146 Best Selfish Parents Quotes & Sayings

Children are meant to be guided, protected, and nurtured by their parents. However, this is not the case for all parents. Some exhibit behaviour that can be described as selfish, often prioritising their own desires over the well-being of their kids. While this can be a sensitive topic, it’s something many people resonate with. In such cases, selfish parent quotes become a form of expression for those who have experienced or witnessed such behaviour.

In this article, we’ll look at the best selfish parent quotes that can help convey the emotions many may find difficult to express.

Unhealthy Relationship Selfish Parents Quotes

Selfish parenting can lead to strained and often painful relationships. Many children who experience this form of parenting feel unsupported, emotionally neglected, or undervalued. Below are a few quotes on selfish parents that will give voice to the frustrations and disappointments that people may feel in such relationships.

• “A selfish parent brings children into the world for their fulfilment, not for the child’s sake.” — Unknown
• “Sometimes, the worst wounds come from those we look to for love and protection.” — Unknown
• “Selfish parents create children who believe they aren’t worthy of love.” — Jonathan Lockwood Huie
• “A selfish parent teaches their child they are less important than the parent’s desires.” — Dr. Phil McGraw
• “When you’ve been raised by a selfish parent, love feels like something you must earn.” — Shannon L. Alder
• “A child should never feel like they’re in competition for their parent’s love.” — Maya Angelou

• “The scars left by selfish parents can be invisible, but they hurt just the same.” — Diane Setterfield
• “Children shouldn’t be the ones meeting the emotional needs of their parents.” — Charles L. Whitfield
• “Selfish parents don’t see their child’s pain; they only see the inconvenience.” — Robert Firestone
• “The hardest part of growing up with selfish parents is learning how to love yourself.” — Brené Brown
• “A selfish parent raises a child who learns to feel small and unworthy.” — Julia Roberts
• “When love comes with conditions, it doesn’t feel like love at all.” — Shannon L. Alder
• “Selfish parents often create children who feel they must compete to be seen.” — Linda Friel
• “The saddest thing is watching a child beg for the attention their parent freely gives to others.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “In the shadow of a selfish parent, a child learns to be invisible.” — Anne Lamott
• “The legacy of selfish parenting is a generation of emotionally wounded adults.” — Elizabeth Gilbert
• “A child deserves to feel loved for who they are, not for what they give in return.” — Kelly Cutrone
• “A selfish parent’s love is based on conditions. Unconditional love doesn’t ask for anything back.” — L.R. Knost
• “Selfish parenting plants seeds of self-doubt that grow into adult insecurities.” — Brené Brown
• “A child’s love for their parent should never feel like a burden.” — Jane Austen
• “When a parent loves themselves more than their child, the child learns to love less.” — Les Brown
• “A selfish parent makes a child feel like love is conditional.” — Michelle Obama

• “The pain of a selfish parent’s neglect is not easily forgotten.” — Mark Manson
• “Selfish parents create adults who don’t know how to love without fear.” — Harriet Lerner
• “The greatest gift a parent can give is unconditional love, not self-interest.” — Dalai Lama
• “Selfishness is the enemy of a healthy parent-child bond.” — Unknown
• “When parents put themselves first, children learn to put themselves last.” — Dr. Phil McGraw
• “In a selfish parent’s home, love is conditional, and trust is fragile.” — James Baldwin
• “Children of selfish parents often feel unworthy of love.” — Shannon Thomas
• “To a selfish parent, love is a transaction, not a gift.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach
• “A selfish parent’s love has limits, but a child’s need for love is endless.” — Fred Rogers
• “A parent’s selfishness can shape a child’s entire life.” — Stephanie Sarkis
• “A selfish parent demands loyalty, but gives none in return.” — Melody Beattie
• “Children should never feel like an afterthought.” — Unknown
• “The saddest loneliness is the one caused by parents who are too selfish to see it.” — Audrey Hepburn
• “When a parent is selfish, their child becomes invisible.” — Mitch Albom
• “Selfish parents make a child feel like they’re not enough.” — Louise Hay
• “A selfish parent cares more about how they feel than how their child is doing.” — Brené Brown
• “A loving parent makes their child feel wanted, a selfish parent makes them feel in the way.” — Tony Robbins
• “When a child feels like a burden, it’s the parent who failed, not the child.” — Robert Goolrick
• “Selfishness in parenting leaves scars that can last a lifetime.” — Les Brown
• “A child of a selfish parent learns to be their own hero.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “A selfish parent often teaches their child they are unworthy of love.” — Glennon Doyle
• “Selfish parenting is the root of many emotional struggles in adulthood.” — Harriet Lerner
• “A child’s heart should not carry the weight of a parent’s selfishness.” — Unknown
• “Growing up with a selfish parent makes loving yourself a challenge.” — Brené Brown
• “The absence of empathy in a parent leaves a void no child can fill alone.” — Kristin Neff
• “A selfish parent makes a child feel like love is a privilege, not a right.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “When a parent cares more about themselves, a child learns to care less about themselves.” — Unknown
• “A parent’s selfishness is often a child’s first experience of heartbreak.” — Shannon Thomas
• “When a parent is only focused on themselves, a child feels like they don’t matter.” — Anne Lamott
• “The pain of growing up with a selfish parent is often unspoken but deeply felt.” — Brené Brown
• “A child of selfish parents learns to fill their own cup because no one else will.” — Fred Rogers
• “A selfish parent’s love is like a shadow, fleeting and conditional.” — Unknown
• “When parents put themselves first, children learn their own needs come last.” — Dr. Phil McGraw

