Fatherly Advice Quotes

“[I'll teach you] how not to leave the windows of your heart open when it looks like rain and how everyone has a stump where something necessary was amputated. ”
― Steve Toltz, A Fraction of the Whole

“Retaliation is not the answer. You're going to have to deal with mean backstabbing girls your whole life, you need to learn to be smart enough to rise above, okay?

Did you kick her ass? Good girl!”
― Richard Castle

“Your father says a wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountaintop.”
― Deborah Harkness, Shadow of Night

“I recall those beautiful summer mornings with my parents by the sandy beach of Belek. My father used to teach me how to ride waves. I remember him constantly emphasizing the fact that no wave, no matter how big it is should stir enough fear inside me to keep me glued to the shore. He used to repeat those words while glancing at my mother with a smile that could set the whole sea on fire. My mother, sitting on the beach, too afraid of the deep blue sea, contented herself with building sand castles, ones my father would step on trying to drag her hopelessly into water.

Step on your sand castle and dive deep. Dive deep into the unknown. Life is damn too short for building sand castles.”
― Malak El Halabi

“You know how we tell the good guys from the bad guys? The bad guys shoot at us."

Best lesson my father ever taught me.”
― Rick Yancey, The Infinite Sea

“Be good... and if you can't be good, be careful.”
― Ron Byron

“And you can do far more for us from America than you can from here, where you’re just another defenseless Christian. So if you really want to help, Inas, then you’ll go to the very best school you can get into and earn the best grades you can.”
― Zack Love, The Syrian Virgin

“Every man has his tastes," Sebastian said sensibly. "I doubt yours are all that shocking."
"What your generation considered shocking is probably different from mine."
There was a short, offended silence. When Sebastian replied, his voice was as dry as tinder. "Ancient and decrepit fossil that I am, I believe the ruins of my senile brain can somehow manage to grasp what you're trying to convey. You've indulged in wanton carnal excess for so long that you're disillusioned. The trifles that excite other men leave you indifferent. No virgin's pallid charms could ever hope to compete with the subversive talents of your mistress."
Gabriel glanced up in surprise.
His father looked sardonic. "I assure you, my lad, sexual debauchery was invented long before your generation. The libertines of my grandfather's time committed acts that would make a satyr blush. Men of our lineage are born craving more pleasure than is good for us. Obviously I was no saint before I married, and God knows I never expected to find fulfillment in the arms of one woman for a lifetime. But I have. Which means there's no reason you can't."
"If you say so."
"I do say so.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Spring

“If you can't do what you really want to do, then do the next best thing!”
― Stacey Culpepper

“I suddenly remember being about seven, riding beside him in the car, and asking him how grown-ups found their way to places. After all, I had never seen him pull out a map.

"I guess we just get used to taking the same turns," he said, but I wasn't satisfied.

"Then what about the first time you go somewhere?"

"Well," he said, "we get directions."

But what I want to know is who got them the very first time? What if no one's ever been where you're going? "Dad?" I ask, "is it true that you can use stars like a map?"

"Yeah, if you understand celestial navigation."

"Is it hard?" I'm thinking maybe I should learn. A backup plan, for all those times I feel like I'm just wandering in circles.

"It's pretty jazzy math—you have to measure the altitude of a star, figure out its position using a nautical almanac, figure out what you think the altitude should be and what direction the star should be in based on where you think you are, and compare the altitude you measured with the one you calculated. Then you plot this on a chart, as a line of position. You get several lines of position to cross, and that's where you go." My father takes one look at my face and smiles. "Exactly," he laughs. "Never leave home without your GPS.”
― Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper

“You make plans. Have it all figured out. Then life happens and it all changes.”
― Gary S. Geurin

“Just ’cause a body says somethin’ don’t make it so. You know who you are, and they can’t change that no matter what them cacklin’ hens is to say.” He tapped him on the chest. “What matters is what’s in here, son. Not a soul can take that away from you.”
― Tracy Winegar, Good Ground

“You must never deprive the people of their belief in
the power of the gods, and you must never deprive yourself of it either.”
― Karen Essex, Pharaoh

“To conclude, if God gives you success, use it humbly and far from revenge. If He restores you upon hard conditions, whatever you promise, keep.


--- Charles I's final letter to his son, Charles,
Prince of Wales, 1649”
― Karen Brooks, The Chocolate Maker's Wife

“As dad would always say, when in doubt- play for time.”
― Nick Bantock, The Venetian's Wife: A Strangely Sensual Tale of a Renaissance Explorer, a Computer, and a Metamorphosis

“If I had a thousand sons, the first humane principle I would teach them should be to forswear thin potations and to addict themselves to sack.”
― William Shakespeare

“Rolando pursed his lips and sighed. “Just be careful.”

“Why, because her father carries a gun?” Isaac said. “Aren’t you the one who always said guns don’t shoot people?”

“No, it was you who said that.” Rolando corrected his son. “I’ve said fathers with guns and beautiful daughters shoot people. Boys in particular.”

“You worry too much, dad.”

“One day, when you are a father, you will understand.”
― Felix Alexander, The Last Valentine

“Never be ashamed of exceeding expectations,' he said. 'Even mine.”
― Carissa Broadbent, The Serpent and the Wings of Night

“Instincts were everything.
Not emotions, mind you, he'd say. But instincts. If a man smiles and it makes you want to run, then by all means... run as fast and as far as your legs will take you.”
― Maggie Dallen, Miss Sally's Unsuitable Soldier