the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

== English == === Alternative forms === the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world === Etymology === Found as a popular saying from 1840 (See Parent's Monitor and Young People's Friend Volume 1, p. 47 [1]; made famous by a poem (1865) by William Ross Wallace. === Proverb === the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world Women, particularly mothers, have a decisive influence on the future direction of society because they raise and nurture the next generation. 1981 Nov. 15, Paul A. Colinvaux, "Women's Work" (book review of The Woman That Never Evolved by Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, New York Times (retrieved 26 Oct 2012): Men rationalize their dominant estate: Woman's lot is to be the homemaker, the child raiser, the provider of sons; the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. === See also === behind every successful man there stands a woman === References === “hand that rocks the cradle”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.