--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your children are not your children." description: "\"“Your children are not your children.”\" — Khalil Gibran" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/khalil-gibran-286_children_your-children-are-not-your-children-1389_1389431.jpg" --- # Your children are not your children. ![“Your children are not your children.” quote by Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/khalil-gibran-286_children_your-children-are-not-your-children-1389_1389431.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/khalil-gibran-286_children_your-children-are-not-your-children-1389_1389431.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/khalil-gibran-286_children_your-children-are-not-your-children-1389_1389431.jpg) > ““Your children are not your children.”” [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children belong to humanity, not to parents. **In simple terms:** Parents are not owners of their children. Key Takeaway Respect children’s autonomy. Themes parenthood ownership freedom humanity family Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - parenting - education - legal guardianship - cultural norms Key Concepts philosophy spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do parents truly have? - How does this perspective affect parenting styles? A Different Perspective Cultural expectations may conflict with this view. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ## Related quotes > [Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. 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My parents felt exactly the same about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-crown-princess-of-sweden/for-me-it-is-important-that-children-be-children-my-parents-felt/) [Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-crown-princess-of-sweden/) > [My wife and I had children when we were children ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/my-wife-and-i-had-children-when-we-were-children-ourselves/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [You should be an example for your children. I show my three children what I am and expect them to live by certain controls.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-yesudas/you-should-be-an-example-for-your-children-i-show-my-three-children/) [K. J. Yesudas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-yesudas/) > [Your children are not your children. They are lives longing for itself. They come here with their own destiny. Give them your love. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satish-kumar/your-children-are-not-your-children-they-are-lives-longing-for-itself/) [Satish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satish-kumar/) ## More by Khalil Gibran > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [If you are poor, shun association with him who measures men with the yardstick of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/if-you-are-poor-shun-association-with-him-who-measures-men-with-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Hate is a dead thing. Who of you would be a tomb?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/hate-is-a-dead-thing-who-of-you-would-be-a-tomb/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Only once have I been made mute. 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It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty hand stretched forth, But rather a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/beauty-is-not-a-need-but-an-ecstasy-it-is-not-a-mouth-thirsting-nor/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [I have never agreed with my other self wholly. 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