--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A father may turn his back on his child…" description: "\"A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands. But..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/washington-irving-1386_brothers-and-sisters_a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child_1520250.png" --- # A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and… ![“A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands. But a mother's love endures through all.” quote by Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/washington-irving-1386_brothers-and-sisters_a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child_1520250.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/washington-irving-1386_brothers-and-sisters_a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child_1520250.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/washington-irving-1386_brothers-and-sisters_a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child_1520250.png) > “A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands. But a mother's love endures through all.” [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maternal love is steadfast and endures all hardships, unlike other familial bonds that may break. **In simple terms:** A mother’s love never gives up. Key Takeaway Value and honor maternal support. Themes family love endurance Mood tender reverent Type narrative philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - crisis - support systems Key Concepts maternal sacrifice family resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can we support mothers in difficulty? - What makes maternal love unique? A Different Perspective Maternal love can be idealized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brothers and sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-and-sisters/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Enemies Husbands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-husbands-5617321/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Husbands Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husbands-mother-5617322/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-end/) [Love Endures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-endures/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-love/) [Mother'S Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-s-love/) [Mother-s-love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-s-love-2/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A father may turn his back on his child, … . but a mother's love endures through all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-but-a-mother-s-love-endures/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [The love of a mother is never exhausted. It never changes - it never tires - it endures through all; in good repute, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/the-love-of-a-mother-is-never-exhausted-it-never-changes-it-never/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [“The fact of that devotion is nothing less than sacrifice. The only good of which mortals are capable of love. To even begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-attanasio/the-fact-of-that-devotion-is-nothing-less-than-sacrifice-the-only/) [A.A. Attanasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-attanasio/) > [“poet Harold Hart Crane #203 on top 500 poets Poet's Page Poems Comments Stats E-Books Biography Videos Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Poems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-hart-crane/poet-harold-hart-crane-203-on-top-500-poets-poet-s-page-poems/) [Harold Hart Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-hart-crane/) > [“Love and hope are conjoined, if you separate one, you kill the other. If hope survives then love endures. Where even a sliver of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-earl/love-and-hope-are-conjoined-if-you-separate-one-you-kill-the-other-if/) [Esther Earl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-earl/) > [Love endures when the lovers love many things together And not merely each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/love-endures-when-the-lovers-love-many-things-together-and-not-merely/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“My hands have not touched pleasure since your hands, -- No, -- nor my lips freed laughter since 'farewell', And with the day, distance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-hart-crane/my-hands-have-not-touched-pleasure-since-your-hands-no-nor-my-lips/) [Harold Hart Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-hart-crane/) > [“Love learns to respect others. Love never fails. Love endures everything. Love is not rude. 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While emotions are momentary, love endures for a lifetime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/love-is-not-an-emotion-while-emotions-are-momentary-love-endures-for/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [“Emotions have cycles whereas love endures. Some people confuse emotions, which are ever-changing, with love's durability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/emotions-have-cycles-whereas-love-endures-some-people-confuse/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [“If you believed that thoughts were energy and energy is matter (E=mc2) and matter never disappears, then a person can never truly leave you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wunder/if-you-believed-that-thoughts-were-energy-and-energy-is-matter-e-mc2/) [Wendy Wunder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wunder/) > [“Love ENDURES and works out ways of enduring the other stuff. As long as you can communicate you can work out issues, but good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/love-endures-and-works-out-ways-of-enduring-the-other-stuff-as-long/) [Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/) ## More by Washington Irving > [Some minds corrode and grow inactive under the loss of personal liberty; others grow morbid and irritable; but it is the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-corrode-and-grow-inactive-under-the-loss-of-personal/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Language gradually varies, and with it fade away the writings of authors who have flourished their allotted time; otherwise, the creative powers of genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/language-gradually-varies-and-with-it-fade-away-the-writings-of/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's life is a history of the affections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Over no nation does the press hold a more absolute control than over the people of America, for the universal education of the poorest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/over-no-nation-does-the-press-hold-a-more-absolute-control-than-over/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I have never found, in anything outside of the four walls of my study, an enjoyment equal to sitting at my writing desk with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-have-never-found-in-anything-outside-of-the-four-walls-of-my-study/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is no character in the comedy of human life more difficult to play well than that of an old bachelor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-no-character-in-the-comedy-of-human-life-more-difficult-to/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-proportion-to-his-thoughts-he/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Redundancy of language is never found with deep reflection. Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. He who thinks much says but little in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/redundancy-of-language-is-never-found-with-deep-reflection-verbiage/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is a majestic grandeur in tranquillity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-a-majestic-grandeur-in-tranquillity/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There rise authors now and then, who seem proof against the mutability of language, because they have rooted themselves in the unchanging principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-rise-authors-now-and-then-who-seem-proof-against-the-mutability/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is nothing in England that exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-nothing-in-england-that-exercises-a-more-delightful-spell/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [It is but seldom that any one overt act produces hostilities between two nations; there exists, more commonly, a previous jealousy and ill will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/it-is-but-seldom-that-any-one-overt-act-produces-hostilities-between/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) [Explore all 244 Washington Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## More Brothers and sisters quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [There's no publicist, no advertisements, and no one's pushing us. If people are buying our records, it's because big brothers and sisters or friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-moody/there-s-no-publicist-no-advertisements-and-no-one-s-pushing-us-if/) [Spencer Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-moody/) > [Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/brothers-and-sisters-i-bid-you-beware-of-giving-your-heart-to-a-dog/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Mr. Peabody is this genetic anomaly. He does have brothers and sisters, all of them non-speaking, not super-smart dogs. He's an outcast, but has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/mr-peabody-is-this-genetic-anomaly-he-does-have-brothers-and-sisters/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [Jeremiah Wright is one of the greatest prophetic preachers that black America has produced. What I find striking is that many white brothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/jeremiah-wright-is-one-of-the-greatest-prophetic-preachers-that-black/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [How many years has it taken people to realize that we are all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-p-johnson/how-many-years-has-it-taken-people-to-realize-that-we-are-all/) [Marsha P. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-p-johnson/) > [I have 10 brothers and sisters. My mother raised us because my father died when I was 8.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-have-10-brothers-and-sisters-my-mother-raised-us-because-my-father/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [We have forgotten to be our brothers and sisters keepers. 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