--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Society needs both parents and…" description: "\"Society needs both parents and nonparents, both the work party and the home party. While raising children is the most important work most people will d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/virginia-postrel-2867_both_society-needs-both-parents-and-nonparent_2843082.jpg" --- # Society needs both parents and nonparents, both the work… ![“Society needs both parents and nonparents, both the work party and the home party. While raising children is the most important work most people will do, not everyone is cut out for parenthood. And, as many a childless teacher has proved, raising kids is not the only important contribution a…” quote by Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/virginia-postrel-2867_both_society-needs-both-parents-and-nonparent_2843082.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/virginia-postrel-2867_both_society-needs-both-parents-and-nonparent_2843082.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/virginia-postrel-2867_both_society-needs-both-parents-and-nonparent_2843082.jpg) > “Society needs both parents and nonparents, both the work party and the home party. While raising children is the most important work most people will do, not everyone is cut out for parenthood. And, as many a childless teacher has proved, raising kids is not the only important contribution a person can make to their future.” [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society benefits from diverse contributions beyond parenting; non‑parents add essential value. **In simple terms:** Non‑parents matter too. Key Takeaway Value all roles. Themes social structure worklife balance diversity Mood balanced inclusive Type analytical advocacy When to use this quote - policy making - career counseling - community service Key Concepts economic contribution civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can societies support varied life choices? - What policies recognize non‑parent contributions? A Different Perspective May overlook parenting challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Both](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Childless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childless/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-important-359892/) [Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Cut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cut/) [Everyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyone/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-work/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Nonparents Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonparents-work-3738502/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Parenthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenthood/) [Parenthood Childless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenthood-childless-3738503/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Proved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proved/) [Raising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raising/) [Raising children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raising-children/) [Raising kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raising-kids/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [The most important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-most-important/) [While](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/while/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Well, I've got two small children and this is a very important time for me to be around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/treat-williams/well-i-ve-got-two-small-children-and-this-is-a-very-important-time/) [Treat Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/treat-williams/) > [Parents must lead by example. Don't use the cliche; do as I say and not as I do. We are our children's first and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-haney/parents-must-lead-by-example-don-t-use-the-cliche-do-as-i-say-and-not/) [Lee Haney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-haney/) > [Do you have agendas for your children that are more important than the children themselves? Lost in the shuffle of uniforms, practices, games, recitals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-martin/do-you-have-agendas-for-your-children-that-are-more-important-than/) [William Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-martin/) > [What you leave in your children, is more important than what you leave to them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/what-you-leave-in-your-children-is-more-important-than-what-you-leave/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Be the best father you can be to your children. Because nothing is more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/be-the-best-father-you-can-be-to-your-children-because-nothing-is/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Manners will become important to children only if they are important to their parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lickona/manners-will-become-important-to-children-only-if-they-are-important/) [Thomas Lickona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lickona/) > [My children are the most important thing in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/columba-bush/my-children-are-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life/) [Columba Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/columba-bush/) > [Being a father is my the most important thing in my life. I'm human, and I make plenty of mistakes, but being a positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/being-a-father-is-my-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-i-m-human/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [It's important to give a better country to your children, but it is more important to give better children to your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/it-s-important-to-give-a-better-country-to-your-children-but-it-is/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [Children are the most important asset in a country. For them to become that asset, they must receive education and love from their parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/children-are-the-most-important-asset-in-a-country-for-them-to-become/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [My children are most important to me. I'm a mother and I adore my children. I live for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-grammer/my-children-are-most-important-to-me-i-m-a-mother-and-i-adore-my/) [Camille Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-grammer/) > [“Teaching children is important for adults as well as children. As we tell children the stories of the faith, talk with them about God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-stonehouse/teaching-children-is-important-for-adults-as-well-as-children-as-we/) [Catherine Stonehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-stonehouse/) > [I think it's crucially important to be present in the lives of your children. They are my most important cause that I fight for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/i-think-it-s-crucially-important-to-be-present-in-the-lives-of-your/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [The darn trouble with cleaning the house is it gets dirty the next day anyway, so skip a week if you have to. