Who said “The first duty to children is to make them happy, If you have not made them so, you have…”?

Disputed

It's credited to Charles Buxton, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNo reliable early source found for Charles Buxton.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

“The first duty to children is to make them happy, If you have not made them so, you have wronged them, No other good they may get can make up for that.”
DisputedNo reliable early source found for Charles Buxton. · evidenceChildren

Cite this quote

APA

“The first duty to children is to make them happy, If you have not made them so, you have wronged them, No other good they may get can make up for that.” [Quotation attributed to Charles Buxton]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2965-the-first-duty-to-children-is-to-make/

MLA

“The first duty to children is to make them happy, If you have not made them so, you have wronged them, No other good they may get can make up for that.” Attributed to Charles Buxton. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2965-the-first-duty-to-children-is-to-make/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“The first duty to children is to make them happy, If you have not made them so, you have wronged them, No other good they may get can make up for that.” Attributed to Charles Buxton. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2965-the-first-duty-to-children-is-to-make/.