Motherly Advice Quotes

“Your daddy and me named you Otha. It means 'wealth'. You were your daddy's treasure from the time you were born until he died. He used to say there were rubies buried deep inside of you. Remember, baby, don't never let a man mine you for your riches. Don't let him take a pickax to that treasure in your soul. Remember, they can't get it until you give it to them.”
― Cynthia Bond, Ruby

“...we must be tolerant with ourselves and allow ourselves some deviations from the straight line we set up to follow. Even more we must allow others the same prerogative.”
― Jill Lepore, The Secret History of Wonder Woman

“Don’t invite envy to your house – you never know who will show up,” she used to warn me.”
― Zack Love, The Syrian Virgin

“You took it with good grace when you could have sliced him to ribbons with a few words."
"I was tempted," she admitted. "But I couldn't help remembering something Mother once said."
It had been on a long-ago morning in her childhood, when she and Gabriel had still needed books stacked on their chairs whenever they sat at the breakfast table. Their father had been reading a freshly ironed newspaper, while their mother, Evangeline, or Evie, as family and friends called her, fed spoonfuls of sweetened porridge to baby Raphael in his high chair.
After Phoebe had recounted some injustice done to her by a playmate, saying she wouldn't accept the girl's apology, her mother had persuaded her to reconsider for the sake of kindness.
"But she's a bad, selfish girl," Phoebe had said indignantly.
Evie's reply was gentle but matter-of-fact. "Kindness counts the most when it's given to people who don't deserve it."
"Does Gabriel have to be kind to everyone too?" Phoebe had demanded.
"Yes, darling."
"Does Father?"
"No, Redbird," her father had replied, his mouth twitching at the corners. "That's why I married your mother- she's kind enough for two people."
"Mother," Gabriel had asked hopefully, "could you be kind enough for three people?"
At that, their father had taken a sudden intense interest in his newspaper, lifting it in front of his face. A quiet wheeze emerged from behind it.
"I'm afraid not, dear," Evie had said gently, her eyes sparkling. "But I'm sure you and your sister can find a great deal of kindness in your own hearts."
Returning her thoughts to the present, Phoebe said, "Mother told us to be kind even to people who don't deserve it.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil's Daughter

“You must be particularly kind to people. Other kids can act like monsters, but not you.”
― Holly Black, The Lost Sisters

“Easier is not always better." -Emzara”
― C.D. Sutherland, The Dragoneers

“Would you please come out?"
now looked down at her tattered dress and hesitated. That's when she heard her mother's voice in her head again, another memory from long ago. They'd encountered some beggars in the village and she recalled asking her mother why they dressed so differently. You must look past appearances, Snow, she remembered her mother telling her. A person's true worth is always found within.”
― Jen Calonita, Mirror, Mirror

“Small acts of kindness are so important," she remembered her mother telling her as they had pulled away. "I once stood in the same spot she is now. I came from nothing."
"I don't know what I'd do if I had nothing," Snow recalled saying.
Her mother had lifted Snow's chin and looked her straight in the eye. "If that day ever comes, are you going to give up? No. You will carry on just as I did. I didn't give up, and someone took a chance on me." She straightened and leveled her gaze on young Snow. "Always remember your past, Snow, and let it help you make decisions on how to rule your future. But never, ever give up.”
― Jen Calonita, Mirror, Mirror

“Values are like Jell-O. They take time to set.”
― Karla Brandenburg, The Twins

“You seem preoccupied," she said. He shrugged. "It is nothing. "Oh," she said, working at her leather. "I thought it might be Daia."

"Well, it is not," he said too quickly. Moussa tried to escape his mother's gaze, but he had never been able to do that successfully. Now he saw no need to pretend. "She is Mahdi's woman. They are to be married. She has said it, and Mahdi has said it." Serena put down her knife.

"And what have you said?"

"That I will not interfere."

"I am not asking of your head, Moussa. I am asking of your heart.".

"It is the same thing."

She smiled at that. "I don't know how you can be so quick to show a camel your feeling for it, Moussa, and so slow to show a woman.”
― David Ball, Empires of Sand by David Ball

“God alone knows what lies in store for you, and what things you will be seeing, both good and bad. I only hope that Our Heavenly Father will give you strength; but you, my dear, whatever you do, don't forget him, and remember: without faith there is no salvation anywhere or in anything.”
― Ivan Goncharov, The Same Old Story

“No matter how high you rise, no matter what high society you'll be moving in — after all, we are just as good as others.”
― Ivan Goncharov, The Same Old Story

“Don't get into the habit of drinking wine — no, it's man's worst enemy!”
― Ivan Goncharov, The Same Old Story