the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

Etymology
Found as a popular saying from 1840 (See Parent's Monitor and Young People's Friend Volume 1, p. 47 ; made famous by a poem (1865) by William Ross Wallace.

Proverb

 * 1) Women, particularly mothers, have a decisive influence on the future direction of society because they raise and nurture the next generation.
 * 2) * 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.
 * 1) * 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.
 * 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.