Quotes About Selfish Mother

A mother’s love is often described as selfless and nurturing, but sometimes, personal needs and desires can overshadow a mother’s role in her child’s life. When a mother’s actions are driven by self-interest rather than the well-being of her children, it can create feelings of hurt and resentment. These quotes on selfish mothers reflect the experiences of those who have felt overlooked and help express the impact of self-centred parenting.

• “A mother’s love should be a sanctuary, not a battle for attention.” — Unknown
• “When a mother is more focused on herself than her child, it’s the child who suffers most.” — Shannon L. Alder
• “Selfish mothers see their children as accessories, not responsibilities.” — Steve Maraboli
• “A child should never have to fight for a mother’s attention.” — Dr. Laura Schlessinger
• “A selfish mother prioritises her comfort over her child’s needs.” — Brené Brown
• “Being a mother means putting your child’s needs above your own, not the other way around.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “Children are meant to feel loved, not like burdens.” — Maya Angelou

• “A mother who puts herself first teaches her child they are second.” — Les Brown
• “A selfish mother’s love is conditional, given only when convenient.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach
• “A child should never be made to feel they must earn their mother’s love.” — Unknown
• “A selfish mother will never understand the damage her indifference creates.” — Harriet Lerner
• “The pain of having a mother who only sees herself is a deep, silent wound.” — Unknown
• “A mother who loves herself more than her child will always leave scars.” — Tony Robbins
• “Children of selfish mothers often grow up feeling unworthy.” — Shannon Thomas
• “A mother’s love should be unconditional; selfish love isn’t love at all.” — L.R. Knost
• “Selfish mothers fail to realise the emotional toll they place on their children.” — Charles L. Whitfield
• “When a mother’s love is based on conditions, it is the child who suffers.” — Diane Setterfield
• “A selfish mother is never satisfied because her focus is always inward.” — Mitch Albom
• “Children should never feel like an afterthought to their own mother.” — Anne Lamott
• “Growing up with a selfish mother teaches a child to always seek validation.” — Brené Brown

Quotes on Selfish Father

A father’s role is to provide guidance, support, and unconditional love, yet some fathers place their own needs and desires above their child’s well-being. When a father is self-centred, it can lead to disappointment and emotional scars that last a lifetime. These bad, selfish father quotes capture the hurt and struggles faced by those who have experienced this kind of relationship.

• “A selfish father demands respect without giving any in return.” — Shannon L. Alder
• “A father’s love should be a source of strength, not a source of pain.” — Unknown
• “Children should never have to feel like they are in competition with their father’s ego.” — Steve Maraboli
• “A father who puts himself first teaches his children they don’t matter.” — Les Brown
• “A selfish father is present in body but absent in every other way.” — Dr. Laura Schlessinger
• “A good father builds his children up; a selfish one tears them down.” — Unknown
• “Selfish fathers leave scars on their children that last a lifetime.” — Harriet Lerner

• “A father who is too focused on himself leaves his child to feel like an afterthought.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “A father’s selfishness teaches a child they’re not worth the effort.” — Brené Brown
• “The saddest thing about selfish fathers is the void they leave behind.” — Unknown
• “When a father’s needs always come first, his child learns to put themselves last.” — Shannon Thomas
• “A child should feel safe with their father, not neglected and overlooked.” — Maya Angelou
• “The silence of a selfish father can hurt more than words ever will.” — Robert Firestone
• “Selfish fathers expect loyalty but rarely show it in return.” — Mitch Albom
• “A father’s selfishness is the heaviest burden a child can carry.” — Charles L. Whitfield
• “A selfish father leaves his child questioning their worth and seeking approval.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach
• “A father should never be too busy to show his child they matter.” — Unknown
• “A bad father is one who only shows love when it benefits him.” — Tony Robbins
• “Children of selfish fathers grow up learning to fill their own emotional gaps.” — Brené Brown

Quotes About Selfish Family

Family should be a source of love and support, but sometimes selfishness disrupts these relationships, leaving family members feeling neglected or undervalued. These quotes about selfish family members reflect the struggles, frustrations, and hurt often felt by those dealing with families who prioritise themselves over others.

