---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As parents, we should remember that our…"
description: "\"As parents, we should remember that our lives may be the book from the family library which the children most treasure. Are our examples worthy of emul..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/thomas-s-monson-409_book_as-parents-we-should-remember-that-our-l_2759810.png"
---

#  As parents, we should remember that our lives may be the…

![“As parents, we should remember that our lives may be the book from the family library which the children most treasure. Are our examples worthy of emulation? Do we live in such a way that a son or a daughter may say, ‘I want to follow my dad,’ or ‘I want to be like my mother’? Unlike the book on…” quote by Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/thomas-s-monson-409_book_as-parents-we-should-remember-that-our-l_2759810.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/thomas-s-monson-409_book_as-parents-we-should-remember-that-our-l_2759810.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/thomas-s-monson-409_book_as-parents-we-should-remember-that-our-l_2759810.png)

> “As parents, we should remember that our lives may be the book from the family library which the children most treasure. Are our examples worthy of emulation? Do we live in such a way that a son or a daughter may say, ‘I want to follow my dad,’ or ‘I want to be like my mother’? Unlike the book on the library shelf, the covers of which shield its contents, our lives cannot be closed. Parents, we truly are an open book in the library of learning of our homes.”

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

## About This Quote

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

Parents' lives are constantly observed by children, shaping their values and aspirations.

**In simple terms:** Parents model behavior for children.

Key Takeaway

Live as a role model.

Themes

parenting legacy modeling

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- family gatherings
- daily interactions
- teaching moments

Key Concepts

example influence responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can parents ensure their actions align with desired values?
- What habits reinforce positive modeling?

A Different Perspective

Children may misinterpret or reject parental examples.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-family-1174615/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Emulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emulation/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-library-528133/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [My dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-dad/) [Open book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-book/) [Our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lives/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Truly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-truly-1528104/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Shelves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shelves/) [Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shields/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treasure/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Worthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthy/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/)

## Related quotes

> [In the case of 'Ocean at the End of the Lane,' it's a book about helplessness. It's a book about family, it's a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/in-the-case-of-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane-it-s-a-book-about/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [Women's books are kind of discriminated against. If a man writes a book about his family stories, people think of it as literature. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/women-s-books-are-kind-of-discriminated-against-if-a-man-writes-a/)

[Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/)

> [I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these." - Mr. Darcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-cannot-comprehend-the-neglect-of-a-family-library-in-such-days-as/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [“What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!” “It ought to be good,” he replied, “it has been the work of many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/what-a-delightful-library-you-have-at-pemberley-mr-darcy-it-ought-to/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [Many children work hard to please their parents, but what I truly longed for was good times that were about us, not about me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-hodges/many-children-work-hard-to-please-their-parents-but-what-i-truly/)

[Gil Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-hodges/)

> [Parents are the people who give you true love… Parents are the only people who give you unconditional love…They must be highly honoured and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/parents-are-the-people-who-give-you-true-love-parents-are-the-only/)

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

> [When I was a senior, I got accepted into the Julliard School for Dance, but ultimately decided to move to L.A. to act, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-artist/when-i-was-a-senior-i-got-accepted-into-the-julliard-school-for-dance/)

[Jacob Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-artist/)

> [My parents were truly severe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miuccia-prada/my-parents-were-truly-severe/)

[Miuccia Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miuccia-prada/)

> [To all the little girls out there, I would tell them to really appreciate what their parents do for them. And also to truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirai-nagasu/to-all-the-little-girls-out-there-i-would-tell-them-to-really/)

[Mirai Nagasu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirai-nagasu/)

> [My parents have truly gone above and beyond in not only supporting me but also encouraging me to follow my dreams. My dad's only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikaela-hoover/my-parents-have-truly-gone-above-and-beyond-in-not-only-supporting-me/)

[Mikaela Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikaela-hoover/)

> [That's my big goal, to represent for the Nigerians and their parents because they are truly characters. My mom is, for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ego-nwodim/that-s-my-big-goal-to-represent-for-the-nigerians-and-their-parents/)

