---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the father is going on in his…"
description: "\"When the father is going on in his journey, if the child will not goe on, but stands gaping upon vanity, and when the father calls, he comes not, the o..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/thomas-hooker-51732_behinds_when-the-father-is-going-on-in-his-journ_1825093.jpg"
---

#  When the father is going on in his journey, if the child…

![“When the father is going on in his journey, if the child will not goe on, but stands gaping upon vanity, and when the father calls, he comes not, the onely way is this: the father steps aside behind a bush, and then the child runs and cries, and if he gets his father againe, he forsakes all his…” quote by Thomas Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/thomas-hooker-51732_behinds_when-the-father-is-going-on-in-his-journ_1825093.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/thomas-hooker-51732_behinds_when-the-father-is-going-on-in-his-journ_1825093.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/thomas-hooker-51732_behinds_when-the-father-is-going-on-in-his-journ_1825093.jpg)

> “When the father is going on in his journey, if the child will not goe on, but stands gaping upon vanity, and when the father calls, he comes not, the onely way is this: the father steps aside behind a bush, and then the child runs and cries, and if he gets his father againe, he forsakes all his trifles, and walkes on more faster and more cheerefully with his father than ever.”

[Thomas Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hooker/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A child resists following his father's path, but when the father steps back, the child seeks him and then follows more eagerly.

**In simple terms:** A child will chase a parent who steps aside, then follow more eagerly.

Key Takeaway

Give space, then guide.

Themes

parenting obedience motivation

Mood

reflective encouraging

Type

advice instructional

When to use this quote

- family life
- education
- leadership
- mentoring

Key Concepts

psychology behavioral dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How does giving space affect motivation?
- When should a leader step back?

A Different Perspective

If the parent never steps aside, the child may never learn to follow.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Faster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faster/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-calls-1379713/) [Father Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-going-522879/) [Father Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-steps-1291725/) [Forsake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forsake/) [Gets Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gets-father-2227274/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Trifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [It gets to you as a father when your kids don't react to you in the way you imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/it-gets-to-you-as-a-father-when-your-kids-don-t-react-to-you-in-the/)

[Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/)

> [“Perhaps that is the wisdom of life, to tread in your father's steps, and look neither to the right nor to the left.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/perhaps-that-is-the-wisdom-of-life-to-tread-in-your-father-s-steps/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [My father calls acting 'a state of permanent retirement with short spurts of work.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/my-father-calls-acting-a-state-of-permanent-retirement-with-short/)

[Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/)

> [Your father calls you to his court. You need not pack. You go garbed in glorious raiment. He waits eagerly by his palace doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/your-father-calls-you-to-his-court-you-need-not-pack-you-go-garbed-in/)

[Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/)

> [“Madison!” Bob’s head jerks up and he steps back three paces from me, and all the warmth that was him is suddenly gone. “Dad!”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-falkner/madison-bob-s-head-jerks-up-and-he-steps-back-three-paces-from-me-and/)

[Tammy Falkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-falkner/)

> [To forsake Christ for the world, is to leave a treasure for a trifle, eternity for a moment, reality for a shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jenkyn/to-forsake-christ-for-the-world-is-to-leave-a-treasure-for-a-trifle/)

[William Jenkyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jenkyn/)

> [A father is always going to be a hero to his son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoel-romero/a-father-is-always-going-to-be-a-hero-to-his-son/)

[Yoel Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoel-romero/)

> [We've got to have a deep, intimate relationship with the Father if we're going to lead like Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-blackaby/we-ve-got-to-have-a-deep-intimate-relationship-with-the-father-if-we/)

[Henry Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-blackaby/)

> [My father wasn't around when I was a kid, and I used to always say, 'Why me? Why don't I have a father? Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/my-father-wasn-t-around-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-used-to-always-say-why/)

[LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/)

> [I have already told you Father, more than once: I’m not going to subject myself to a husband chosen for me, I’m not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-amado/i-have-already-told-you-father-more-than-once-i-m-not-going-to/)

[Jorge Amado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-amado/)

> [An actor should never be influenced by the surroundings, because you have to submit completely, and trust me, it's not a good feeling when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/an-actor-should-never-be-influenced-by-the-surroundings-because-you/)

[Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/)

> [Hopefully I'm going to be a good father. I'm going to try and give my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-dragic/hopefully-i-m-going-to-be-a-good-father-i-m-going-to-try-and-give-my/)

[Goran Dragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-dragic/)

> [I told the good Father that if he and I were going in the future to some wonderful Elysian Field and the animals were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleveland-amory/i-told-the-good-father-that-if-he-and-i-were-going-in-the-future-to/)

[Cleveland Amory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleveland-amory/)

> [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [“Don't give up because things are hard, but work harder, when you think of giving up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/don-t-give-up-because-things-are-hard-but-work-harder-when-you-think/)

[Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/)

## More by Thomas Hooker

> [Look whether it be indifferently, as well for sins secret as open, what you find to be your best cordials to comfort you, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/look-whether-it-be-indifferently-as-well-for-sins-secret-as-open-what/)

[Thomas Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hooker/)

> [So that godly sorrow may be discerned by this train of graces wherewith it is accompanied, that worldly sorrow wants, at least in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/so-that-godly-sorrow-may-be-discerned-by-this-train-of-graces/)

[Thomas Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hooker/)

> [Nay, men are so far from musing of their sins, that they disdain this practise, and scoff at it: what say they, if all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/nay-men-are-so-far-from-musing-of-their-sins-that-they-disdain-this/)

[Thomas Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hooker/)

> [Prayer is my chief work, and it is by means of it that I carry on the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/prayer-is-my-chief-work-and-it-is-by-means-of-it-that-i-carry-on-the/)

[Thomas Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hooker/)

> [The foundation of authority is based upon the consent of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/the-foundation-of-authority-is-based-upon-the-consent-of-the-people/)

[Thomas Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hooker/)

> [I confess it is beyond our power to awaken the heart, but ordinarily this way does good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/i-confess-it-is-beyond-our-power-to-awaken-the-heart-but-ordinarily/)

[Thomas Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hooker/)

[Explore all 7 Thomas Hooker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hooker/)

## More Behinds quotes

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/)

[Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/)

> [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/)

[Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/)

> [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/)

[Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/)

> [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/)

[Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/)

> [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/)

[Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/)

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/)

[N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/)

[Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When the father is going on in his journey, if the child will not goe on, but stands gaping upon vanity, and when the father calls, he comes not, the onely way is this: the father steps aside behind a bush, and then the child runs and cries, and if he gets his father againe, he forsakes all his trifles, and walkes on more faster and more cheerefully with his father than ever.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Hooker"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/when-the-father-is-going-on-in-his-journey-if-the-child-will-not-goe/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Behinds"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/when-the-father-is-going-on-in-his-journey-if-the-child-will-not-goe/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/thomas-hooker-51732_behinds_when-the-father-is-going-on-in-his-journ_1825093.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/thomas-hooker-51732_behinds_when-the-father-is-going-on-in-his-journ_1825093.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/thomas-hooker-51732_behinds_when-the-father-is-going-on-in-his-journ_1825093.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When the father is going on in his journey, if the child will not goe on, but stands gaping upon vanity, and…” — Thomas Hooker",
                "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": "Thomas Hooker",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hooker/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When the father is going on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/when-the-father-is-going-on-in-his-journey-if-the-child-will-not-goe/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/when-the-father-is-going-on-in-his-journey-if-the-child-will-not-goe/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
