My father was a certain kind of man - I saw how he treated my mother and his family and how he treated strangers. And I vowed I would never make a film that would not reflect properly on my father's name.
Sidney PoitierRead
Of all my father's teachings, the most enduring was the one about the true measure of a man. That true measure was how well he provided for his children, and it stuck with me as if it were etched in my brain.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The essence of a man's worth is reflected in how well he takes care of his children.
This quote by Sidney Poitier emphasizes the profound lesson he learned from his father about measuring a man's character. According to this teaching, a true measure of a man lies not in his wealth or status, but in his commitment to providing for and nurturing his children, highlighting the deep responsibility and love associated with parenthood.
Themes
FatherChildrenMeasureCareResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on parenting, one might quote Sidney Poitier to emphasize the importance of nurturing family relationships.
More from Sidney Poitier
All quotes →My father was the quintessential husband and dad.
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I wanted to explore the values that are at work, underpinning my life.
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We suffer pain, we hang tight to hope, we nurture expectations, we are plagued occasionally by fears, we are haunted by defeats and unrealized hopes . . . The hoplessness of which I speak is not limited.
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We're all imperfect, and life is simply a perpetual, unending struggle against those imperfections.
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I was the only Black person on the set. It was unusual for me to be in a circumstance in which every move I made was tantamount to representation of 18 million people.
Sidney PoitierRead
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