--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They pray that their children will be…" description: "\"“They pray that their children will be brave and clever and strong, that they will tell the true stories instead of the easy ones. They pray for sons w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/leigh-bardugo-252_children_they-pray-that-their-children-will-be-br_2195965.png" --- # They pray that their children will be brave and clever and… ![“They pray that their children will be brave and clever and strong, that they will tell the true stories instead of the easy ones. They pray for sons with red eyes and daughters with horns.” quote by Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/leigh-bardugo-252_children_they-pray-that-their-children-will-be-br_2195965.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/leigh-bardugo-252_children_they-pray-that-their-children-will-be-br_2195965.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/leigh-bardugo-252_children_they-pray-that-their-children-will-be-br_2195965.png) > ““They pray that their children will be brave and clever and strong, that they will tell the true stories instead of the easy ones. They pray for sons with red eyes and daughters with horns.”” [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents wish for ideal children, yet those wishes may produce unnatural expectations and hidden flaws. **In simple terms:** Parents desire perfect children, causing pressure. Key Takeaway Accept children’s imperfections and nurture authenticity. Themes parenthood expectations identity fantasy Mood hopeful reflective Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - parent‑child relationships - education - creative writing - media representation Key Concepts mythic symbolism psychology of aspiration family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do expectations shape a child’s self‑image? - What are the risks of demanding perfection? A Different Perspective Idealized expectations can stifle growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray/) ## Related quotes > [In such times as we are in, whether the threats be global or local or in individual lives, I too pray for the children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/in-such-times-as-we-are-in-whether-the-threats-be-global-or-local-or/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Above all, let us pray for our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/above-all-let-us-pray-for-our-children/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Imam Ali divided people who prey into three parts. First, thee ones who pray to god because they want somthing from him, these are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imam-ali/imam-ali-divided-people-who-prey-into-three-parts-first-thee-ones-who/) [Imam Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imam-ali/) > [Life is full of miracles, but they're not always the ones we pray for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arden/life-is-full-of-miracles-but-they-re-not-always-the-ones-we-pray-for/) Eve Arden > [See to it, night and day, that you pray for your children. Then you will leave them a great legacy of answers to prayer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/see-to-it-night-and-day-that-you-pray-for-your-children-then-you-will/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [“This life is difficult. We lose fathers, brothers, mothers, songbirds and pieces of ourselves. Whips strike the innocent, honors go to the guilty, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-hashimi/this-life-is-difficult-we-lose-fathers-brothers-mothers-songbirds-and/) [Nadia Hashimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-hashimi/) > [“Parents ought to pray for their children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/parents-ought-to-pray-for-their-children/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“It is time we have more HOLY BIBLES in our homes rather than guns; time we pray together with our children and stay together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-uwandu/it-is-time-we-have-more-holy-bibles-in-our-homes-rather-than-guns/) [James C. Uwandu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-uwandu/) > [A dad stands tallest when he kneels to pray with his children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/a-dad-stands-tallest-when-he-kneels-to-pray-with-his-children/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“Will the veiled sister pray for Those who walk in darkness, who chose thee and oppose thee, Those who are torn on the horn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/will-the-veiled-sister-pray-for-those-who-walk-in-darkness-who-chose/) [T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) > [“What great deed can parent do, than to pray for their children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-great-deed-can-parent-do-than-to-pray-for-their-children/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [If you are too busy or too proud to pray with your children, you are too busy and too proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/if-you-are-too-busy-or-too-proud-to-pray-with-your-children-you-are/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [I pray that Israel and Palestine will all have peace, I pray that no more children get killed in these streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupiter-deleon/i-pray-that-israel-and-palestine-will-all-have-peace-i-pray-that-no/) Jupiter Deleon > [“Hear me Isis as I pray. See her pain and take it all away. Let the heaven's light shine bright from above. And wrap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/hear-me-isis-as-i-pray-see-her-pain-and-take-it-all-away-let-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) ## More by Leigh Bardugo > [“Aleksander." His eyes fluttered shut. "Don't let me be alone," he murmured. And then he was gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/aleksander-his-eyes-fluttered-shut-don-t-let-me-be-alone-he-murmured/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I don't care if you danced naked on the roof of the Little Palace with him. I love you, Alina, even the part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-don-t-care-if-you-danced-naked-on-the-roof-of-the-little-palace/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-frowned-i-thought-you-and-nina-chose-four-outbreak-sites-on-the/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I rolled my eyes. "For defending my honor, you dullard." He yanked me beneath a shadowed awning. I had a moment's panic when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-rolled-my-eyes-for-defending-my-honor-you-dullard-he-yanked-me/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've been waiting for you a long time, Alina" He said. "You and I are going to change the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-been-waiting-for-you-a-long-time-alina-he-said-you-and-i-are/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“They're all crazy, Oncat. Invisible armies, monster princes. Let's go set fire to something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/they-re-all-crazy-oncat-invisible-armies-monster-princes-let-s-go-set/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Saints!" I swore. "I forgot how often I want to stab you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/saints-i-swore-i-forgot-how-often-i-want-to-stab-you/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej knew the moment Kaz entered the Slat. 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"And long on enemies," replied Nikolai.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/short-on-friends-your-highness-and-long-on-enemies-replied-nikolai/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. “Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/jesper-knocked-his-head-against-the-hull-and-cast-his-eyes-heavenward/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) [Explore all 782 Leigh Bardugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## 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. 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