The Andy Griffith Show ran from 1960 to 1968. It is fondly remembered for its wholesome humor. It also contained valuable life lessons and parenting advice.

One such moment happened in the November 13, 1961, episode “Opie’s Hobo Friend.” Andy’s son, Opie, befriends a likable drifter who turns out to be a bad influence on the boy. Andy confronts the man about it. The hobo, played by Buddy Ebsen, tells Andy he should just let Opie “decide for himself” how to live. This is how Andy responded:

“You can’t let a young’n decide for himself. He’ll grab at the first flashy thing with shiny ribbons on it. Then, when he finds out there’s a hook in it, it’s too late.”

“No, I’m afraid it don’t work that way. You can’t let a young’n decide for himself. He’ll grab at the first flashy thing with shiny ribbons on it. Then, when he finds out there’s a hook in it, it’s too late. Wrong ideas come packaged with so much glitter that it’s hard to convince ‘em that other things might be better in the long run. All a parent can do is say ‘wait’ and ‘trust me’ and try to keep temptation away.”

The fellow who is the bad influence agrees to leave. He naively says, “Your problem’s solved.”

Andy sets him straight with a lesson that all parents have learned the hard way: “That’s where you’re wrong. That boy thinks just about everything you do is perfect. So my problem is just beginning. You’ve left behind an awful lot of unscrambling to be done.”

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