--- 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/165/washington-irving-1386_bosoms_a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child_41810.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; in good repute, in bad repute, in the face of the world's condemnation, a mother still loves on, and still…” quote by Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/washington-irving-1386_bosoms_a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child_41810.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/washington-irving-1386_bosoms_a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child_41810.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/washington-irving-1386_bosoms_a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child_41810.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; in good repute, in bad repute, in the face of the world's condemnation, a mother still loves on, and still hopes that her child may turn from his evil ways, and repent; still she remembers the infant smiles that once filled her bosom with rapture, the merry laugh, the joyful shout of his childhood, the opening promise of his youth; and she can never be brought to think him all unworthy.” [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. A mother’s love persists despite betrayal, hardship, and societal judgment, holding hope for redemption and cherishing past joys. **In simple terms:** Enduring maternal love despite adversity. Key Takeaway Mother’s love is steadfast and hopeful. Themes family love resilience forgiveness hope Mood nostalgic determined tender Type proverbial reflective When to use this quote - parenting challenges - family conflict - social stigma - personal betrayal - child’s misbehavior Key Concepts maternal devotion unconditional love redemption Practical Applications - counseling for families - literary analysis of maternal archetype Questions to Reflect On - How does unconditional love shape personal growth? - What role does hope play in enduring hardship? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Brothers and sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-and-sisters/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Condemnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condemnation/) [Desert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Joyful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joyful/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Endures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-endures/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Merry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merry/) [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/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Rapture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapture/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [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-2/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [“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 > [“Love learns to respect others. Love never fails. Love endures everything. Love is not rude. Love sends out prayers to others in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous-9/love-learns-to-respect-others-love-never-fails-love-endures/) Anonymous-9 > [Love endures everything, love is stronger than death, love fears nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-faustina-kowalska/love-endures-everything-love-is-stronger-than-death-love-fears-nothing/) [Mary Faustina Kowalska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-faustina-kowalska/) > [“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/) > [“Love is not an emotion. 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/) > [“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/) > [“I think, that love endures, but that it isn't everything, and it isn't ever what we want it to be...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-clarke/i-think-that-love-endures-but-that-it-isn-t-everything-and-it-isn-t/) [Brock Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-clarke/) > [“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 ## 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/) > [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/) > [“It is worthy to note, that the early popularity of Washington was not the result of brilliant achievement nor signal success; on the contrary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/it-is-worthy-to-note-that-the-early-popularity-of-washington-was-not/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) [Explore all 244 Washington Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## More Bosoms quotes > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Cover that bosom that I must not see: souls are wounded by such things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/cover-that-bosom-that-i-must-not-see-souls-are-wounded-by-such-things/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [The soul whose bosom lust did never touch Is God's fair bride; and maiden's souls are such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-soul-whose-bosom-lust-did-never-touch-is-god-s-fair-bride-and/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [The world of imagination is the world of eternity. It is the divine bosom into which we shall all go after death of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-world-of-imagination-is-the-world-of-eternity-it-is-the-divine/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Deliberate long before thou consecrate a friend, and when thy impartial justice concludes him worthy of thy bosom, receive him joyfully, and entertain him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/deliberate-long-before-thou-consecrate-a-friend-and-when-thy/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The proud spirit of the original owners of these vast prairies inherited through centuries of fierce and bloody wars for their possession, lingered last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/the-proud-spirit-of-the-original-owners-of-these-vast-prairies/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [Music can minister to minds diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, raze out the written troubles of the brain, and with its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/music-can-minister-to-minds-diseased-pluck-from-the-memory-a-rooted/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [For a long time, no village girl would dress her hair or bosom with the sweetest flower from that field of death: and after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/for-a-long-time-no-village-girl-would-dress-her-hair-or-bosom-with/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [To seek out in a world full of joy the one thing that is certain to give you pain, and hug it to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giraudoux/to-seek-out-in-a-world-full-of-joy-the-one-thing-that-is-certain-to/) [Jean Giraudoux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giraudoux/) > [... the evil that comes out of your lips, into your own bosom will fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-barr/the-evil-that-comes-out-of-your-lips-into-your-own-bosom-will-fall/) [Amelia Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-barr/) > [If you can sin and not weep over it, you are an heir of Hell. If you can go into sin, and afterwards feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-can-sin-and-not-weep-over-it-you-are-an-heir-of-hell-if-you/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The mere reality of life would be inconceivably poor without the charm of fancy, which brings in its bosom, no doubt, as many vain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-mere-reality-of-life-would-be-inconceivably-poor-without-the/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [Spread yourself upon his bosom publicly, whose heart you would eat in private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/spread-yourself-upon-his-bosom-publicly-whose-heart-you-would-eat-in/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Glamour: the indefinable something about a girl with a big bosom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abe-burrows/glamour-the-indefinable-something-about-a-girl-with-a-big-bosom/) [Abe Burrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abe-burrows/) > [My father! The sun is my father, and the earth is my mother, and on her bosom I will recline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/my-father-the-sun-is-my-father-and-the-earth-is-my-mother-and-on-her/) [Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/) Browse all 312 Bosoms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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; in good repute, in bad repute, in the face of the world's condemnation, a mother still loves on, and still hopes that her child may turn from his evil ways, and repent; still she remembers the infant smiles that once filled her bosom with rapture, the merry laugh, the joyful shout of his childhood, the opening promise of his youth; and she can never be brought to think him all unworthy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Washington Irving" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bosoms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/washington-irving-1386_bosoms_a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child_41810.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/washington-irving-1386_bosoms_a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child_41810.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/washington-irving-1386_bosoms_a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child_41810.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may…” — Washington Irving", "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": "Washington Irving", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A father may turn his back...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/#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 } } ] } ```