"My mother was kind and forgiving and would take in all the waifs and strays in our neighbourhood; we always compared her to Mother Teresa. She taught me a lot"
About this Quote
The subtext is apprenticeship by osmosis. “She taught me a lot” is intentionally nonspecific, because the lesson isn’t a single moral; it’s a posture toward people. In fashion, where image, access, and exclusion are currencies, claiming an early education in forgiveness and inclusion functions as ethical insulation. It suggests that behind the polished American-prep aesthetic and corporate scale is a personal compass that tilts toward taking people in, not shutting them out.
There’s also a subtle class and community signal. “Neighbourhood” (rather than “town” or “community”) locates this in everyday proximity: the need is close, not abstract. That matters for a designer whose label sold an aspirational lifestyle; this line quietly argues that aspiration can coexist with decency. The intent isn’t confession so much as credentialing: before the runways and licensing deals, here’s the moral pedigree, delivered in the warm, accessible language of family tribute.
Quote Details
| Topic | Mother |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Hilfiger, Tommy. (2026, January 17). My mother was kind and forgiving and would take in all the waifs and strays in our neighbourhood; we always compared her to Mother Teresa. She taught me a lot. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-mother-was-kind-and-forgiving-and-would-take-24374/
Chicago Style
Hilfiger, Tommy. "My mother was kind and forgiving and would take in all the waifs and strays in our neighbourhood; we always compared her to Mother Teresa. She taught me a lot." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-mother-was-kind-and-forgiving-and-would-take-24374/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"My mother was kind and forgiving and would take in all the waifs and strays in our neighbourhood; we always compared her to Mother Teresa. She taught me a lot." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-mother-was-kind-and-forgiving-and-would-take-24374/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.




