--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God knows that a mother needs fortitude…" description: "\"God knows that a mother needs fortitude and courage and tolerance and flexibility and patience and firmness and nearly every other brave aspect of the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/phyllis-mcginley-4467_aspect_god-knows-that-a-mother-needs-fortitude_3190971.png" --- # God knows that a mother needs fortitude and courage and… ![“God knows that a mother needs fortitude and courage and tolerance and flexibility and patience and firmness and nearly every other brave aspect of the human soul. But because I happen to be a parent of almost fiercely maternal nature, I praise casualness. It seems to me the rarest of virtues. It…” quote by Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/phyllis-mcginley-4467_aspect_god-knows-that-a-mother-needs-fortitude_3190971.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/phyllis-mcginley-4467_aspect_god-knows-that-a-mother-needs-fortitude_3190971.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/phyllis-mcginley-4467_aspect_god-knows-that-a-mother-needs-fortitude_3190971.png) > “God knows that a mother needs fortitude and courage and tolerance and flexibility and patience and firmness and nearly every other brave aspect of the human soul. But because I happen to be a parent of almost fiercely maternal nature, I praise casualness. It seems to me the rarest of virtues. It is useful enough when children are small. It is useful to the point of necessity when they are adolescents.” [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing many virtues, a mother also values casualness, a rare but useful trait for raising children at different stages. **In simple terms:** Mothers need many strengths but also benefit from relaxed attitudes. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility while nurturing core virtues. Themes parenthood balance virtue flexibility growth Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - early childhood - adolescence - family decision - stress management Key Concepts resilience patience casualness adaptability Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice casualness without compromising guidance? - When does flexibility become permissiveness? A Different Perspective Casualness may be misinterpreted as neglect if not balanced with responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Flexibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flexibility/) [Fortitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortitude/) [Human soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-soul/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Motherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motherhood/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-greatest-virtues-are-those-which-are-most-useful-to-other-persons/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Bright flower! whose home is everywhere Bold in maternal nature's care And all the long year through the heir Of joy or sorrow, Methinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/bright-flower-whose-home-is-everywhere-bold-in-maternal-nature-s-care/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [The very winds whispered in soothing accents, and maternal Nature bade me weep no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-very-winds-whispered-in-soothing-accents-and-maternal-nature-bade/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Employ in everything a certain casualness which conceals art and creates the impression that what is done and said is accomplished without effort and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baldassare-castiglione/employ-in-everything-a-certain-casualness-which-conceals-art-and/) [Baldassare Castiglione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baldassare-castiglione/) > [“There is a casualness bred from familiarity that makes me at ease around him, that drew me to him in the first place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zinzi-clemmons/there-is-a-casualness-bred-from-familiarity-that-makes-me-at-ease/) [Zinzi Clemmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zinzi-clemmons/) > [“Casualness is the enemy of pretense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/casualness-is-the-enemy-of-pretense/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [As a human, you tend to lose your calm at some point. But I ensured I was being myself through the journey. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-kumar/as-a-human-you-tend-to-lose-your-calm-at-some-point-but-i-ensured-i/) [Ashwin Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-kumar/) > [All of life is a risk; in fact we're not going to get out alive. Casualness leads to casualties. Communication is the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/all-of-life-is-a-risk-in-fact-we-re-not-going-to-get-out-alive/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“Nat was so easy about these things. Alex guessed that's what happened when you slept with another girl every week on an overcrowded island…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-bliss/nat-was-so-easy-about-these-things-alex-guessed-that-s-what-happened/) [Harper Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-bliss/) > [We treat our encounters with them with carefree casualness. We are certain that our relationships will naturally take care of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/we-treat-our-encounters-with-them-with-carefree-casualness-we-are/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [A story so cherished it has to be dressed in casualness to disguise its significance in case the listener turned out to be unsympathetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/a-story-so-cherished-it-has-to-be-dressed-in-casualness-to-disguise/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [Don't take the casual approach to life. Casualness leads to casualties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/don-t-take-the-casual-approach-to-life-casualness-leads-to-casualties/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [God know that a mother need fortitude and courage and tolerance and flexibility and patience and firmness and nearly every other brave aspect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/god-know-that-a-mother-need-fortitude-and-courage-and-tolerance-and/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Wisdom teaches us to do, as well as to talk; and to make our words and actions all of a