---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My family thought - and thinks - very…"
description: "\"My family thought - and thinks - very seriously about words. About language and what it means and how it shapes us and how it should shape us and chang..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/megan-phelps-roper-6233_change_my-family-thought-and-thinks-very-seriou_2840013.jpg"
---

#  My family thought - and thinks - very seriously about…

![“My family thought - and thinks - very seriously about words. About language and what it means and how it shapes us and how it should shape us and change us.” quote by Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/megan-phelps-roper-6233_change_my-family-thought-and-thinks-very-seriou_2840013.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/megan-phelps-roper-6233_change_my-family-thought-and-thinks-very-seriou_2840013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/megan-phelps-roper-6233_change_my-family-thought-and-thinks-very-seriou_2840013.jpg)

> “My family thought - and thinks - very seriously about words. About language and what it means and how it shapes us and how it should shape us and change us.”

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

## About This Quote

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

Words shape thought and identity; reflecting on language reveals how it molds personal and collective values.

**In simple terms:** Language influences who we become.

Key Takeaway

Examine the words you use daily.

Themes

language identity reflection

Mood

thoughtful introspective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- public discourse
- education
- media analysis

Key Concepts

semantics social influence

Questions to Reflect On

- How do your word choices affect your relationships?
- What language can you change to improve understanding?

A Different Perspective

Words alone cannot change deep‑seated beliefs without action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/)

## Related quotes

> [He had taken seriously words which were without importance, and it made him very unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/he-had-taken-seriously-words-which-were-without-importance-and-it/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [My mom was the breadwinner in my family. I always thought, 'That's how it is.' I never thought that was the exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jost/my-mom-was-the-breadwinner-in-my-family-i-always-thought-that-s-how/)

[Colin Jost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jost/)

> [My family thought the fascination with acting was just another fad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-bean/my-family-thought-the-fascination-with-acting-was-just-another-fad/)

[Sean Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-bean/)

> [My family all thought I was a little nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cunningham/my-family-all-thought-i-was-a-little-nuts/)

[Bill Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cunningham/)

> [So true, I remember when I first saw the family I am with now, I thought in my head These are the People. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-hartman/so-true-i-remember-when-i-first-saw-the-family-i-am-with-now-i/)

[Celeste Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-hartman/)

> [And then I understood that she had no idea what she'd done to my family. She thought love and hatred were equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/and-then-i-understood-that-she-had-no-idea-what-she-d-done-to-my/)

[Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/)

> [“This was what it meant to be family, he thought. To hurt when someone else hurt. To want to protect them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/this-was-what-it-meant-to-be-family-he-thought-to-hurt-when-someone/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [My friends and family always thought I was pretty funny, but I don't know if they thought I was get-my-own-show funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-kroll/my-friends-and-family-always-thought-i-was-pretty-funny-but-i-don-t/)

[Nick Kroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-kroll/)

> [My family thought if I spent time in the military, I'd become more reasonable, a bit calmer. But I've always been extreme in what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahin-najafi/my-family-thought-if-i-spent-time-in-the-military-i-d-become-more/)

[Shahin Najafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahin-najafi/)

> [“I'm not very domestic. For years my family thought mold was a frosting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-bolton/i-m-not-very-domestic-for-years-my-family-thought-mold-was-a-frosting/)

[Martha Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-bolton/)

> [I had planned to spend my 40s continuing my public service and starting a family. I thought that by fighting for the people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-giffords/i-had-planned-to-spend-my-40s-continuing-my-public-service-and/)

[Gabrielle Giffords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-giffords/)

> [My family thought it was insanity for me to go into the theater rather than to get an education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-taylor/my-family-thought-it-was-insanity-for-me-to-go-into-the-theater/)

Clarice Taylor

> [It put a strain on our relationship and our family, ... We thought, 'what can we do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly/it-put-a-strain-on-our-relationship-and-our-family-we-thought-what/)

[Nelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly/)

