Matt Groening Quotes

My children did not go through a stage of being rude to their parents. I'm sorry if that sounds incredible.

Ignoring a child's disrespect is the surest guarantee that it will continue.

If my kids were to make a talking doll of me as a mother, one of my recorded phrases would be 'I will throw that in the trash.' 'If you don't put that down right now, I will throw that in the trash.' It's very funny to hear myself say certain things - like noticing which phrases become the most popular to use.

Some of my father's fellow West Pointers once asked him why I turned out so well, his secret in raising me. And he said, 'I never gave him any advice, and he never asked for any.' We agreed on nothing, but we never quarreled once.

I've always referred to my father as 'my coach' because we were always able to separate our relationship into the roles of coach and parent.

My mom's discipline worked out perfectly. I wouldn't change a thing.

Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners.

Today's new age parenting guarantees you'll hear children screaming, whining, and begging for items and attention in an airplane, store or any other public place.

You chastise children when they are bad, as my parents did me. I'm not opposed to smacking. It is to be used occasionally.

I'm fortunate to have a baby girl who's super into everything that I say and do and really cooperative and just fun to be around. I couldn't imagine having a rebellious kid like me.

I have no problem yelling at anybody's kid - free of charge!

Yelling and screaming won't really get what I want from my kids.

The word NO, carries a lot more meaning when spoken by a parent who also knows how to say yes.

Parents must get across the idea that "I love you always, but sometimes I do not love your behavior."

Anyone who has brought up children knows that consistency has absolutely nothing to do with discipline.

I have a four year old and I'm telling you we did Nickelodeon last night and he embarrassed me. It was like one of those moments when I couldn't believe my kid is acting like this. I just had to just like walk away from him because he was really pushing my buttons.

It's very important that we instill some respect for the parents. In America especially, the kids are unruly, screaming at Mommy and Daddy, running the show.

In order to influence a child, one must be careful not to be that child's parent or grandparent.

Growing up, there wasn't much emphasis on being nice or naughty. As a family, there wasn't much discipline. It was more relaxed at home, which I'm grateful for.

I think I'm a much better father as an older man than I was with my first kids. Occasionally, I have to yell at the little guys, but they don't take me seriously. 'Listen to the old guy,' they say. 'Isn't he great? He's mad.'

My theory is children don't do what you tell them to do, they do what you do. You have to always do the right thing because they follow you.

Many people think that discipline is the essence of parenting. But that isn't parenting. Parenting is not telling your child what to do when he or she misbehaves. Parenting is providing the conditions in which a child can realize his or her full human potential.

If I'm coming in at 4:00 in the morning and my kids have been in bed since 8:00, 9:00, that's not setting a good example. The responsibility that I have kids inside my household has made me realize now that I have to be an example.

A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone.

When a child does bad things, the parents are always going to love their child even if they do something bad.