I believe it. My wife says, “Darling, you won’t believe it, but I found the most adorable baby on our doorstep and I’ve decided to keep it for our very own. Now you won’t believe it, but it’s got exactly my eyes and nose.” Why does she keep saying I won’t believe it? I believe it! I believe it. — Stalag 17

Love can help you overlook a lot of things.  The days when he’s walking around like a bear with a sore head, the nights where she just doesn’t approve of anything, they all require you to look beyond the temporary bad times to the good times, both past and future.  This skill is what has kept Irish Woman from smothering me in my sleep on multiple occasions.

But I’m not pushing my luck.

I haven’t had so much fun since the day we put glue on Fräulein Josephine’s toothbrush. – The Sound of Music

Children need to know where their limits are, but they will never do that if they do not go looking for them.  Keeping your kids from waltzing across the line between rambunctious fun and mayhem, yet still letting them explore, is a parenting skill that requires a gentle hand.  Of course, it’s a lot of fun when you participate, and you get the bonus of being on-site to keep them from actually setting things on fire or experimenting with explosives.

Agnes: Pinkie promise?
Gru: Oh yes, my pinkie promises.

— Despicable Me

A promise to a child is sacrosanct, especially if it comes from a parent.  A promise a parent makes to himself about his child is even more sacred.  If you’re not willing to follow through on such promises, don’t make them.  If you’re not prepared to make such promises, do not make a child.

Let me do the talking, angel. I don’t know yet what I’m going to tell them. It’ll be pretty close to the truth. — The Big Sleep

Truth is always easier, and usually better.  But in the event you have to lie, make it close to the truth, lie quickly, and make sure you’re the only one telling it.

This is the west, Jim, a man is still expected to defend himself. If he allows people to think he won’t, he’s in trouble. Bad trouble. — The Big Country

If you will not stand up for yourself, who will?  If your own life is not worth defending, then what worth does it have?  There is no honor in saying you do not believe in violence and would never kill, but have no qualms about calling for other people to come and kill on your behalf to save your life.

Stand up, grow up, and learn to fend for yourself.