--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think people should be given a test…" description: "\"I think people should be given a test much like driver's tests as to whether they're capable of being parents!\" — Maurice Sendak" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/maurice-sendak-1273_being-a-parent_i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-mu_2013635.jpg" --- # I think people should be given a test much like driver's… ![“I think people should be given a test much like driver's tests as to whether they're capable of being parents!” quote by Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/maurice-sendak-1273_being-a-parent_i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-mu_2013635.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/maurice-sendak-1273_being-a-parent_i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-mu_2013635.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/maurice-sendak-1273_being-a-parent_i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-mu_2013635.jpg) > “I think people should be given a test much like driver's tests as to whether they're capable of being parents!” [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He proposes a parenting test similar to driver exams to assess readiness. **In simple terms:** He suggests evaluating parenting ability before having children. Key Takeaway Consider readiness before becoming a parent. Themes parenting responsibility assessment Mood concerned inquisitive Type social ethical When to use this quote - adoption - family planning - parenting classes - government policy Key Concepts psychology social policy child development Questions to Reflect On - What criteria should a parenting test include? - Can such tests be fair and inclusive? A Different Perspective Testing may not capture emotional nuances of parenting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being a parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-parent/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I think people should be given a test much like driver's tests as to whether they're capable of being parents! It's an art form.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-much-like-driver-s-tests-as-to-2/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [At its core, I don't view Facebook as a social network. I think it could become the driver's license of the Internet. And beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/at-its-core-i-don-t-view-facebook-as-a-social-network-i-think-it/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [Our internationalism is the driver of our nationalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-salmond/our-internationalism-is-the-driver-of-our-nationalism/) [Alex Salmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-salmond/) > [The driver got out smiling. He looked about seventeen or eighteen, and for a second, I had the uneasy feeling it was Luke, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/the-driver-got-out-smiling-he-looked-about-seventeen-or-eighteen-and/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [For a driver to be driven by somebody else is an ordeal, for there are only three types of drivers: the too fast, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-graham/for-a-driver-to-be-driven-by-somebody-else-is-an-ordeal-for-there-are/) [Virginia Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-graham/) > [A stubborn ass needs a stubborn driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/a-stubborn-ass-needs-a-stubborn-driver/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [Passion is the driver of achievement in all fields. Some people love doing things they don't feel they're good at. That may be because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/passion-is-the-driver-of-achievement-in-all-fields-some-people-love/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [My No. 1 goal in racing was never to be the most popular driver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-keselowski/my-no-1-goal-in-racing-was-never-to-be-the-most-popular-driver/) [Brad Keselowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-keselowski/) > [I think as a team we do OK with this because we are new and we need the drivers so we appreciate more if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guenther-steiner/i-think-as-a-team-we-do-ok-with-this-because-we-are-new-and-we-need/) [Guenther Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guenther-steiner/) > [As a driver, your target is always to be with the most competitive team possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-vettel/as-a-driver-your-target-is-always-to-be-with-the-most-competitive/) [Sebastian Vettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-vettel/) > [All I understand is that Toro Rosso is there with Red Bull-backing, which is a team to promote young drivers. And it stands that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-eric-vergne/all-i-understand-is-that-toro-rosso-is-there-with-red-bull-backing/) [Jean-Eric Vergne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-eric-vergne/) > [You politicians have got to look further ahead; you always got a Putter in your hands, when you ought to have a Driver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/you-politicians-have-got-to-look-further-ahead-you-always-got-a/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [A man needs to be polite, not just to me but to everyone. I watch that. How does he treat the waiter? How does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-lima/a-man-needs-to-be-polite-not-just-to-me-but-to-everyone-i-watch-that/) [Adriana Lima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-lima/) > [Some drivers are like that. When they get a bit angry, they can perform better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-verstappen/some-drivers-are-like-that-when-they-get-a-bit-angry-they-can-perform/) [Max Verstappen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-verstappen/) > [You know, before I would think, my cab driver hates me. Now I think my limo driver hates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/you-know-before-i-would-think-my-cab-driver-hates-me-now-i-think-my/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) ## More by Maurice Sendak > [I never thought of Bumble-Ardy in that way. But I still have that same deep feeling for children who are in dire trouble. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-never-thought-of-bumble-ardy-in-that-way-but-i-still-have-that-same/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I was a very sickly child. My parents were immigrants. They were not decorous. They were not discreet. They always thought I was gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-was-a-very-sickly-child-my-parents-were-immigrants-they-were-not/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [The distinctions of fine art bore me to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/the-distinctions-of-fine-art-bore-me-to-death/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [The fan mail I get from kids are asking me questions which they do not ask their mothers and fathers. Because if they had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/the-fan-mail-i-get-from-kids-are-asking-me-questions-which-they-do/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [“May I ask what you have in your black leather bag with gold buckles?" "Everything." They were climbing a narrow staircase. Rhoda stopped to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/may-i-ask-what-you-have-in-your-black-leather-bag-with-gold-buckles/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I grew up in a house that was in a constant state of mourning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-grew-up-in-a-house-that-was-in-a-constant-state-of-mourning/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [Illustrations