--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the man who turnips cries, Cry not…" description: "\"If the man who turnips cries, Cry not when his father dies, 'Tis proof that he had rather Have a turnip than his father.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/samuel-johnson-50_cry_if-the-man-who-turnips-cries-cry-not-whe_1153504.png" --- # If the man who turnips cries, Cry not when his father… ![“If the man who turnips cries, Cry not when his father dies, 'Tis proof that he had rather Have a turnip than his father.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/samuel-johnson-50_cry_if-the-man-who-turnips-cries-cry-not-whe_1153504.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/samuel-johnson-50_cry_if-the-man-who-turnips-cries-cry-not-whe_1153504.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/samuel-johnson-50_cry_if-the-man-who-turnips-cries-cry-not-whe_1153504.png) > “If the man who turnips cries, Cry not when his father dies, 'Tis proof that he had rather Have a turnip than his father.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man prefers a trivial comfort over a profound loss, showing misplaced priorities. **In simple terms:** People often value small comforts more than deep relationships. Key Takeaway Recognize what truly matters. Themes values priorities loss Mood reflective critical Type philosophical moral When to use this quote - personal relationships - grieving - decision making Key Concepts materialism emotional attachment Questions to Reflect On - What comforts do you prioritize over relationships? - How can you balance material and emotional needs? A Different Perspective May overlook deeper emotional needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cries Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cries-father-2954333/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Man Turnips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-turnips-3271569/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof/) [Proof Turnip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof-turnip-3271570/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Turnip Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turnip-father-3271567/) [Turnips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turnips/) [Turnips Cries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turnips-cries-3271568/) ## Related quotes > [“I have been offered the noble opportunity to join my voice with that of the Crucified as He cries out, 'Father, forgive them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-howard/i-have-been-offered-the-noble-opportunity-to-join-my-voice-with-that/) [Thomas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-howard/) > [As a child walking over a slippery and dangerous path cries out, "Father, I am falling!" and has but a moment to catch his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-l-cuyler/as-a-child-walking-over-a-slippery-and-dangerous-path-cries-out/) [Theodore L. Cuyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-l-cuyler/) > [I look like a turnip with hair in the morning!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cooper/i-look-like-a-turnip-with-hair-in-the-morning/) [Dominic Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cooper/) > [If you'd take your head home and boil it for a turnip it might be useful. I can't say. But it might.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-d-take-your-head-home-and-boil-it-for-a-turnip-it-might-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love root vegetables: carrots, parsnips, and turnips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/i-love-root-vegetables-carrots-parsnips-and-turnips/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [Pyp had stabbed a turnip with his knife. "The night is dark and full of turnips," he announced in a solemn voice. "Let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pyp-had-stabbed-a-turnip-with-his-knife-the-night-is-dark-and-full-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I still wanna know who to sue to get my store fixed. (Bubba) I’m a turnip. Sue the rich kid who started it. (Nick)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-still-wanna-know-who-to-sue-to-get-my-store-fixed-bubba-i-m-a/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > […try the mustard, - a man can't know what turnips are in perfection without mustard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/try-the-mustard-a-man-can-t-know-what-turnips-are-in-perfection/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [In German, a young lady has no sex, but a turnip has](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/in-german-a-young-lady-has-no-sex-but-a-turnip-has/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I eat only white foods: eggs, sugar, grated bones, the fat of dead animals; veal, salt, coconut, chicken cooked in white water; fruit mold,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-satie/i-eat-only-white-foods-eggs-sugar-grated-bones-the-fat-of-dead/) [Erik Satie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-satie/) > [The only good things I've seen emerge from a steamer are tamales, couscous, and dumplings - maybe the occasional artichoke or delicate fish fillet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samin-nosrat/the-only-good-things-i-ve-seen-emerge-from-a-steamer-are-tamales/) [Samin Nosrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samin-nosrat/) > [A lot of chefs don't have a natural sense of economy. I was with one guy the other day, and I had to show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-boulud/a-lot-of-chefs-don-t-have-a-natural-sense-of-economy-i-was-with-one/) [Daniel Boulud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-boulud/) > [It had never occurred to him that the body of a woman of fifty, blown up to monstrous dimensions by childbearing, then hardened, roughened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-had-never-occurred-to-him-that-the-body-of-a-woman-of-fifty-blown/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [He tapped my chest. 'Happy is here.' He tapped his own chest. 'Here.' I looked down past my chin. 'Inside?' 'Inside.' It was getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/he-tapped-my-chest-happy-is-here-he-tapped-his-own-chest-here-i/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [With me, you never know what is going to happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-ivanisevic/with-me-you-never-know-what-is-going-to-happen/) [Goran Ivanisevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-ivanisevic/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Cry quotes > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [And then theres always the crying and the weeping that we hear-children, women, even men. And these images and these sounds are always with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/and-then-theres-always-the-crying-and-the-weeping-that-we-hear/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [My idea for 'BoneMan's Daughters' came from the loss of my own daughter when she left home to live with a monster at age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/my-idea-for-boneman-s-daughters-came-from-the-loss-of-my-own-daughter/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [I cry at the end of every book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/i-cry-at-the-end-of-every-book/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [ The most important thing I learned \[...\] was that when a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-extence/the-most-important-thing-i-learned-was-that-when-a-person-dies-he/) [Gavin Extence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-extence/) > [I would have done anything for him. Maybe that was my sickness. We made love in nothing places and turned the lights off. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-would-have-done-anything-for-him-maybe-that-was-my-sickness-we-made/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is easy to speak words of love, or to meditate lovingly upon those people with whom you are in harmony. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ponder/it-is-easy-to-speak-words-of-love-or-to-meditate-lovingly-upon-those/) [Catherine Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ponder/) > [I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Browse all 4,998 Cry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the man who turnips cries, Cry not when his father dies, 'Tis proof that he had rather Have a turnip than his father.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-the-man-who-turnips-cries-cry-not-when-his-father-dies-tis-proof/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-the-man-who-turnips-cries-cry-not-when-his-father-dies-tis-proof/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/samuel-johnson-50_cry_if-the-man-who-turnips-cries-cry-not-whe_1153504.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/samuel-johnson-50_cry_if-the-man-who-turnips-cries-cry-not-whe_1153504.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/samuel-johnson-50_cry_if-the-man-who-turnips-cries-cry-not-whe_1153504.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the man who turnips cries, Cry not when his father dies, 'Tis proof that he had rather Have a turnip than…” — Samuel Johnson", "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": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the man who turnips cries,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-the-man-who-turnips-cries-cry-not-when-his-father-dies-tis-proof/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-the-man-who-turnips-cries-cry-not-when-his-father-dies-tis-proof/#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 } } ] } ```