A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

35 Family Quotes That Hit Close to Home

Updated: Jan. 19, 2023

Keep these family quotes in your back pocket to show how much you care.

Families are special.
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Family quotes you’ll love

Families are special, whether they’re the people actually related to you or the people you choose to be your family. Whether you live close by or are visiting from afar, there’s no denying that the time spent together is precious and that the memories made will be cherished for years to come. You can share these short, heartwarming family quotes with your loved ones to remind them how special they are. Plus, check out these inspirational quotes to share with the people in your life as well.

"In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony." —Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher
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How the family structure works

“In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony.” —Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher. If you love these family quotes, be sure to check out these heartwarming Mother’s Day quotes with your mom.

"Families are like branches on a tree. We grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one." —Anonymous
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Family tree indeed

“Families are like branches on a tree. We grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one.” —Anonymous. Read these amazing dad quotes for Father’s Day.
"Being a family means you are a part of something very wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life." —Lisa Weed, author of Parenting Toolbox.
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Your role in the family dynamic

“Being a family means you are a part of something very wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life.” —Lisa Weed, author of Parenting Toolbox. Like these family quotes, these uplifting quotes will stay with you for a long time.

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” —Richard Bach, writer. 
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How families are formed

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” —Richard Bach, writer. These are the 17 secrets of happy families everyone should know.

"In truth, a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit." —Marge Kennedy, author of Pets at the White House.
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Family is what you make it

“In truth, a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit.” —Marge Kennedy, author of Pets at the White House. These funny family photos are hilariously awkward.

"A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold." —Ogden Nash, poet
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The composition of a family unit

“A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold.” —Ogden Nash, poet. For more funny family quotes and moments, check out our favorite funny family movies.

"Family: where life begins and love never ends." —Anonymous
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What we owe to family

“Family: where life begins and love never ends.” —Anonymous. Like short family quotes, you can also memorize these 50 Chinese proverbs worth reciting.
"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life." —Albert Einstein.
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Share joy with your family

“Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life.” —Albert Einstein.

"What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family." —Mother Teresa.
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Promoting peace from the home

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” —Mother Teresa. Don’t miss these 12 other Mother Teresa quotes to live by.

“In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.” —Alex Haley, author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family.
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Family spans time

“In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.” —Alex Haley, author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Read 35 life-changing quotes you won’t forget.

"You are born into your family and your family is born into you. No returns. No exchanges." —Elizabeth Berg, author of The Confession Club.
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Family is luck of the draw

“You are born into your family and your family is born into you. No returns. No exchanges.” —Elizabeth Berg, author of The Confession Club. Make happy memories with these mini family vacations won’t break the bank.

"There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human, are created, strengthened, and maintained." —Winston Churchill
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A political take on family life

“There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human, are created, strengthened, and maintained.” —Winston Churchill. Check out these comically candid cartoons about politics and money.

"In the family sandwich, the older people and the younger ones can recognize one another as the bread. Those in the middle are, for a time, the meat." —Anna Quindlen, journalist and author
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Family is like a boxed lunch

“In the family sandwich, the older people and the younger ones can recognize one another as the bread. Those in the middle are, for a time, the meat.” —Anna Quindlen, journalist and author. If you like these funny family quotes, check out our favorite funny quotes and our favorite funny friendship quotes.

"The greatest moments in life are not concerned with selfish achievements but rather with the things we do for the people we love and esteem." —Walt Disney
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Giving goes farther than taking

“The greatest moments in life are not concerned with selfish achievements but rather with the things we do for the people we love and esteem.” —Walt Disney. These Walt Disney quotes will inspire you to dream big.

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it." —George Moore, novelist
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Home is where the heart is

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it.” —George Moore, novelist. This family raised a baby goose for a year—20 years later, it returned home.

"Peace is the beauty of life. It is sunshine. It is the smile of a child, the love of a mother, the joy of a father, the togetherness of a family. It is the advancement of man, the victory of just cause, the triumph of truth." —Menachem Begin, former prime minister of Israel
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The simple things are what matter in the end

“Peace is the beauty of life. It is sunshine. It is the smile of a child, the love of a mother, the joy of a father, the togetherness of a family. It is the advancement of man, the victory of just cause, the triumph of truth.” —Menachem Begin, former prime minister of Israel. These stories of foster kids finding forever homes will melt your heart.