have as much to say as the text. The trick is to say the same thing, but in a different way. It's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/illustrations-have-as-much-to-say-as-the-text-the-trick-is-to-say-the/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I'm a lucky buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-m-a-lucky-buck/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I've convinced myself - I hope I'm right - that children despair of you if you don't tell them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-ve-convinced-myself-i-hope-i-m-right-that-children-despair-of-you/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [It's no fun being lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/it-s-no-fun-being-lonely/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [It dawned on me that art was the way I could survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/it-dawned-on-me-that-art-was-the-way-i-could-survive/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I cry a lot because I miss people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-cry-a-lot-because-i-miss-people/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [You cannot write for children They're much too complicated. You can only write books that are of interest to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/you-cannot-write-for-children-they-re-much-too-complicated-you-can/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [All I liked to do when I was a kid was draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/all-i-liked-to-do-when-i-was-a-kid-was-draw/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I'm still as enamored and turned on by work as I was when I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-m-still-as-enamored-and-turned-on-by-work-as-i-was-when-i-was-young/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) [Explore all 262 Maurice Sendak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) ## More Being a parent quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [Being a parent and having two young kids, I buy Blu-rays and DVDs all the time. It's like buying a toy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-letterman/being-a-parent-and-having-two-young-kids-i-buy-blu-rays-and-dvds-all/) [Rob Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-letterman/) > [The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-absurd-duty-too-often-inculcated-of-obeying-a-parent-only-on/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [There are many important elements to being a parent. A lot of people don't have fathers but they might have someone in their life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-tyler/there-are-many-important-elements-to-being-a-parent-a-lot-of-people/) [Liv Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-tyler/) > [Has it ever occurred to you that parents are nothing but overgrown kids until their children drag them into adulthood? Usually kicking and screaming?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/has-it-ever-occurred-to-you-that-parents-are-nothing-but-overgrown/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [There is nothing that can bring you closer to fearlessness about everything else in the world than being a parent - because everyday fears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/there-is-nothing-that-can-bring-you-closer-to-fearlessness-about/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [There's a marketing scheme that tells you that pregnancy and child rearing will make you into a moron, that your kids are only happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/there-s-a-marketing-scheme-that-tells-you-that-pregnancy-and-child/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [We live in a society now where it's very rare for your parents to be around. It used to be like, your mother, grandmothers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-hahn/we-live-in-a-society-now-where-it-s-very-rare-for-your-parents-to-be/) [Kathryn Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-hahn/) > [My son was born somewhat late in my life and I just found myself really feeling like I didn't want to miss out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/my-son-was-born-somewhat-late-in-my-life-and-i-just-found-myself/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [Was it the act of giving birth that made you a mother? Did you lose that label when you relinquished your child? If people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/was-it-the-act-of-giving-birth-that-made-you-a-mother-did-you-lose/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The Lord has directed, Bring up your children in light and truth. To me, there is no more important human effort. Being a father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-lord-has-directed-bring-up-your-children-in-light-and-truth-to-me/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I believe everyone should have the same rights. They say gay marriage ruins families and hurts kids. Well, I've had the privilege of seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/i-believe-everyone-should-have-the-same-rights-they-say-gay-marriage/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [being a parent is not transaction ... we do not get what we give. It is the ultimate pay-it-forward endeavor: we are good parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/being-a-parent-is-not-transaction-we-do-not-get-what-we-give-it-is/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I believe that children are, by nature, very forgiving. I don't think children expect their parents to be perfect. I think they demand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/i-believe-that-children-are-by-nature-very-forgiving-i-don-t-think/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Infants and young children are not just sitting twiddling their thumbs, waiting for their parents to teach them to read and do math. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-elkind/infants-and-young-children-are-not-just-sitting-twiddling-their/) [David Elkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-elkind/) [Browse all 154 Being a parent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-parent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think people should be given a test much like driver's tests as to whether they're capable of being parents!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maurice Sendak" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-much-like-driver-s-tests-as-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being a parent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-much-like-driver-s-tests-as-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/maurice-sendak-1273_being-a-parent_i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-mu_2013635.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/maurice-sendak-1273_being-a-parent_i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-mu_2013635.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/maurice-sendak-1273_being-a-parent_i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-mu_2013635.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think people should be given a test much like driver's tests as to whether they're capable of being parents!” — Maurice Sendak", "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": "Maurice Sendak", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think people should be given...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-much-like-driver-s-tests-as-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-think-people-should-be-given-a-test-much-like-driver-s-tests-as-to/#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 } } ] } ```