> [I dabbled a little bit in acting in high school, and then I forgot about it completely. And then at about 25 I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gandolfini/i-dabbled-a-little-bit-in-acting-in-high-school-and-then-i-forgot/)

[James Gandolfini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gandolfini/)

> [“...my mind drifted to my family. I thought about how I had the opportunity to serve them. I didn’t have to carry them across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ericksen/my-mind-drifted-to-my-family-i-thought-about-how-i-had-the/)

[Mike Ericksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ericksen/)

## More by Megan Phelps-Roper

> [I believe in so much - I believe in people. I believe in hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/i-believe-in-so-much-i-believe-in-people-i-believe-in-hope/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [The pickets were just a fact of life. And the fact that people hated us from the time I was tiny, the fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/the-pickets-were-just-a-fact-of-life-and-the-fact-that-people-hated/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [My friends on Twitter didn't abandon their beliefs or their principles - only their scorn. They channeled their infinitely justifiable offense and came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/my-friends-on-twitter-didn-t-abandon-their-beliefs-or-their/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [My husband and I eventually want to start a nonprofit and call it the Westboro Foundation. It was his idea, and I love it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/my-husband-and-i-eventually-want-to-start-a-nonprofit-and-call-it-the/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [I wanted to do everything right. I wanted to be good, and I wanted to be obedient, and I wanted to be the object…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/i-wanted-to-do-everything-right-i-wanted-to-be-good-and-i-wanted-to/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [Westboro would quote this passage from the book of Leviticus that, for them, shows that the definition of 'love thy neighbor' is to rebuke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/westboro-would-quote-this-passage-from-the-book-of-leviticus-that-for/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [When we engage people across ideological divides, asking questions helps us map the disconnect between our differing points of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/when-we-engage-people-across-ideological-divides-asking-questions/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [I miss my family every single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/i-miss-my-family-every-single-day/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [We know that we dearly love our family. They now consider us betrayers, and we are cut off from their lives, but we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/we-know-that-we-dearly-love-our-family-they-now-consider-us-betrayers/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [In my home, life was framed as an epic spiritual battle between good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/in-my-home-life-was-framed-as-an-epic-spiritual-battle-between-good/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [Some people cannot believe there is an alternative interpretation of the Bible aside from their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/some-people-cannot-believe-there-is-an-alternative-interpretation-of/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [Loving someone whose ideas we find detestable can seem impossible, and empathizing with them isn't much easier - but it's so important to remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/loving-someone-whose-ideas-we-find-detestable-can-seem-impossible-and/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [I was born and raised in the Westboro Baptist Church, an infamous congregation started by my grandfather, and consisting almost entirely of my extended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/i-was-born-and-raised-in-the-westboro-baptist-church-an-infamous/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [I don't believe in God anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/i-don-t-believe-in-god-anymore/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

> [We believed it was a Good vs Evil situation: that the WBC was right and everybody else was wrong, so there was no questioning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/we-believed-it-was-a-good-vs-evil-situation-that-the-wbc-was-right/)

[Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

[Explore all 99 Megan Phelps-Roper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/)

## More Change quotes

> [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/)

Phil Hogan

> [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/)

[Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/)

> [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/)

[Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/)

> [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My family thought - and thinks - very seriously about words. About language and what it means and how it shapes us and how it should shape us and change us.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Megan Phelps-Roper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/my-family-thought-and-thinks-very-seriously-about-words-about/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/my-family-thought-and-thinks-very-seriously-about-words-about/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/megan-phelps-roper-6233_change_my-family-thought-and-thinks-very-seriou_2840013.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/megan-phelps-roper-6233_change_my-family-thought-and-thinks-very-seriou_2840013.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/megan-phelps-roper-6233_change_my-family-thought-and-thinks-very-seriou_2840013.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My family thought - and thinks - very seriously about words. About language and what it means and how it…” — Megan Phelps-Roper",
                "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": "Megan Phelps-Roper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My family thought - and thinks...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/my-family-thought-and-thinks-very-seriously-about-words-about/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/my-family-thought-and-thinks-very-seriously-about-words-about/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
