--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we would mend the World, we should…" description: "\"If we would mend the World, we should mend Ourselves; and teach our Children to be, not what we are, but what they should be.\" — William Penn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fb/william-penn-1104_children_if-we-would-mend-the-world-we-should-men_689512.png" --- # If we would mend the World, we should mend Ourselves; and… ![“If we would mend the World, we should mend Ourselves; and teach our Children to be, not what we are, but what they should be.” quote by William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fb/william-penn-1104_children_if-we-would-mend-the-world-we-should-men_689512.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fb/william-penn-1104_children_if-we-would-mend-the-world-we-should-men_689512.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fb/william-penn-1104_children_if-we-would-mend-the-world-we-should-men_689512.png) > “If we would mend the World, we should mend Ourselves; and teach our Children to be, not what we are, but what they should be.” [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Improving society starts with personal self‑improvement and raising children to higher ideals than current norms. **In simple terms:** Better world begins with better self and children. Key Takeaway Focus on self‑growth and teach higher values. Themes self‑improvement education social change Mood reflective hopeful Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - personal development - community leadership Key Concepts virtue moral development role modeling Questions to Reflect On - How can you model the values you wish to see? - What habits will you change first? A Different Perspective Changing others without personal change is ineffective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Mend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mend/) [Mend Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mend-teach-5481522/) [Mend World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mend-world-3771083/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-children/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Mend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-mend-5092682/) ## Related quotes > [“What is it that you were born to do Zander?…..To mend you when the world breaks you. To keep you safe. To tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-mac/what-is-it-that-you-were-born-to-do-zander-to-mend-you-when-the-world/) [J.L. Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-mac/) > [Mend the part of the world that is within your reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/mend-the-part-of-the-world-that-is-within-your-reach/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [There is very little point in trying to urge the world to mend its ways as long as that world is still convinced that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/there-is-very-little-point-in-trying-to-urge-the-world-to-mend-its/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/ours-is-not-the-task-of-fixing-the-entire-world-at-once-but-of/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [The future success of our Nation depends on our children's ability to understand the difference between right and wrong and to have the strength…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-future-success-of-our-nation-depends-on-our-children-s-ability-to/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It's never too early to teach your children about the tool of money. Teach them how to work for it and they learn pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-jamison/it-s-never-too-early-to-teach-your-children-about-the-tool-of-money/) [Judith Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-jamison/) > [If we do not teach our children, societ will. And they-and we-will live with the results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-do-not-teach-our-children-societ-will-and-they-and-we-will-live/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The world will teach our children if we do not, and children are capable of learning all the world will teach them at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-m-wixom/the-world-will-teach-our-children-if-we-do-not-and-children-are/) [Rosemary M. Wixom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-m-wixom/) > [We must teach our children that the real measure of their success in life is how much they'd be worth if they had absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mueller/we-must-teach-our-children-that-the-real-measure-of-their-success-in/) [Walt Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mueller/) > [When we teach ourselves and our children discipline, we are teaching them and ourselves how to suffer and also how to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/when-we-teach-ourselves-and-our-children-discipline-we-are-teaching/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Let's teach our children to be thinkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/let-s-teach-our-children-to-be-thinkers/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your grandfathers. So that they will respect the land,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-seattle/you-must-teach-your-children-that-the-ground-beneath-their-feet-is/) [Chief Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-seattle/) > [Now we know more about it and we teach our children not to get into cars with strangers but back then it was you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boti-bliss/now-we-know-more-about-it-and-we-teach-our-children-not-to-get-into/) [Boti Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boti-bliss/) > [“We can be mended. We mend each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-can-be-mended-we-mend-each-other/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Forgiveness is the needle that knows how to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/forgiveness-is-the-needle-that-knows-how-to-mend/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) ## More by William Penn > [Love grows. Lust wastes by Enjoyment, and the Reason is, that one springs from an Union of Souls, and the other from an Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/love-grows-lust-wastes-by-enjoyment-and-the-reason-is-that-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Once you've accumulated sufficient knowledge to get by, you're too old to remember it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/once-you-ve-accumulated-sufficient-knowledge-to-get-by-you-re-too-old/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [If thou wouldn't conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-thou-wouldn-t-conquer-thy-weakness-thou-must-not-gratify-it/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Religion is the fear of God, and its demonstration good works; and faith is the root of both: For without faith we cannot please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/religion-is-the-fear-of-god-and-its-demonstration-good-works-and/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [All excess is ill; but drunkenness is of the worst sort. It spoils health, dismounts the mind, and unmans men. It reveals secrets, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/all-excess-is-ill-but-drunkenness-is-of-the-worst-sort-it-spoils/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [“Let us then try what love can do to mend a broken world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/let-us-then-try-what-love-can-do-to-mend-a-broken-world/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > ['Tis no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/tis-no-sin-to-be-tempted-but-to-be-overcome/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Perfect love casteth out fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/perfect-love-casteth-out-fear/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [By liberty of conscience, we understand not only a mere liberty of the mind, in believing or disbelieving this or that principle or doctrine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/by-liberty-of-conscience-we-understand-not-only-a-mere-liberty-of-the/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Content not thyself that thou art virtuous in the general; for one link being wanting, the chain is defective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/content-not-thyself-that-thou-art-virtuous-in-the-general-for-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [We are apt to be very pert at censuring others, where we will not endure advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/we-are-apt-to-be-very-pert-at-censuring-others-where-we-will-not/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [It is admirable to consider how many millions of people come into, and go out of the world, ignorant of themselves and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/it-is-admirable-to-consider-how-many-millions-of-people-come-into-and/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [If thou wouldst rule well, thou must rule for God, and to do that, thou must be ruled by him... Those who will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-thou-wouldst-rule-well-thou-must-rule-for-god-and-to-do-that-thou/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [In the rush and noise of life, as you have intervals, step home within yourselves and be still. Wait upon God, and feel His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/in-the-rush-and-noise-of-life-as-you-have-intervals-step-home-within/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Be sure that religion cannot be right that a man is the worse for having.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/be-sure-that-religion-cannot-be-right-that-a-man-is-the-worse-for/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) [Explore all 291 William Penn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [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/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [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/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we would mend the World, we should mend Ourselves; and teach our Children to be, not what we are, but what they should be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Penn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-we-would-mend-the-world-we-should-mend-ourselves-and-teach-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-we-would-mend-the-world-we-should-mend-ourselves-and-teach-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fb/william-penn-1104_children_if-we-would-mend-the-world-we-should-men_689512.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fb/william-penn-1104_children_if-we-would-mend-the-world-we-should-men_689512.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fb/william-penn-1104_children_if-we-would-mend-the-world-we-should-men_689512.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we would mend the World, we should mend Ourselves; and teach our Children to be, not what we are, but…” — William Penn", "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": "William Penn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we would mend the World,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-we-would-mend-the-world-we-should-mend-ourselves-and-teach-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-we-would-mend-the-world-we-should-mend-ourselves-and-teach-our/#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 } } ] } ```