colour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/wisdom-teaches-us-to-do-as-well-as-to-talk-and-to-make-our-words-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Parents should have perfect control over their own spirits, and with mildness and yet firmness bend the will of the child until it shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/parents-should-have-perfect-control-over-their-own-spirits-and-with/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) ## More by Phyllis McGinley > [The saints differ from us in their exuberance, the excess of our human talents. Moderation is not their secret. It is in the wildness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/the-saints-differ-from-us-in-their-exuberance-the-excess-of-our-human/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Tomorrow will come and today will pass, / But the hearts of the young are brittle as glass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/tomorrow-will-come-and-today-will-pass-but-the-hearts-of-the-young/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Borrow my umbrellas, my clothes, my money, and I will likely not think of them again. But borrow my books and I will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/borrow-my-umbrellas-my-clothes-my-money-and-i-will-likely-not-think/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [The Enemy, who wears her mother's usual face and confidential tone, has access; doubtless stares into her writing case and listens on the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/the-enemy-who-wears-her-mother-s-usual-face-and-confidential-tone-has/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [God know that a mother need fortitude and courage and tolerance and flexibility and patience and firmness and nearly every other brave aspect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/god-know-that-a-mother-need-fortitude-and-courage-and-tolerance-and/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [The trouble with gardening is that it does not remain an avocation. It becomes an obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/the-trouble-with-gardening-is-that-it-does-not-remain-an-avocation-it/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [The thing to remember about fathers is, they're men. A girl has to keep it in mind: They are dragon seekers, bent on improbable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/the-thing-to-remember-about-fathers-is-they-re-men-a-girl-has-to-keep/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Not reading poetry amounts to a national pastime here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/not-reading-poetry-amounts-to-a-national-pastime-here/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Sisters are always drying their hair. Locked into rooms, alone, they pose at the mirror, shoulders bare, trying this way and that their hair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/sisters-are-always-drying-their-hair-locked-into-rooms-alone-they/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [What in me is pure conviction is simple prejudice in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/what-in-me-is-pure-conviction-is-simple-prejudice-in-you/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Of course we women gossip on occasion. But our appetite for it is not as avid as a man s. It is in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/of-course-we-women-gossip-on-occasion-but-our-appetite-for-it-is-not/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Marriage was all a woman's idea and for man's acceptance of the pretty yoke, it becomes us to be grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/marriage-was-all-a-woman-s-idea-and-for-man-s-acceptance-of-the/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [“But the kitchen will not come into its own again until it ceases to be a status symbol and becomes again a workshop. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/but-the-kitchen-will-not-come-into-its-own-again-until-it-ceases-to/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Sin has always been an ugly word, but it has been made so in a new sense over the last half-century. It has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/sin-has-always-been-an-ugly-word-but-it-has-been-made-so-in-a-new/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Those wearing Tolerance for a label call other views intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/those-wearing-tolerance-for-a-label-call-other-views-intolerable/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) [Explore all 110 Phyllis McGinley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) ## More Aspect quotes > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I do miss the social aspect of sitting in a pub with a pint but you know what when I get down to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-do-miss-the-social-aspect-of-sitting-in-a-pub-with-a-pint-but-you/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Some say that you should not want money at all because the desire for money is materialistic and not Spiritual. But we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/some-say-that-you-should-not-want-money-at-all-because-the-desire-for/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would call myself a Gnostic. Which means, I'm interested in pursuing and understanding the spiritual nature of things. A Gnostic is somebody seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-would-call-myself-a-gnostic-which-means-i-m-interested-in-pursuing/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) Fernando Bujones > [I love fall because I love the whole cuddling aspect of it, and a sweater dress has that vibe of I'm going to hunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-love-fall-because-i-love-the-whole-cuddling-aspect-of-it-and-a/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. I have to admit that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/mac-allowed-me-to-have-complete-freedom-on-the-collaborations-from/) [Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) Browse all 3,171 Aspect quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "God knows that a mother needs fortitude and courage and tolerance and flexibility and patience and firmness and nearly every other brave aspect of the human soul. But because I happen to be a parent of almost fiercely maternal nature, I praise casualness. It seems to me the rarest of virtues. It is useful enough when children are small. 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