Quotes by Virginia Satir

• So much is asked of parents, and so little is given.
• What lingers from the parent's individual past, unresolved or incomplete, often becomes part of her or his irrational parenting.
• We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.
• We must not allow other people's limited perceptions to define us.
• The recommended daily requirement for hugs is: four per day for survival, eight per day for maintenance, and twelve per day for growth.
• Problems are not the problem; coping is the problem.
• Life is not what it's supposed to be. It's what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.
• Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.
• Every word, facial expression, gesture, or action on the part of a parent gives the child some message about self-worth. It is sad that so many parents don't realize what messages they are sending.
• Adolescents are not monsters. They are just people trying to learn how to make it among the adults in the world, who are probably not so sure themselves.
• We can learn something new anytime we believe we can.
• Don't limit yourself because of others' limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited vision.