20+ Best Roots And Wings Quotes To Teach Your Children

Divya Raghav
Dec 12, 2023 By Divya Raghav
Originally Published on Jan 29, 2021
Edited by Isobel Murphy
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Age: 0-99
Read time: 4.8 Min

Roots and wings is essentially a guideline for parents that sheds light on how to balance the extremes of parenthood.

The saying about roots and wings goes that, "Good parents give their children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what’s been taught them." It is a quote that has inspired parents worldwide.

Jonas Salk's quote is, without doubt, one of the most impactful and thought-provoking statements that could be made about parenthood. Roots and wings' meaning here is that even though roots and wings seem like two contradicting things, they are two sides of the same coin.

As the saying goes, the roots remind us to stay grounded and build a firm foundation in our young ones. When the time is right, we enable them to spread their wings and fly out into the world, well prepared to scale great heights.

There are countless sayings about roots and wings that are a true gift to parents. Truth be told, it is a simple guideline to follow, if done right, that is.

These roots and wings quotes will have you thinking deeper on the lines of how to gift the children of today the right lessons, while also providing some much needed insight on how to go about it in the best way.

If you like these then do feel free to share with other parents, before checking out our [family first quotes] and spiritual growth quotes for more quotes.

Brilliant Quotes About Roots And Wings

Blonde beautiful girl feeling involved in making family tree with father

Here are a bunch of fantastic and soul-stirring quotes that will move anyone who reads them.

1. "Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?"

-Frida Kahlo.

2. "Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay."

-Dalai Lama.

3. "Foot is superior to wing because even when we have wings to fly in the sky, we still need feet so as not to crawl on the ground!"

-Mehmet Murat İldan.

4. "There are two things parents should give their children roots and wings. Roots to give them bearing and a sense of belonging, but also wings to help free them from constraints and prejudices and give them other ways to travel."

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

5. "Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can fly."

-Napoleon Bonaparte.

6. "The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence."

-Denis Waitley.

7. When you come to the edge of all that you know, you must believe one of two things: either there will be ground to stand on, or you will be given wings to fly."

-O.R. Melling.

8. "Just as a tree, though cut down, can grow again and again if its roots are undamaged and strong, in the same way, if the roots of craving are not wholly uprooted, sorrows will come again and again."

-Gautama Buddha.

9. "Good parents give their children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what's been taught them."

-Jonas Salk.

10. "Do you ever dangle your toes over the precipice, dare the cliff to crumble, defy the frozen deity to suffer the sun, thaw feather and bone, take wing to fly you home?"

-Ellen Hopkins.

Touching Wings And Roots Quotes For All

Find many a wings and roots quote here for people who want to work through the many lessons of life. These quotes truly are gifts to parents trying to find  guidance in raising a family, why not share one or two of them with friends and family?

11. "That sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally; and that growing together in love and faithfulness, we can give children roots and wings."

-Gerrit W. Gong.

12. "You were born with wings. You are not meant for crawling, so don't. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly."

-Rumi.

13. "Laughter has tremendous beauty, a lightness. It will bring lightness to you, and it will give you wings to fly. And life is so full of opportunities."

-Rajneesh.

14. "Cultivate the root – the leaves and branches will take care of themselves."

-Confucius.

15. "The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings."

-James M. Barrie.

16. "You cannot change the fruits that are already hanging on the tree. You can, however, change tomorrow's fruits. But to do so, you will have to dig below the ground and strengthen the roots."

-T. Harv Eker.

17. "Have patience to walk with short steps until you have wings to fly."

-Saint Francis de Sales.

18. "The mind is the root from which all things grow. If you can understand the mind, everything else is included."

-Bodhidharma.

19. "I think our job as parents is to give our kids roots to grow and wings to fly."

-Deborah Norville.

20. "Like any good tree that one would hope to grow, we must set our roots deep into the ground so that what is real will prosper in the light of love."

-Billy Corgan.

21. "Kindnesses have wings and roots – wings that never droop, and roots that never die."

-Mary Louisa Molesworth.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for roots and wings quotes to teach your children, then why not take a look at our family tree quotes, or [raising kid quotes] if you want to find more quotes to share with friends and family?

 

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Written by Divya Raghav

Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

Divya Raghav picture

Divya RaghavBachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

With a diverse range of experience in finance, administration, and operations, Divya is a diligent worker known for her attention to detail. Born and raised in Bangalore, she completed her Bachelor's in Commerce from Christ University and is now pursuing an MBA at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Bangalore. Along with her professional pursuits, Divya has a passion for baking, dancing, and writing content. She is also an avid animal lover who dedicates her time to volunteering for animal welfare causes.

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