Mike Royko Quotes

I don't think there is such a definition of a perfect family, but I do think that our marriages are in crisis. Our families are in crisis. And I think the African-American family is at one of the worst stages it's been at in a very long time in this country. Fatherlessness is rampant.

Unless we work to strengthening the family, … all the rest : schools, and playgrounds, and public assistance, and private concern, will never be enough to cut completely the circle of despair and deprivation.

My focus has kind of been on teenagers, you know, and I think we've got a huge crisis right now in America, among our teens.

I don’t want the Government to teach my kids’ family values.

About one third of the people who are on the streets are mentally ill.

We don’t want a village to raise a child. We want a family.

I believe that people of faith by and large have a great interest in the institution of family and that a family is a great place to learn leadership skills. I'm sure I benefited by having a mom and mad, both of whom were actively involved in the community and in various enterprises.

Sadly, youth homelessness is an issue throughout the country.

The home is the chief school of human virtues.

When you have a lot of resources, the most important thing is to have had good parents and to have been brought up by people who gave one the proper values.

I'm considered homophobic and crazy about these things and old fashioned. But I think that the family - father, mother, children - is fundamental to our civilisation.

My upbringing is why I am the person I am today. I have very wise parents.

Today the family is being attacked and defended with equal vehemence.

Everybody's family has different values.

I don't think movies are the reason why this violence exists, I think it's going to happen whether movies are there or not.

There are so many bad influences out there. I don't care if a kid is rich or poor, if he lives in a million-dollar house or the ghetto, he is going to find some sick things on the street. And if we don't clean it up soon, we're all going to pay the price.

I come from a large family, but I was not raised with a fortune. Something more was left me, and that was family values.

We do a disservice to society if we ignore the evidence which shows that stable families tend to be associated with better outcomes for children.

There are so many issues in society - we talk about the violence, the drugs, the unwanted pregnancies - but at the end of the day, it comes down to what we taught our children to be.

There is a role for government, but no matter how much money the government spends, it will never be able to take the place of parents and strong families.

In most places and times in human history, babies have had not just one person but lots of people around who were really paying attention to them around, dedicated to them, cared to them, were related to them. I think the big shift in our culture is the isolation in which many children are growing up.

We can't just rail against crime. We must speak of the root problems - devastating family breakup, an insidious culture of violence that cheapens human life, skyrocketing prisoner recidivism rates that rob our communities of husbands and fathers - and recognize that there is a societal role in rehabilitation and restoration.

I think I was brought up in a respectful household.

Something must be done.

I have seen bright young people all over this country in an ocean surrounded by the sharks of drugs, alcohol, violence, homicide, suicide, AIDS and teenage pregnancy while we argue over whose values we are going to teach.