"The great advantage of living in a large family is that early lesson of life's essential unfairness." —Nancy Mitford, novelist
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Large families learn big lessons

“The great advantage of living in a large family is that early lesson of life’s essential unfairness.” —Nancy Mitford, novelist. Find out the 18 skills you learn growing up in a big family.

"The family is one of nature's masterpieces." —George Santayana, philosopher
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Family life is but a piece of art

“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” —George Santayana, philosopher. Read 50 of the most beautiful nature quotes.

"Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter." —Brad Henry, former governor of Oklahoma.
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Family can serve as your guiding light

“Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.” —Brad Henry, former governor of Oklahoma. These happiness quotes will inspire you to see the light.

"When we have each other, we have everything." —Anonymous
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Short and sweet

“When we have each other, we have everything.” —Anonymous. Sometimes short family quotes say it the best. Check out the funniest family vacation stories that you’ll relate to.
"The greatest thing in family life is to take a hint when a hint is intended—and not to take a hint when a hint is not intended." —Robert Frost, poet
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Let things roll off your shoulders sometimes

“The greatest thing in family life is to take a hint when a hint is intended—and not to take a hint when a hint is not intended.” —Robert Frost, poet. Next, check out these sweet grandma quotes.

"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city." —George Burns, comedian
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We all have those family members

“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” —George Burns, comedian. Maybe hold off from sharing these funny family quotes with those family members.

"Home is where you are loved the most and act the worst." —Marjorie Pay Hinckley, author
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Family accepts the good and the bad

“Home is where you are loved the most and act the worst.” —Marjorie Pay Hinckley, author.

"'Ohana' means family, and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten." —Lilo & Stitch
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Disney movie wisdom

“‘Ohana’ means family, and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” —Lilo & StitchSee how well you know your Disney trivia.

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” —Leo Tolstoy, novelist
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Similar strengths

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” —Leo Tolstoy, novelist. Families can be difficult, but these forgiveness quotes will help inspire you to let go.

"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you." —Frederick Buechner, novelist
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Distance cannot divide family love

“You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.” —Frederick Buechner, novelist. These are the 12 questions you’ll want to ask your parents before it’s too late.

"Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family." —Trenton Lee Stewart, author
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Friends and family

“Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.” —Trenton Lee Stewart, author. These 63 best friend quotes sum up the value of friendship.

"That's what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you when you're not so lovable." —Deb Caletti, novelist
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Family loves you like no one else can

“That’s what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you when you’re not so lovable.” —Deb Caletti, novelist

"Family quarrels are bitter things. They don't go according to any rules. They're not like aches or wounds, they're more like splits in the skin that won't heal because there's not enough material." —F. Scott Fitzgerald, novelist.
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Family fights are usually not worth it

“Family quarrels are bitter things. They don’t go according to any rules. They’re not like aches or wounds, they’re more like splits in the skin that won’t heal because there’s not enough material.” —F. Scott Fitzgerald, novelist. You’ll want to read these uplifting quotes again and again.

"The love in our family flows strong and deep, leaving us memories to treasure and keep." —Anonymous
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Family love quotes in rhyme

“The love in our family flows strong and deep, leaving us memories to treasure and keep.” —Anonymous
"Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family." —Paul Pearsall, neuropsychologist.
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Families are in our DNA

“Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family.” —Paul Pearsall, neuropsychologist.

“Families are like fudge—mostly sweet with a few nuts.” —Les Dawson, comedian.
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I love my wacky family

“Families are like fudge—mostly sweet with a few nuts.” —Les Dawson, comedian. If you’ve been stuck inside with your family during COVID-19, you’re sure to get a laugh from these quarantine quotes that are actually pretty funny.
"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." —Jane Howard, journalist.
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Find your tribe

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” —Jane Howard, journalist.

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family." —Anthony Brandt, composer
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Family is consistent

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.” —Anthony Brandt, composer. For more family quotes, read up on these mother-daughter quotes and mother-son quotes.

"You go through life wondering what is it all about but at the end of the day it's all about family." —Rod Stewart, singer.
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The bottom line

“You go through life wondering what is it all about but at the end of the day it’s all about family.” —Rod Stewart, singer. Now that you’ve read these family quotes, curl up with the best book quotes from 50 of our favorite books.