--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Likely as not, the child you can do the…" description: "\"Likely as not, the child you can do the least with will do the most to make you proud.\" — Mignon McLaughlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/mignon-mclaughlin-742_child_likely-as-not-the-child-you-can-do-the-l_614837.png" --- # Likely as not, the child you can do the least with will do… ![“Likely as not, the child you can do the least with will do the most to make you proud.” quote by Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/mignon-mclaughlin-742_child_likely-as-not-the-child-you-can-do-the-l_614837.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/mignon-mclaughlin-742_child_likely-as-not-the-child-you-can-do-the-l_614837.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/mignon-mclaughlin-742_child_likely-as-not-the-child-you-can-do-the-l_614837.png) > “Likely as not, the child you can do the least with will do the most to make you proud.” [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even a child you consider least capable can bring the greatest pride when they succeed. **In simple terms:** Least capable child can bring pride. Key Takeaway Value every child's potential. Themes parenting humility pride Mood encouraging warm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - school projects - family milestones - career achievements - personal challenges Key Concepts developmental psychology human potential Questions to Reflect On - How do you nurture hidden talents? - What does pride look like for you? A Different Perspective Expectations may limit support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) ## Related quotes > [“Tell him he should be pleased. As many times as I’ve fucked you, you’re likely with child. It’s not every man who has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/tell-him-he-should-be-pleased-as-many-times-as-i-ve-fucked-you-you-re/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“His child. His child with Caroline. Their child. After the things he’d said to her this morning, this would likely be their only child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-gordon/his-child-his-child-with-caroline-their-child-after-the-things-he-d/) [Rose Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-gordon/) > [“Clear? Huh! Why a four-year-old child could understand this report! Run out and find me a four-year-old child, I can't make head or tail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/clear-huh-why-a-four-year-old-child-could-understand-this-report-run/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Praise the child, and you make love to the mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/praise-the-child-and-you-make-love-to-the-mother/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [“Love your spirited child for who she is. Because she is more, she will make you more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/love-your-spirited-child-for-who-she-is-because-she-is-more-she-will/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“That is what you're making of the end of your mother's life, child. What will you make of your own?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kage-baker/that-is-what-you-re-making-of-the-end-of-your-mother-s-life-child/) [Kage Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kage-baker/) > [Why a four-year-old child could understand this report. Run out and find me a four-year-old child. I can't make head nor tail out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/why-a-four-year-old-child-could-understand-this-report-run-out-and/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [First rule of writing: When still a child, make sure you read a lot of books. Spend more time doing this than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/first-rule-of-writing-when-still-a-child-make-sure-you-read-a-lot-of/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [One laugh of a child will make the holiest day more sacred still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/one-laugh-of-a-child-will-make-the-holiest-day-more-sacred-still/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The path of least resistance will never make you proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-path-of-least-resistance-will-never-make-you-proud/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [What could you achieve that would make you proud, that no one else could do with the same ease?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-koch/what-could-you-achieve-that-would-make-you-proud-that-no-one-else/) [Richard Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-koch/) > [“Make me proud my little first-grader" he said, fist pumping robbie "and, remember rule number one above all" "Right" he replies "don't talk politics”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-b-jones/make-me-proud-my-little-first-grader-he-said-fist-pumping-robbie-and/) [Jenny B. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-b-jones/) > [“I was going to make him proud of the man I would become. I was finally going to chart my own course, rattle the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emory-r-frie/i-was-going-to-make-him-proud-of-the-man-i-would-become-i-was-finally/) [Emory R. Frie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emory-r-frie/) > [My mom has done an awesome job with all my brothers of instilling in us how to give back, how to make a difference.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/my-mom-has-done-an-awesome-job-with-all-my-brothers-of-instilling-in/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [I like all my imperfections. They make me who I am and I am proud of all of them. :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savannah-j/i-like-all-my-imperfections-they-make-me-who-i-am-and-i-am-proud-of/) [Savannah J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savannah-j/) ## More by Mignon McLaughlin > [As we are human, we can't do what we can't do; as we're neurotic, we can't do what we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/as-we-are-human-we-can-t-do-what-we-can-t-do-as-we-re-neurotic-we-can/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Naturally, the neurotic wants you to love him twice as much, for he's going to cut it in half anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/naturally-the-neurotic-wants-you-to-love-him-twice-as-much-for-he-s/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We have a terror of seeming to exert ourselves, lest it be noticed that we exerted ourselves and did not succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-have-a-terror-of-seeming-to-exert-ourselves-lest-it-be-noticed/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The three horrors of modern life - talk without meaning, desire without love, work without satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-three-horrors-of-modern-life-talk-without-meaning-desire-without/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We are never more self-righteous than when giving up what we should have shunned all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-are-never-more-self-righteous-than-when-giving-up-what-we-should/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The time to begin most things is ten years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-time-to-begin-most-things-is-ten-years-ago/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [One of life's few really reliable pleasures: to have a family you love, and to leave them for a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/one-of-life-s-few-really-reliable-pleasures-to-have-a-family-you-love/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [So long as God reveals Himself, or doesn't, He is behaving like God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/so-long-as-god-reveals-himself-or-doesn-t-he-is-behaving-like-god/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The total history of almost anyone would shock almost everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-total-history-of-almost-anyone-would-shock-almost-everyone/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [There are children born to be children, and others who must mark time till they can take their natural places as adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/there-are-children-born-to-be-children-and-others-who-must-mark-time/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [In life, as in restaurants, we swallow a lot of indigestible stuff just because it comes with the dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/in-life-as-in-restaurants-we-swallow-a-lot-of-indigestible-stuff-just/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Neurotics always feel as though they were going way up or way down, which is odd in people going sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/neurotics-always-feel-as-though-they-were-going-way-up-or-way-down/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Even in the same family, one child will always instinctively know when to ask for things, and another won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/even-in-the-same-family-one-child-will-always-instinctively-know-when/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [People find it hard to be both comic and serious, though life manages it easily enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/people-find-it-hard-to-be-both-comic-and-serious-though-life-manages/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [No good neurotic finds it difficult to be both opinionated and indecisive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/no-good-neurotic-finds-it-difficult-to-be-both-opinionated-and/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) [Explore all 383 Mignon McLaughlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## More Child quotes > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/) [Johnnetta B. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/) > [Bring up your children in the way you think other peoples children should go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/bring-up-your-children-in-the-way-you-think-other-peoples-children/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) Sheila Kamerman > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) [Browse all 10,700 Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Likely as not, the child you can do the least with will do the most to make you proud.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mignon McLaughlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/likely-as-not-the-child-you-can-do-the-least-with-will-do-the-most-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Child" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/likely-as-not-the-child-you-can-do-the-least-with-will-do-the-most-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/mignon-mclaughlin-742_child_likely-as-not-the-child-you-can-do-the-l_614837.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/mignon-mclaughlin-742_child_likely-as-not-the-child-you-can-do-the-l_614837.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/mignon-mclaughlin-742_child_likely-as-not-the-child-you-can-do-the-l_614837.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Likely as not, the child you can do the least with will do the most to make you proud.” — Mignon McLaughlin", "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": "Mignon McLaughlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Likely as not, the child you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/likely-as-not-the-child-you-can-do-the-least-with-will-do-the-most-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/likely-as-not-the-child-you-can-do-the-least-with-will-do-the-most-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 } } ] } ```