--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before I got married I had six theories…" description: "\"Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories.\" — John Wilmot" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-wilmot-13308_children_before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories_611065.jpg" --- # Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up… ![“Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories.” quote by John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-wilmot-13308_children_before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories_611065.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-wilmot-13308_children_before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories_611065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-wilmot-13308_children_before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories_611065.jpg) > “Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories.” [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experience often disproves theoretical expectations about parenting. **In simple terms:** Theory vs. practice. Key Takeaway Adapt to reality. Themes parenting experience theory Mood humorous reflective Type anecdotal philosophical When to use this quote - raising children - family planning - personal growth Key Concepts child development humor life lessons Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions did you have? - How did reality change your view? A Different Perspective The quote may oversimplify complex parenting challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Theories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theories/) ## Related quotes > [Before I married, I had three theories about raising children and no children. Now, I have three children and no theories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/before-i-married-i-had-three-theories-about-raising-children-and-no/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [“Before I got married I had six theories about raising children; now, I have six children and no theories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories-about-raising-children-now-i/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [First, it is necessary to study the facts, to multiply the number of observations, and then later to search for formulas that connect them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustin-louis-cauchy/first-it-is-necessary-to-study-the-facts-to-multiply-the-number-of/) [Augustin-Louis Cauchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustin-louis-cauchy/) > [My oldest daughter got married, she had a wedding in Hawaii and a reception in Nashville, and in between I had a Cup date…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-trotz/my-oldest-daughter-got-married-she-had-a-wedding-in-hawaii-and-a/) [Barry Trotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-trotz/) > [Facts per se can neither prove nor refute anything. Everything is decided by the interpretation and explanation of the facts, by the ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/facts-per-se-can-neither-prove-nor-refute-anything-everything-is/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“Theory shows a way to a goal, but it is not the goal. Theory offers security, but there are no secure theories. Theories shed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-blankinship/theory-shows-a-way-to-a-goal-but-it-is-not-the-goal-theory-offers/) [D.A. Blankinship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-blankinship/) > [“Spiritual activity, education, civilization, culture, the idea are all vague, indefinite concepts, under the banner of which it is quite convenient to use words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/spiritual-activity-education-civilization-culture-the-idea-are-all/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If one of the five theories describes our univers, who lives in the other four worlds”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/if-one-of-the-five-theories-describes-our-univers-who-lives-in-the/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [Theories are like patches on a coat, one day they just wear off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/theories-are-like-patches-on-a-coat-one-day-they-just-wear-off/) [Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/) > [The idea that Americans favor politicians who either remind them of themselves or can imagine what their selves are like because they too have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/the-idea-that-americans-favor-politicians-who-either-remind-them-of/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [I think it's normal that for a part of your life you have a lot of questions, and you're interested in all possible theories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludovico-einaudi/i-think-it-s-normal-that-for-a-part-of-your-life-you-have-a-lot-of/) [Ludovico Einaudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludovico-einaudi/) > [Theories are more common than achievements in the history of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/theories-are-more-common-than-achievements-in-the-history-of-education/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) > [In other words, unlike some people with new theories, we will go out, we'll go into a school and we get products and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sternberg/in-other-words-unlike-some-people-with-new-theories-we-will-go-out-we/) [Robert Sternberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sternberg/) > [There are two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/there-are-two-theories-to-arguing-with-a-woman-neither-works/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [I know my theories and findings are hard for you to accept because they are so original and extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-chiu/i-know-my-theories-and-findings-are-hard-for-you-to-accept-because/) [Alex Chiu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-chiu/) ## More by John Wilmot > [“BOLLOXIMIAN: My pleasures for new cunts I will uphold, And have reserves of kindness for the old. I grant in absence dildo may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/bolloximian-my-pleasures-for-new-cunts-i-will-uphold-and-have/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [For Hell and the foul fiend that rules God's everlasting fiery jails (Devised by rogues, dreaded by fools), With his grim, grisly dog that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/for-hell-and-the-foul-fiend-that-rules-god-s-everlasting-fiery-jails/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [He never said a foolish thing nor never did a wise one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/he-never-said-a-foolish-thing-nor-never-did-a-wise-one/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Love, the most generous passion of the mind The softest refuge innocence can find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/love-the-most-generous-passion-of-the-mind-the-softest-refuge/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [God bless our good and gracious King, Whose promise none relies on; Who never said a foolish thing, Nor ever did a wise one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/god-bless-our-good-and-gracious-king-whose-promise-none-relies-on-who/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Nothing suits worse with vice than want of sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/nothing-suits-worse-with-vice-than-want-of-sense/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [“This signior is sound, safe, ready, and dumb As ever was candle, carrot, or thumb; Then away with these nasty devices, and show How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/this-signior-is-sound-safe-ready-and-dumb-as-ever-was-candle-carrot/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Natural freedoms are but just: There's something generous in mere lust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/natural-freedoms-are-but-just-there-s-something-generous-in-mere-lust/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [I'd be a dog, a monkey, or a bear, or anything but that vain animal who is so proud of being rational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/i-d-be-a-dog-a-monkey-or-a-bear-or-anything-but-that-vain-animal-who/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Love's chemistry thrives best in equal heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/love-s-chemistry-thrives-best-in-equal-heat/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Tis a meaner part of sense to find a fault than taste an excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/tis-a-meaner-part-of-sense-to-find-a-fault-than-taste-an-excellence/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [The clog of all pleasure, the luggage of life, is the best can be said for a very good wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/the-clog-of-all-pleasure-the-luggage-of-life-is-the-best-can-be-said/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [“Before I got married I had six theories about raising children; now, I have six children and no theories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories-about-raising-children-now-i/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [E'en her fair hand, which might bid heat return To Frozen age, and make old hermits burn, Applied to my dead cinder, warms no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/e-en-her-fair-hand-which-might-bid-heat-return-to-frozen-age-and-make/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [Envy is a passion so full of cowardice and shame that nobody ever had the confidence to own it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/envy-is-a-passion-so-full-of-cowardice-and-shame-that-nobody-ever-had/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) [Explore all 51 John Wilmot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) ## 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": "Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Wilmot" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories-about-bringing-up-children/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories-about-bringing-up-children/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-wilmot-13308_children_before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories_611065.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-wilmot-13308_children_before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories_611065.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-wilmot-13308_children_before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories_611065.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories.” — John Wilmot", "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": "John Wilmot", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before I got married I had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories-about-bringing-up-children/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/before-i-got-married-i-had-six-theories-about-bringing-up-children/#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 } } ] } ```