• “A family that cares only for itself isn’t really a family; it’s just a group of selfish people.” — Unknown
• “Selfish families teach you that love is conditional and trust is fragile.” — Brené Brown
• “True family stands by each other; selfish family members stand only by themselves.” — Steve Maraboli
• “A selfish family member brings others down instead of lifting them up.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “Sometimes the people closest to you can be the most selfish.” — Maya Angelou
• “Family should mean sacrifice, but for some, it’s about taking as much as they can.” — Shannon L. Alder
• “A selfish family member often demands loyalty but rarely offers it.” — Les Brown
• “You may love your family, but that doesn’t mean you need to accept their selfishness.” — Charles L. Whitfield

• “Parents who are selfish teach their children they’re not enough, even when they are.” — L.R. Knost
• “The hurt caused by selfish family members can last a lifetime.” — Robert Firestone
• “Selfish family members leave scars you can’t see, but you always feel.” — Dr. Laura Schlessinger
• “Being family doesn’t excuse selfishness; it makes it hurt more.” — Tony Robbins
• “A family’s selfishness often teaches a child to question their own worth.” — Harriet Lerner
• “Selfish families create wounds that go unseen but last forever.” — Shannon Thomas
• “You don’t owe selfish family members a space in your life.” — Unknown
• “Family should build you up, not break you down with selfishness.” — Les Brown
• “Selfish family members expect everything but offer nothing.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach
• “Sometimes it’s those closest to us who are the most self-centred.” — Maya Angelou
• “Family should be a haven, not a place of selfish games.” — Brené Brown
• “True family looks out for one another; selfish families only look out for themselves.” — Mitch Albom
• “A selfish family member cares only about their needs, not the family’s well-being.” — Robert Firestone
• “Selfish family members teach you that not all family bonds are sacred.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “Just because someone is family doesn’t mean they can’t be toxic.” — Shannon L. Alder
• “Family should mean love without conditions, but selfishness often creates barriers.” — Unknown
• “Being related by blood doesn’t make selfishness hurt any less.” — Harriet Lerner
• “Some family members bring peace, others bring chaos with their selfishness.” — Les Brown
• “Selfish family members expect to be forgiven, but never change their ways.” — Dr. Laura Schlessinger
• “When family members act selfishly, they break the trust that’s hard to rebuild.” — Brené Brown
• “A selfish family member teaches you that family doesn’t always mean support.” — Unknown
• “Family bonds can’t survive selfishness, only compassion and understanding.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “When the family is selfish, they forget that true love isn’t one-sided.” — Steve Maraboli
• “Family should be where you feel safe, not drained by others’ selfishness.” — L.R. Knost
• “In selfish families, loyalty is a one-way street.” — Shannon Thomas
• “A selfish family member thinks only of themselves, forgetting what family truly means.” — Maya Angelou
• “True family wants what’s best for each other, not just what’s best for them.” — Les Brown
• “Family should be a blessing, not a burden due to someone’s selfishness.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach
• “The hardest lessons often come from selfish family members.” — Unknown
• “A selfish family member’s love is always conditional.” — Tony Robbins
• “Family loyalty is a gift, not a right, and selfish people don’t understand this.” — Unknown
• “Family should be a place of comfort, not a source of selfish disappointment.” — Harriet Lerner
• “Some of the worst scars come from family members who only think of themselves.” — Brené Brown
• “Family doesn’t mean constant forgiveness of selfish actions.” — Unknown
• “A selfish family member expects respect without showing any in return.” — Mitch Albom
• “Family should bring you peace, not constantly drain you with selfishness.” — Robert Firestone
• “In a selfish family, you’re only valued when it benefits them.” — L.R. Knost
• “True family protects each other, selfish family only protects themselves.” — Shannon L. Alder
• “Some family members think love is only earned by what you give them.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “The real test of family is if they’re there when you need them, not just when it’s easy.” — Maya Angelou
• “A family should be a team, but selfishness makes it a battlefield.” — Steve Maraboli
• “Not every family member deserves a place in your heart or life.” — Brené Brown
• “Family should be your foundation, but selfishness turns it into quicksand.” — Unknown
• “Selfish family members forget that family means we, not me.” — Robert Firestone

FAQs

1. What are some famous quotes about parents being selfish?

Quotes about parents being selfish often highlight the emotional struggles and lasting impact on children who feel neglected or undervalued. An example is, “When parents focus on themselves, children learn to fend for themselves.”

2. How do toxic parents affect a child’s self-esteem?

Toxic parents, whether controlling, neglectful, or self-centred, can deeply affect a child’s self-worth and confidence. “A child who feels invisible grows up searching for approval” is a common toxic parent quote.

3. Are there specific quotes that talk about selfish mothers?

Yes, many quotes reflect on the challenges of growing up with a selfish mother. These selfish mom quotes often touch on the emotional weight a child carries when a mother puts her needs first. For example, “A mother’s love should lift her child, not weigh them down with expectations”.

Dealing with selfish family members, especially parents, can be a challenging and often painful experience. Selfishness in parents affects children emotionally, making them feel neglected, undervalued, and sometimes unloved. Quotes about parents who are selfish serve as a source of understanding and validation for those affected. Nobody should feel bad about wanting to be treated with kindness, respect, and true love in their family relationships.

Also Read:

Mother Son Relationship
Father Son Songs to Strengthen Their Bond
Single Fathers vs Single Mothers

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