Quotes that make a homemaker feel good...

I was reading a book and found a quote that really makes a homemaker like me realize the importance of her work... This was written by a frenchman in the early 19th century, who came to greatly admire our young nation of America, Alexis de Tocqueville,

"There is certainly no country in the world where the tie of marriage is more respected than in America, or where conjugal happiness is more highly or worthily appreciated. in Europe almost all the disturbances of society arise from the irregularities of domestic life. To despise the natural bonds and legitimate pleasure of home is to contract a taste for excesses, a restless heart, and fluctuating desires. Agitated by the tumultuous passions that frequently disturb his dwelling, the European is galled by the obedience which the legislative powers of the state exact. But when the American retires from the turmoil of public life to the bosom of his family, he finds it in the image of order and peace. There his pleasures are simple and natural, his joys are innocent and calm; and as he finds that an orderly life is the surest path to happiness, he accustoms himself easily to moderate his opinions as well as his tastes. While the European endeavors to forget his domestic troubles by agitating society, the American derives from his own home that love of order which he afterwards carries with him into public affairs."

... in other words, marriage and family life is the basis and strength of any society. If the home starts to fall apart, the rest follows. It's always nice to know that your work is important.

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Things have changed a bit since the 1800's, and our current culture does attempt to produce "a restless heart" in the best of us, but to be reminded of the importance of our domestic life is reassuring.

Human nature will always remain the same, although the "Gods of the marketplace" tell us otherwise. There are some basic and eternal truths that do not change.

(Gods of the Marketplace a reference to the Kipling poem, "The Gods of the Copybook Headings". Copybooks were books that were full of blanks pages. On the top of each page was an eternal truth, the "headings", which the children would copy.)