“L'homme est puissant, il domine le ciel et la terre, dit-on, mais il est une force plus grande encore car la main qui réellement gouverne le monde est celle qui berce l'enfant.”
Variation : "La main qui berce l'enfant est la main qui domine le monde."
En français, cette phrase est souvent attribuée à William Wallace ( le rebelle écossais ), alors qu'elle provient d'un poème d'un homonyme : William Ross Wallace.
“La main qui berce l'enfant est la main qui dirige le monde.”
En anglais :
" For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world. "
Le poème en entier :
"Blessings on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace,
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
Infancy's the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mother's first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow--
Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
Woman, how divine your mission
Here upon our natal sod!
Keep, oh, keep the young heart open
Always to the breath of God!
All true trophies of the ages
Are from mother-love impearled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky--
Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world."
“Quand je vous aurai bien répété que la vie est un enfant qu'il faut bercer jusqu'à ce qu'il s'endorme , j'aurai dit tout ce que je sais.”Correspondance
A Mme la Marquise du Deffand, 22 juillet 1761