--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a father, absent during the day…" description: "\"When a father, absent during the day, returns home at six, his children receive only his temperament, not his teaching.\" — Robert Bly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/robert-bly-3269_absent_when-a-father-absent-during-the-day-retu_2872439.png" --- # When a father, absent during the day, returns home at six… ![“When a father, absent during the day, returns home at six, his children receive only his temperament, not his teaching.” quote by Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/robert-bly-3269_absent_when-a-father-absent-during-the-day-retu_2872439.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/robert-bly-3269_absent_when-a-father-absent-during-the-day-retu_2872439.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/robert-bly-3269_absent_when-a-father-absent-during-the-day-retu_2872439.png) > “When a father, absent during the day, returns home at six, his children receive only his temperament, not his teaching.” [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A father's limited presence leaves children with his mood rather than his lessons, highlighting the gap between temperament and teaching. **In simple terms:** Absence gives temperament, not teaching. Key Takeaway Seek consistent guidance beyond presence. Themes parenting absence learning Mood thoughtful concerned Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - family life - child development - education Key Concepts emotional intelligence role modeling Questions to Reflect On - What can children learn from a father's mood? - How to fill the teaching gap? A Different Perspective Temperament alone cannot replace intentional teaching. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent/) [Absent Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent-day-3937615/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Absent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-absent-2926843/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-children-653513/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Temperament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temperament/) [Temperament Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temperament-teaching-3937616/) ## Related quotes > [If there's no relationship with a father who's absent, nobody talks about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-there-s-no-relationship-with-a-father-who-s-absent-nobody-talks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My father was absent and he was a hero to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-scacchi/my-father-was-absent-and-he-was-a-hero-to-me/) [Greta Scacchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-scacchi/) > [I've only ever chosen men who happen to spend a lot of time out of the country, who have jobs that take them all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patsy-kensit/i-ve-only-ever-chosen-men-who-happen-to-spend-a-lot-of-time-out-of/) [Patsy Kensit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patsy-kensit/) > [At home, my children make sure that I fall in line and march to their tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/at-home-my-children-make-sure-that-i-fall-in-line-and-march-to-their/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) > [God...made childhood joyous, full of life, bubbling over with laughter, playful, bright and sunny. 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