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If the agency of the mother in forming the character of her children is, in truth, so considerable, as I think it - if she does so much toward making her son what she would wish him to be - how essential is it that she should be fitted for the beneficial performance of these important duties.
John Marshall
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Interpretation

What this quote means

A mother's influence is crucial in shaping her children's character, making her preparation for this role essential.

John Marshall emphasizes the significant role that a mother plays in the development of her children's character. He argues that if a mother has such a strong impact on who her children become, it is vital for her to be well-prepared and capable in her responsibilities to nurture them effectively.

Themes

MotherCharacterInfluenceParentingDevelopment

In practice

Example use cases

During a parenting workshop, to illustrate the importance of a mother's role, I shared this quote.

More from John Marshall

The particular phraseology of the Constitution of the United States confirms and strengthens the principle, supposed to be essential to all written constitutions, that a law repugnant to the Constitution is void; and that courts, as well as other departments, are bound by that instrument.
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A corporation is an artificial being, invisible, intangible, and existing only in contemplation of law.
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The constitution controls any legislative act repugnant to it.
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The constitution is either a superior paramount law, unchangeable by ordinary means, or it is on a level with ordinary legislative acts, alterable when the legislature shall please to alter it. It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is. This is the very essence of judicial duty.
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The federal government is acknowledged by all to be one of enumerated powers. The principle, that it can exercise only the powers granted to it . . . is now universally admitted.
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The government of the United States has been emphatically termed a government of laws, and not of men. It will certainly cease to deserve this high appellation, if the laws furnish no remedy for the violation of a vested legal right.
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