(From his book “The Mother”)
Upon the character of the mother depends, almost entirely, the future character of the child. No matter how wise and good the father may be, his influence will do but little — if opposed by that of an injudicious mother.
The father is with the children only for a short time each day, and cannot know their characters thoroughly, nor the means that best react upon and correct their evils. Upon the mother devolves, therefore, of necessity, the high and important duty of molding the characters of her children — of impressing them for good or evil — of giving them true strength for their trials in after life.
The whole life of the child is affected by the mother’s character, and the influences which she has brought to bear upon him.