---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Family and moral values are so central to…"
description: "\"Family and moral values are so central to everything that I am.\" — Marian Wright Edelman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/marian-wright-edelman-2216_am_family-and-moral-values-are-so-central-t_2160495.png"
---

#  Family and moral values are so central to everything that…

![“Family and moral values are so central to everything that I am.” quote by Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/marian-wright-edelman-2216_am_family-and-moral-values-are-so-central-t_2160495.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/marian-wright-edelman-2216_am_family-and-moral-values-are-so-central-t_2160495.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/marian-wright-edelman-2216_am_family-and-moral-values-are-so-central-t_2160495.png)

> “Family and moral values are so central to everything that I am.”

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

## About This Quote

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

Family and moral values form the foundation of personal identity and societal health.

**In simple terms:** Family values shape who we are.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize strong family bonds and ethical standards.

Themes

family morality identity community

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

social ethical

When to use this quote

- parenting
- education
- community building
- policy advocacy

Key Concepts

ethical development social cohesion personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- How do we balance diverse moral perspectives?
- What role should society play in reinforcing family values?

A Different Perspective

Values can clash across cultures, causing tension.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/am/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-moral-1603410/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-values/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Values Central](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values-central-4581941/)

## Related quotes

> [“The respectable family that supports worthless relatives or covers up their crimes in order to "protect the family name"(as if the moral stature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-respectable-family-that-supports-worthless-relatives-or-covers-up/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [“Good government generally begins in the family, and if the moral character of a people once degenerate, their political character must soon follow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-boudinot/good-government-generally-begins-in-the-family-and-if-the-moral/)

[Elias Boudinot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-boudinot/)

> [To this day, we get letters at Alternative Tentacles from young teenagers who hide their Dead Kennedys albums behind their mirror or in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/to-this-day-we-get-letters-at-alternative-tentacles-from-young/)

[Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/)

> [For me, human rights simply endorse a view of life and a set of moral values that are perfectly clear to an eight-year-old child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-me-human-rights-simply-endorse-a-view-of-life-and-a-set-of-moral/)

[Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/)

> [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. To insist that science, or God, objectively defines moral values is to abandon our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-malik/humans-are-as-sartre-put-it-condemned-to-be-free-to-insist-that/)

[Kenan Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenan-malik/)

> [As a club, we have an educational purpose: to give back to those people who love Arsenal so that they learn moral values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/as-a-club-we-have-an-educational-purpose-to-give-back-to-those-people/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [The Internet is undermining moral values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/the-internet-is-undermining-moral-values/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [“What our generation is in danger of forgetting is not only that morals are of necessity a phenomenon of individual conduct but also that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-hayek/what-our-generation-is-in-danger-of-forgetting-is-not-only-that/)

[F. A. Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-a-hayek/)

> [“virus writers lack the basic social and moral values and the “well-formed consciousness” that are the hallmarks of civilized modern societies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-h-gregory/virus-writers-lack-the-basic-social-and-moral-values-and-the-well/)

[Peter H. Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-h-gregory/)

> [“Just as we cannot stop the birds flying off and upwards at our approach, so there is no way of preventing the acts which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-thody/just-as-we-cannot-stop-the-birds-flying-off-and-upwards-at-our/)

[Philip Thody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-thody/)

> [Given the imperfections of our society and the apparent downward spiral of spiritual and moral values in recent years, thinking has become a grave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck-2/given-the-imperfections-of-our-society-and-the-apparent-downward/)

[M Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck-2/)

> [“Democratic politics is about persuasion, not self-expression. I’m here, I’m queer will never provoke more than a pat on the head or a roll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lilla/democratic-politics-is-about-persuasion-not-self-expression-i-m-here/)

[Mark Lilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lilla/)

## More by Marian Wright Edelman

> [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [It is utterly exhausting being Black in America - physically, mentally, and emotionally. While many minority groups and women feel similar stress, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-is-utterly-exhausting-being-black-in-america-physically-mentally/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [Justice is not cheap. Justice is not quick. It is not ever finally achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/justice-is-not-cheap-justice-is-not-quick-it-is-not-ever-finally/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [I never thought I was breaking a glass ceiling. I just had to do what I had to do, and it never occurred to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/i-never-thought-i-was-breaking-a-glass-ceiling-i-just-had-to-do-what/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [In my generation, we learned how to be leaders by being exposed to and involved with adults who empowered us and gave us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/in-my-generation-we-learned-how-to-be-leaders-by-being-exposed-to-and/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [The old notion that children are the private property of parents dies very slowly. In reality, no parent raises a child alone. How many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/the-old-notion-that-children-are-the-private-property-of-parents-dies/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [When Jesus Christ asked little children to come to him, he didn't say only rich children, or White children, or children with two-parent families,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/when-jesus-christ-asked-little-children-to-come-to-him-he-didn-t-say/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [“Don’t feel entitled to anything you don’t sweat and struggle for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/don-t-feel-entitled-to-anything-you-don-t-sweat-and-struggle-for/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [You can't tell parents to teach children the value of work when we don't have jobs and the jobs we have don't pay a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/you-can-t-tell-parents-to-teach-children-the-value-of-work-when-we/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [To all those mothers and fathers who are struggling with teen-agers, I say, just be patient: even though it looks like you can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/to-all-those-mothers-and-fathers-who-are-struggling-with-teen-agers-i/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [It really takes a community to raise children, no matter how much money one has. Nobody can do it well alone. And it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-really-takes-a-community-to-raise-children-no-matter-how-much/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [Democracy cannot breathe, indeed will die, if those enjoined to protect it and uphold the laws snuff it out - with no consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/democracy-cannot-breathe-indeed-will-die-if-those-enjoined-to-protect/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [Hunger and malnutrition have devastating consequences for children and have been linked to low birth weight and birth defects, obesity, mental and physical health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/hunger-and-malnutrition-have-devastating-consequences-for-children/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [We're spending, on average, three times more for prison than for public-school pupils. That's the dumbest investment policy. It doesn't make us safer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-re-spending-on-average-three-times-more-for-prison-than-for-public/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [You'd better stay determined, because that's how our ancestors got us where we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/you-d-better-stay-determined-because-that-s-how-our-ancestors-got-us/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

[Explore all 179 Marian Wright Edelman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

## More Am quotes

> [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/)

[Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/)

> [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/)

[Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/)

[Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/)

> [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/)

[Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/)

> [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/)

[Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/)

> [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/)

[Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/)

> [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/)

[Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/)

> [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/)

[Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/)

> [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/)

[Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/)

[Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/am/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Family and moral values are so central to everything that I am.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marian Wright Edelman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/family-and-moral-values-are-so-central-to-everything-that-i-am/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Am"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/family-and-moral-values-are-so-central-to-everything-that-i-am/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/marian-wright-edelman-2216_am_family-and-moral-values-are-so-central-t_2160495.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/marian-wright-edelman-2216_am_family-and-moral-values-are-so-central-t_2160495.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/marian-wright-edelman-2216_am_family-and-moral-values-are-so-central-t_2160495.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Family and moral values are so central to everything that I am.” — Marian Wright Edelman",
                "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": "Marian Wright Edelman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Family and moral values are so...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/family-and-moral-values-are-so-central-to-everything-that-i-am/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/family-and-moral-values-are-so-central-to-everything-that-i-am/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