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/the-darn-trouble-with-cleaning-the-house-is-it-gets-dirty-the-next/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [Our children are our most important assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-erickson/our-children-are-our-most-important-assets/) [Rodney Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-erickson/) ## More by Virginia Postrel > [The low point for neon came in 1982, when Holiday Inn did away with its signature 'Great Sign,' replacing the neon extravaganza with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-low-point-for-neon-came-in-1982-when-holiday-inn-did-away-with/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > ['The Matrix' is a movie that is all about glamour. I could do a whole talk on 'The Matrix' and glamour. It was criticized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-matrix-is-a-movie-that-is-all-about-glamour-i-could-do-a-whole/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Science is about exploring the unknown and cannot offer guarantees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/science-is-about-exploring-the-unknown-and-cannot-offer-guarantees/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [“Design is not style. It’s not about giving shape to the shell and not giving a damn about the guts. Good design is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/design-is-not-style-it-s-not-about-giving-shape-to-the-shell-and-not/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Persuasion has become a kind of force. The more the advertiser knows about what consumers want, and the more desires the product and packaging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/persuasion-has-become-a-kind-of-force-the-more-the-advertiser-knows/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [When credit is cheaper to use and easier to arrange, people do use more of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/when-credit-is-cheaper-to-use-and-easier-to-arrange-people-do-use/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Glamour is a beautiful illusion - the word 'glamour' originally meant a literal magic spell - that promises to transcend ordinary life and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/glamour-is-a-beautiful-illusion-the-word-glamour-originally-meant-a/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [A standard 'well woman' checkup can last as little as 10 minutes, hardly time for any in-depth discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/a-standard-well-woman-checkup-can-last-as-little-as-10-minutes-hardly/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [When I was in college, I wanted to be editor of 'Reason' when I grew up. It was an impractical ambition, especially since the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/when-i-was-in-college-i-wanted-to-be-editor-of-reason-when-i-grew-up/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [A lot of consumers actively enjoy advertising, especially fashion print ads and clever TV commercials. The nostalgic cable channel TVLand features not only vintage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/a-lot-of-consumers-actively-enjoy-advertising-especially-fashion/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [“Functionality still matters, of course. But competition has pushed quality so high and prices so low that many manufacturers can no longer distinguish themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/functionality-still-matters-of-course-but-competition-has-pushed/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Like the skyscraper, the automobile, and the motion-picture palace, neon signs once symbolized popular hopes for a new era of technological achievement and commercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/like-the-skyscraper-the-automobile-and-the-motion-picture-palace-neon/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [When 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' premiered on the WB Network in 1996, American culture was in trouble. Americans were bowling alone, pursuing individual interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/when-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-premiered-on-the-wb-network-in-1996/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [The glamour of air travel - its aspirational meaning in the public imagination - disappeared before its luxury did, dissipating as flying gradually became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-glamour-of-air-travel-its-aspirational-meaning-in-the-public/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Behind the criticism of fashion as an artistic medium is a highly ideological prejudice: against markets, against consumers, against the dynamism of Western commercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/behind-the-criticism-of-fashion-as-an-artistic-medium-is-a-highly/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) [Explore all 147 Virginia Postrel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) ## More Both quotes > [Well this is aptly called a junket, for both of us. I have never been to a house of prostitution, but I understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/well-this-is-aptly-called-a-junket-for-both-of-us-i-have-never-been/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [It's almost inevitable there's going to be an escalation on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-luther/it-s-almost-inevitable-there-s-going-to-be-an-escalation-on-both-sides/) [Bill Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-luther/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [I am excited to partner with Aeropostale for my very own collection. It was a great experience to be able to work with them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-mota/i-am-excited-to-partner-with-aeropostale-for-my-very-own-collection/) [Bethany Mota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-mota/) > [I went straight from high school to 'Gossip Girl,' and both were very structured, scheduled environments, so I never had freedom to explore and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/i-went-straight-from-high-school-to-gossip-girl-and-both-were-very/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [My characters in both 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' films were so relatable that every other guy connects with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kartik-aaryan/my-characters-in-both-pyaar-ka-punchnama-films-were-so-relatable-that/) [Kartik Aaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kartik-aaryan/) > [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) > [Everyone knows that when you go through a divorce, it's a really difficult time for both parties and you've all - you believe, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mills/everyone-knows-that-when-you-go-through-a-divorce-it-s-a-really/) [Heather Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mills/) > [The U.S.-China relationship, of course, has elements of both cooperation and competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-donilon/the-u-s-china-relationship-of-course-has-elements-of-both-cooperation/) [Thomas E. Donilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-donilon/) > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [Both my wife and I are optimists and we look at the positives in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/both-my-wife-and-i-are-optimists-and-we-look-at-the-positives-in-life/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [I am married to a writer, and this - writing - is an odd enterprise. It's something we both support very strongly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-am-married-to-a-writer-and-this-writing-is-an-odd-enterprise-it-s/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [But if you listen to great piano players, both classical and jazz, there's a huge range of dynamics and colors and emotional expression that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-burton/but-if-you-listen-to-great-piano-players-both-classical-and-jazz/) [Gary Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-burton/) [Browse all 2,155 Both quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Society needs both parents and nonparents, both the work party and the home party. While raising children is the most important work most people will do, not everyone is cut out for parenthood. 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