--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always thought my father [influenced me…" description: "\"I always thought my father [influenced me most] because he was so well read, I tried to model myself on him, but really as I go through life I realise ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f7/patti-smith-394_accepting_i-always-thought-my-father-influenced-me_2402878.jpg" --- # I always thought my father \[influenced me most\] because he… ![“I always thought my father [influenced me most] because he was so well read, I tried to model myself on him, but really as I go through life I realise it was my mother who gave me the most valuable instructions. I didn't understand or accept it at the time. She taught me to read and to pray - two…” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f7/patti-smith-394_accepting_i-always-thought-my-father-influenced-me_2402878.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f7/patti-smith-394_accepting_i-always-thought-my-father-influenced-me_2402878.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f7/patti-smith-394_accepting_i-always-thought-my-father-influenced-me_2402878.jpg) > “I always thought my father \[influenced me most\] because he was so well read, I tried to model myself on him, but really as I go through life I realise it was my mother who gave me the most valuable instructions. I didn't understand or accept it at the time. She taught me to read and to pray - two things that have really stayed with me.” [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator discovers that maternal guidance, not paternal influence, shaped core values like reading and prayer. **In simple terms:** Mother’s lessons proved more lasting than father’s example. Key Takeaway Value the often unseen influence of mothers. Themes family learning spirituality role models Mood reflective intimate Type biographical inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - education - self‑reflection - mentorship Key Concepts intergenerational transmission personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do we honor hidden influences in our lives? - What practices preserve valuable teachings across generations? A Different Perspective Maternal impact may be overlooked in patriarchal narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) ## Related quotes > [“A mother has two hands but performs jobs of many arms. You will never be able to do the impossible until you realise what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-d-gonsalves/a-mother-has-two-hands-but-performs-jobs-of-many-arms-you-will-never/) [Gloria D. Gonsalves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-d-gonsalves/) > [“You have more power than you realise. There is nothing your mother can really do. Her Narcissistic Rage is only toddlers’ tantrums, and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danu-morrigan/you-have-more-power-than-you-realise-there-is-nothing-your-mother-can/) [Danu Morrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danu-morrigan/) > [It's not right to say that my father influenced me more than others, and I wouldn't be able to say whether my personality was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/it-s-not-right-to-say-that-my-father-influenced-me-more-than-others/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [My father has never influenced the strategy anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananya-birla/my-father-has-never-influenced-the-strategy-anywhere/) [Ananya Birla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananya-birla/) > [My father influenced by his very life, his very example and the environment that I was brought up in. 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Is this really what you want?” “Hmm. What I want?” (he pronounces it ‘vat I vant’).…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-lewycka/pappa-just-stop-and-think-for-a-minute-is-this-really-what-you-want/) [Marina Lewycka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-lewycka/) > [I thought of my father's wisdom, as though it were buried in a box under a tree. As in the old song - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-butts/i-thought-of-my-father-s-wisdom-as-though-it-were-buried-in-a-box/) [Mary Butts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-butts/) > [No, I never thought about my father's money as my money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-hefner/no-i-never-thought-about-my-father-s-money-as-my-money/) [Christie Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-hefner/) > [“As he fell asleep, his mind tormented him with the image of one face; the man he had thought was his father. At first,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craig/as-he-fell-asleep-his-mind-tormented-him-with-the-image-of-one-face/) Joe Craig ## More by Patti Smith > [I had a really happy childhood - my siblings were great, my mother was very fanciful, and I loved to read. But there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-had-a-really-happy-childhood-my-siblings-were-great-my-mother-was/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“Inside it he inscribed a few lines of poetry, portraying us as the gypsy and the fool, one creating silence; one listening closely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/inside-it-he-inscribed-a-few-lines-of-poetry-portraying-us-as-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Who can know the heart of youth but youth itself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/who-can-know-the-heart-of-youth-but-youth-itself/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“I clawed through a thick web of the culture’s consciousness that I hadn’t known existed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-clawed-through-a-thick-web-of-the-culture-s-consciousness-that-i/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Ultimately, we are not seeking others to bow to, but to reinforce our individual natures, to help us suffer our own choices, to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/ultimately-we-are-not-seeking-others-to-bow-to-but-to-reinforce-our/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [If I'm taking a picture of Brancusi's grave, I know that there's something of him, of his mortal remains, beneath my feet, and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-taking-a-picture-of-brancusi-s-grave-i-know-that-there-s/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm certain, as we filled down the great staircase, that I appeared the same as ever, a moping twelve years-old, all arms and legs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-certain-as-we-filled-down-the-great-staircase-that-i-appeared-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/in-art-and-dream-may-you-proceed-with-abandon-in-life-may-you-proceed/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [New York is the thing that seduced me. New York is the thing that formed me. New York is the thing that deformed me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/new-york-is-the-thing-that-seduced-me-new-york-is-the-thing-that/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I don't wanna be equal with anybody. I wanna be above equal. I don't think most people are equal to me. I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-don-t-wanna-be-equal-with-anybody-i-wanna-be-above-equal-i-don-t/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I think I'm constantly in a state of adjustment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-think-i-m-constantly-in-a-state-of-adjustment/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Somehow I started introducing writing into my drawings, and after a time, the language took over and I started getting very involved with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/somehow-i-started-introducing-writing-into-my-drawings-and-after-a/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm okay with roaming around the world in my bunk for days on end. Maybe every third day I'll get a shower or stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-okay-with-roaming-around-the-world-in-my-bunk-for-days-on-end/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) [Explore all 595 Patti Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. 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Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. 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