--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think my parents were really smart…" description: "\"I think my parents were really smart parents. I think they were, actually, pretty progressive for the time. The one thing that they really wanted me to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/rich-mullins-4737_about_i-think-my-parents-were-really-smart-par_1356502.png" --- # I think my parents were really smart parents. I think they… ![“I think my parents were really smart parents. I think they were, actually, pretty progressive for the time. The one thing that they really wanted me to know is what makes me tick, what I am about, how I approach life. And I think what my parents really wanted for me was for me to be who I am.” quote by Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/rich-mullins-4737_about_i-think-my-parents-were-really-smart-par_1356502.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/rich-mullins-4737_about_i-think-my-parents-were-really-smart-par_1356502.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/rich-mullins-4737_about_i-think-my-parents-were-really-smart-par_1356502.png) > “I think my parents were really smart parents. I think they were, actually, pretty progressive for the time. The one thing that they really wanted me to know is what makes me tick, what I am about, how I approach life. And I think what my parents really wanted for me was for me to be who I am.” [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the lasting impact of progressive parenting that encourages self‑discovery and authenticity, urging individuals to embrace their true selves. **In simple terms:** Parents taught him to understand himself and be authentic. Key Takeaway Live true to your own identity. Themes family self‑discovery authenticity Mood introspective encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - personal development - mentoring relationships Key Concepts psychology parenting philosophy personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What values did your upbringing instill? - How do you stay authentic under external pressure? A Different Perspective Pressure to conform can suppress individuality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/) ## Related quotes > [“My parents think so. And my parents have a very annoying habit of being right,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/my-parents-think-so-and-my-parents-have-a-very-annoying-habit-of/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [It's very important not to do what your peers think you should do, not do what your parents think,your teachers or even your culture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/it-s-very-important-not-to-do-what-your-peers-think-you-should-do-not/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [Speaking as a parent, I don't think parents think all the time about structures. I know from conversations I've had with other mums, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/speaking-as-a-parent-i-don-t-think-parents-think-all-the-time-about/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [I think some parents think, 'Oh, having kids is so beautiful; I want others to feel the joy I do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/i-think-some-parents-think-oh-having-kids-is-so-beautiful-i-want/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [I think about my parents, and I think a lot about the sacrifices they have made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lightfoot/i-think-about-my-parents-and-i-think-a-lot-about-the-sacrifices-they/) [Lori Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lightfoot/) > [I really put the fear of God into my son, because children are such sponges. The earlier you teach them the law of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-currie/i-really-put-the-fear-of-god-into-my-son-because-children-are-such/) [Cherie Currie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-currie/) > [You wouldn't think it would but my parents were really balanced about that. When it came time for me to be out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmer-bernstein/you-wouldn-t-think-it-would-but-my-parents-were-really-balanced-about/) [Elmer Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmer-bernstein/) > [My dad is a very good sounding board. He's very, very smart. Both of my parents are very, very sharp, much smarter than I,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/my-dad-is-a-very-good-sounding-board-he-s-very-very-smart-both-of-my/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [As kids do, they're smart, and even if parents try to keep things away from them, conflict and issues and whatnot, kids pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/as-kids-do-they-re-smart-and-even-if-parents-try-to-keep-things-away/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [I have very smart parents. I feel I learned a lot from both of my parents and life experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-have-very-smart-parents-i-feel-i-learned-a-lot-from-both-of-my/) [Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/) > [Rich, smart parents tend to have rich, smart kids - not because it's genetic but because they can create a home environment and sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kaiser/rich-smart-parents-tend-to-have-rich-smart-kids-not-because-it-s/) [George Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kaiser/) > [I think a lot of parents hand people over a blueprint and say, This is how youre supposed to do it. And my parents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-think-a-lot-of-parents-hand-people-over-a-blueprint-and-say-this-is-2/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think a lot of parents hand people over a blueprint and say, 'This is how you're supposed to do it.' And my parents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-think-a-lot-of-parents-hand-people-over-a-blueprint-and-say-this-is/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've always had tremendous support from my parents. I think there's a myth that gay people have lousy relationships with their parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-always-had-tremendous-support-from-my-parents-i-think-there-s-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That’s what parents often do, I think, we persuade ourselves we’re doing everything for the sake of the child. It’s too painful to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/that-s-what-parents-often-do-i-think-we-persuade-ourselves-we-re/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) ## More by Rich Mullins > [I have no physical genius about me. 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I am thinking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-am-thinking-now-of-old-moses-sitting-on-a-mountain-sitting-with-god/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think that of all the diseases in the world, the disease that all humankind suffers from, the disease that is most devastating to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-think-that-of-all-the-diseases-in-the-world-the-disease-that-all/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [God spoke to Balaam through his ass. I believe God still speaks through asses today. 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That's how our Father listens to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/bear-in-mind-children-that-they-listen-to-you-because-you-are-kids/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [Never forget what Jesus did for you. Never take lightly what it cost Him. And never assume that if it cost Him His very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/never-forget-what-jesus-did-for-you-never-take-lightly-what-it-cost/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [There's a difference, you know, between faith and playing make-believe. One will make you grow. The other one will make you sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/there-s-a-difference-you-know-between-faith-and-playing-make-believe/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [There's people been friendly But they'd never be your friends Sometimes this has bent me to the ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/there-s-people-been-friendly-but-they-d-never-be-your-friends/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [And step by step You'll lead me / And I will follow You all of my days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/and-step-by-step-you-ll-lead-me-and-i-will-follow-you-all-of-my-days/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I had a professor one time... 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