“The thing I want more than anything else? I want to have children. I used to feel for every child I had, I would adopt another.”

- June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962
- American
- Actress, Singer, Model, Pop Culture Icon
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Quote
“The thing I want more than anything else? I want to have children. I used to feel for every child I had, I would adopt another.”
Explanation
This quote reveals Marilyn Monroe’s deep and heartfelt desire for motherhood, a wish that was central to her private dreams, though never fulfilled in her lifetime. By expressing that she wanted children “more than anything else,” Monroe places family and nurturing above fame, success, or even romantic fulfillment. Her longing speaks not only to a personal hope but also to a profound emotional need for connection, stability, and unconditional love, which she rarely experienced in her own childhood.
Her intention to adopt a child for every biological one she might have had reflects extraordinary empathy and generosity. Monroe’s early life in foster care, marked by instability and neglect, likely fueled this aspiration. She knew what it meant to feel unloved or unwanted, and her words suggest a desire to extend the kind of care she had longed for herself. It was not just about building a family, but healing the wounds of abandonment—both hers and others’—through love.
Today, her statement resonates with individuals who value intentional parenthood and compassion-driven choices. In a world that often celebrates personal achievement, Monroe’s words are a reminder that for some, the greatest fulfillment lies not in being admired, but in being able to give care selflessly. Her dream of nurturing both biological and adopted children is a testament to the depth of her character beyond her iconic image.
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