--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father was driven, active and always…" description: "\"My father was driven, active and always busy. We didn't see that much of him, although he never went far away or stayed overnight anywhere.\" — Ardal O'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/ardal-o-hanlon-8746_always_my-father-was-driven-active-and-always-b_2078330.jpg" --- # My father was driven, active and always busy. We didn't… ![“My father was driven, active and always busy. We didn't see that much of him, although he never went far away or stayed overnight anywhere.” quote by Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/ardal-o-hanlon-8746_always_my-father-was-driven-active-and-always-b_2078330.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/ardal-o-hanlon-8746_always_my-father-was-driven-active-and-always-b_2078330.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/ardal-o-hanlon-8746_always_my-father-was-driven-active-and-always-b_2078330.jpg) > “My father was driven, active and always busy. We didn't see that much of him, although he never went far away or stayed overnight anywhere.” [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A constantly active parent may be physically present yet emotionally distant, affecting family connection. **In simple terms:** Busy parents can feel absent. Key Takeaway Prioritize quality time over quantity. Themes family presence busyness Mood reflective warm Type parental relationship When to use this quote - parenting - remote work - traveling professionals Key Concepts emotional availability work‑life balance Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance activity and presence? - What moments deepen family bonds? A Different Perspective Too much busyness can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [“mind her when I’m away?’ I stayed overnight in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/mind-her-when-i-m-away-i-stayed-overnight-in/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I wanted to get a puppy, but then things started getting super, super busy, and I didn't have a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-wanted-to-get-a-puppy-but-then-things-started-getting-super-super/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [You walked away, and I walked away, and we should of stayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciara/you-walked-away-and-i-walked-away-and-we-should-of-stayed/) [Ciara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciara/) > [Going through different places, I stopped through Dubai and stayed there overnight. There I had an ultra-culture shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tequan-richmond/going-through-different-places-i-stopped-through-dubai-and-stayed/) [Tequan Richmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tequan-richmond/) > [“From that time on they both looked forward to sleeping together. I might even say that the goal of their lovemaking was not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/from-that-time-on-they-both-looked-forward-to-sleeping-together-i/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Mor stayed overnight, even going so far as to paint some rudimentary stick figures on the wall beside the storeroom door. Three females with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/mor-stayed-overnight-even-going-so-far-as-to-paint-some-rudimentary/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire ## More by Ardal O'Hanlon > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [I had a thirst for knowledge. I was always curious about stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/i-had-a-thirst-for-knowledge-i-was-always-curious-about-stuff/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [I have a certain sympathy with politicians having lived with one. I've seen how no matter how earnest or driven or energetic they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/i-have-a-certain-sympathy-with-politicians-having-lived-with-one-i-ve/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [All my memories of 'Father Ted' are very pleasant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/all-my-memories-of-father-ted-are-very-pleasant/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Banter is a great way of breaking the ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/banter-is-a-great-way-of-breaking-the-ice/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [There is something restless and curious about the Irish. Like everybody else, we want to make money and make our way in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/there-is-something-restless-and-curious-about-the-irish-like/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [If you expect a kick in the balls and you get a slap in the face, it's a victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/if-you-expect-a-kick-in-the-balls-and-you-get-a-slap-in-the-face-it-s/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [People love authenticity in comedy and, coming from a region, you get a very strong sense of place. They can place you straight away,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-love-authenticity-in-comedy-and-coming-from-a-region-you-get-a/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [They were always my favourite scenes working with Don Warrington. He's such a brilliant actor, he has such a presence, you don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/they-were-always-my-favourite-scenes-working-with-don-warrington-he-s/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Marriage is when two people are joined together to become one desperately boring person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/marriage-is-when-two-people-are-joined-together-to-become-one/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [I listen to WTF with Marc Maron, although I'm getting annoyed with him, he's a bit too intrusive and fawning. But he's done some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/i-listen-to-wtf-with-marc-maron-although-i-m-getting-annoyed-with-him/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [My mother tells me I regaled people with stories but I don't remember that. And she disputes the idea that I might be chronically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/my-mother-tells-me-i-regaled-people-with-stories-but-i-don-t-remember/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [I think a certain amount of depression is sort of a normal state of mind to have. Deep depression is another story - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/i-think-a-certain-amount-of-depression-is-sort-of-a-normal-state-of/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [The beauty of stand-up is that it's very flexible, it's very malleable and immediate. Whatever is in your head that day you can verbalise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/the-beauty-of-stand-up-is-that-it-s-very-flexible-it-s-very-malleable/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [We didn't have an awful lot of space. There were six of us born within the space of seven or eight years - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/we-didn-t-have-an-awful-lot-of-space-there-were-six-of-us-born-within/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) [Explore all 78 Ardal O'Hanlon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father was driven, active and always busy. 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