk/good-parents-give-their-children-roots-and-wings-roots-to-know-where/) [Jonas Salk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-salk/) > [The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-greatest-gifts-you-can-give-your-children-are-the-roots-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [There are two things children should get from their parents: roots and wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-are-two-things-children-should-get-from-their-parents-roots-and/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [My favourite poem is called 'Roots and Wings' - it's a very moving poem about how if you've got real roots you can fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/my-favourite-poem-is-called-roots-and-wings-it-s-a-very-moving-poem/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) ## More by Hodding Carter > [Within the last three years the amount of classified materials has doubled to 15.6 million decisions to classify documents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter/within-the-last-three-years-the-amount-of-classified-materials-has/) [Hodding Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter/) > [Two great things you can give your children: one is roots, the other is wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter/two-great-things-you-can-give-your-children-one-is-roots-the-other-is/) [Hodding Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter/) > [“i have two lasting bequests to give you my child. one is roots. the other is wings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter/i-have-two-lasting-bequests-to-give-you-my-child-one-is-roots-the/) [Hodding Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter/) > [Television news is like a lightning flash. 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