"It takes a woman twenty years to make a man of her son, and another woman twenty minutes to make a fool of him"

This quote by Helen Rowland talks to the idea that it takes a long period of time to raise a child to be an accountable adult, but it does not take much for someone to reverse all of that effort. It implies that a mother's influence is strong and long lasting, but that it can be quickly weakened by the influence of another lady. It suggests that a mom's influence is effective and long lasting, however that it can be easily undone by the impact of another lady. This quote also implies that a mother's influence is not just crucial, but also essential in order to raise an accountable grownup. It is a suggestion that mothers ought to be mindful of the people their kids are exposed to, as it can have a lasting impact on their development.