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
As I've mentioned, a large part of my father's legacy is the lesson he taught his sons. He brought us together and said, 'The measure of a man is how well he provides for his children.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A person's worth is determined by their ability to care for and support their family.
In this quote, Sidney Poitier emphasizes the profound impact a father's teachings can have on his sons, suggesting that the true measure of a man's character is not found in his personal achievements, but rather in his dedication to nurturing and providing for his children. This perspective highlights the importance of familial responsibilities and the legacy of love and support that is passed down through generations.
Themes
FatherLegacyProvideChildrenMeasureMan
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech at a family gathering, one might quote this to highlight the importance of family values.
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.
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