[Ego Nwodim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ego-nwodim/)

> [No pedagogy which is truly liberating can remain distant from the oppressed by treating them as unfortunates and by presenting for their emulation models…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/no-pedagogy-which-is-truly-liberating-can-remain-distant-from-the/)

[Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/)

> [In particular, it is absurd to hope to banish envy of other people's possessions or fortunes, if only because the spirit of envy can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-particular-it-is-absurd-to-hope-to-banish-envy-of-other-people-s/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-curiosity-or-confine-the-labours/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [Terror has its inspiration, as well as competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/terror-has-its-inspiration-as-well-as-competition/)

[Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/)

## More by Thomas S. Monson

> [I know that God loves us. He allows us to exercise our moral agency even when we misuse it. He permits us to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-know-that-god-loves-us-he-allows-us-to-exercise-our-moral-agency/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“Some find it difficult to withstand the mocking and unsavory remarks of foolish ones who ridicule chastity, honesty, and obedience to God’s commands. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/some-find-it-difficult-to-withstand-the-mocking-and-unsavory-remarks/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [Choose your love, Love your choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/choose-your-love-love-your-choice/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [I ask you to make INSTITUTE a PRIORITY.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-ask-you-to-make-institute-a-priority/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [I hope with all my heart and soul that every young man who receives the priesthood will honor that priesthood and be true to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-hope-with-all-my-heart-and-soul-that-every-young-man-who-receives/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love. In our families, as well as with our friends, there can be hurt feelings and disagreements.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/forgiveness-should-go-hand-in-hand-with-love-in-our-families-as-well/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/born-in-a-stable-cradled-in-a-manger-he-came-forth-from-heaven-to/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“A happy home is but and earlier Heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/a-happy-home-is-but-and-earlier-heaven/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends forth to you an earnest appeal. Open your doors to the missionaries. Open your minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-sends-forth-to-you-an/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [This is my philosophy on all life, not just when it comes to love. All the best things are terrifying, but that's why they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/this-is-my-philosophy-on-all-life-not-just-when-it-comes-to-love-all/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness... We are the Lord’s hands here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-are-surrounded-by-those-in-need-of-our-attention-our-encouragement/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [You have a heritage honor it. You have posses a testimony share it. You will face temptations withstand it. You know the truth live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/you-have-a-heritage-honor-it-you-have-posses-a-testimony-share-it-you/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [We learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-learn-and-grow-and-become-stronger-as-we-face-and-survive-the/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [I am certain that the Lord, who notes the fall of a sparrow, looks with compassion upon those who have been called upon to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-am-certain-that-the-lord-who-notes-the-fall-of-a-sparrow-looks-with/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

[Explore all 586 Thomas S. Monson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

## More Book quotes

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/)

[Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/)

[Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/)

[Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/)

> [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/)

[Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/)

> [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/)

[Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/)

> [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/)

[Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/)

> [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/)

[Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/)

> [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

[Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "As parents, we should remember that our lives may be the book from the family library which the children most treasure. Are our examples worthy of emulation? Do we live in such a way that a son or a daughter may say, ‘I want to follow my dad,’ or ‘I want to be like my mother’? Unlike the book on the library shelf, the covers of which shield its contents, our lives cannot be closed. Parents, we truly are an open book in the library of learning of our homes.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas S. Monson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/as-parents-we-should-remember-that-our-lives-may-be-the-book-from-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Book"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/as-parents-we-should-remember-that-our-lives-may-be-the-book-from-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/thomas-s-monson-409_book_as-parents-we-should-remember-that-our-l_2759810.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/thomas-s-monson-409_book_as-parents-we-should-remember-that-our-l_2759810.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/thomas-s-monson-409_book_as-parents-we-should-remember-that-our-l_2759810.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“As parents, we should remember that our lives may be the book from the family library which the children…” — Thomas S. Monson",
                "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 S. Monson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "As parents, we should remember that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/as-parents-we-should-remember-that-our-lives-may-be-the-book-from-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/as-parents-we-should-remember-that-our-lives-may-be-the-book-from-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
