Better man Quote by Sherman Alexie
““Sir, in your thirty-nine years as a parent, you broke your children's hearts, collectively and individually, 612 times and you did this without ever striking any human being in anger. Does this absence of physical violence make you a better man than you might otherwise have been?””
About This Quote
Source Film: The Business of Being Born, 2008
A parent can cause deep emotional harm without physical violence, questioning moral superiority based on non‑violent behavior.
In simple terms: Non‑violent harm can be as damaging as physical abuse.
Key Takeaway
Consider the impact of words and neglect.
Themes
parenting
emotional harm
morality
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family dynamics
- child upbringing
- parent‑child communication
Key Concepts
psychology
ethical responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you measure a parent’s moral character?
- What non‑violent actions can cause lasting hurt?
A Different Perspective
Physical restraint does not guarantee moral goodness.
![“...my father, [was] a mid-level phonecompany manager who treated my mother at best like an incompetent employee. At worst? He never beat her, but his pure, inarticulate fury would fill the house for days, weeks, at a time, making the air humid, hard to breathe, my father stalking around with his…” quote by Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/02a/gillian-flynn-316_abuse_my-father-was-a-mid-level-phonecompany-m_2788017.jpg)
