Abby Saavedra

Mr. Soeth

English 3 AP

9 February 2011

REHUGO Analysis – Universal Truths

A. Quote and author

a. “The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family.” – Lee Iacocca, former Chrysler CEO and former Ford president

b. “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” – Reverend Theodore Hesburgh, clergyman and President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame

B. Quote meaning

a. Iacocca’s quote expresses the idea that a healthy family unit continually stays steady with unending love and support. He compares families to rocks to emphasize the sturdiness of a family unit, with which time, distance, nor can other negative forces deteriorate the eternal support and relationship that keeps family members together.

b. Hesburgh’s quote expresses the idea that the leading figures in a community and their relationships with each other highly influence the attitudes that their followers have. Specifically for a family unit, the positive interactions between the father and mother set the precedent for their children’s habits in healthily interacting with others; it states the importance of having leaders who set positive examples, since a father showing love would influence a child’s customary respect towards their neighbors.

C. Present relevance

a. Iacocca’s quote remains relevant because the family unit – which still remains intact in the present era – has stayed an institution with the same sense of steadiness and reliability. The systems of unconditional support and unwavering love within families still remain unchanging and essential qualities that uniquely characterize the family unit and hold it together. This affects people today because, especially if individuals are experiencing emotional, physical, economic, educational, or other tough problems, the expectations of support and comfort can still be undoubtedly filled by the presence of family members.

b. Hesburgh’s quote is relevant today because the head figures of a community – or a household – still significantly affect the behaviors of those that they lead. For this very reason, modern society often stresses the importance of retaining good leaders, whether it pertains to global leaders like the president or local ones like parents or teachers. If a figurehead in place is fit enough to direct their party in a beneficial direction, much like the way a good father would love his wife, then their supporters will follow in suit and spread the positive behavior.

MLA Citation s:

"Quotations About Family." The Quote Garden - Quotes, Sayings, Quotations, Verses. 18 Nov. 2010. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. .

"Theodore Hesburgh Quotes." ThinkExist.com Quotations. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. .