--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're a much more touchy-feely, hands-on…" description: "\"We're a much more touchy-feely, hands-on generation than our fathers but juggling work, family and social life and trying to be romantic and keep yours..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/ben-fogle-6670_dad_we-re-a-much-more-touchy-feely-hands-on_2112970.jpg" --- # We're a much more touchy-feely, hands-on generation than… ![“We're a much more touchy-feely, hands-on generation than our fathers but juggling work, family and social life and trying to be romantic and keep yourself fit is really hard. I want to be the perfect dad but you can't be the perfect dad unless you compromise elsewhere.” quote by Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/ben-fogle-6670_dad_we-re-a-much-more-touchy-feely-hands-on_2112970.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/ben-fogle-6670_dad_we-re-a-much-more-touchy-feely-hands-on_2112970.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/ben-fogle-6670_dad_we-re-a-much-more-touchy-feely-hands-on_2112970.jpg) > “We're a much more touchy-feely, hands-on generation than our fathers but juggling work, family and social life and trying to be romantic and keep yourself fit is really hard. I want to be the perfect dad but you can't be the perfect dad unless you compromise elsewhere.” [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern fathers juggle multiple roles, needing compromise and realistic expectations to avoid burnout. **In simple terms:** Balancing work, family, and self is tough. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection and set realistic priorities. Themes parenthood work‑life balance self‑care Mood thoughtful determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - parenting - career planning - fitness routines Key Concepts role strain modern masculinity Questions to Reflect On - Which areas can you realistically compromise? - How can you model healthy balance for your children? A Different Perspective May idealize “perfect” parenting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Dad Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad-perfect-1488916/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fathers/) [Generation Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation-fathers-812873/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Perfect Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-dad-579779/) [Romantic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic/) [Social life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-life/) [Want Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-perfect/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“Frequently I go to conferences and listen to speakers decry the absent father as somehow a new phenomenon. Though their recriminations against absent or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gurian/frequently-i-go-to-conferences-and-listen-to-speakers-decry-the/) [Michael Gurian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gurian/) > [In colonial America, the father was the primary parent. . . . Over the past two hundred years, each generation of fathers has hadless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/in-colonial-america-the-father-was-the-primary-parent-over-the-past/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [“I am far from a perfect dad. And I always will be. But I’m a damn good dad, and my son will always feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/i-am-far-from-a-perfect-dad-and-i-always-will-be-but-i-m-a-damn-good/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“Jimmy rolled his eyes. 'What problems do you have? You have the perfect family. Your dad is perfect. Your brother and sister aren’t pestering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-kelly/jimmy-rolled-his-eyes-what-problems-do-you-have-you-have-the-perfect/) [Wade Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-kelly/) > [For Dad, the perfect Father's Day would be one in which he didn't even realize that it was Father's Day, because nobody was making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/for-dad-the-perfect-father-s-day-would-be-one-in-which-he-didn-t-even/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“I know I'm not a perfect dad, Amber. But I'm trying." You don't have to be perfect, I say."Just be my dad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-danziger/i-know-i-m-not-a-perfect-dad-amber-but-i-m-trying-you-don-t-have-to/) [Paula Danziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-danziger/) > [My dad is my dad. I love him, and I realize that he's as famous as he is. Of course, I don't look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/my-dad-is-my-dad-i-love-him-and-i-realize-that-he-s-as-famous-as-he/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [I'm a four star general in this thing, and you don't rise to the ranks of a four star general by hanging about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-elliott/i-m-a-four-star-general-in-this-thing-and-you-don-t-rise-to-the-ranks/) [Sam Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-elliott/) > [Oh, God. God, isn't that perfect? He's Dad. He's Dad with a layer of nerd. Solid, steady, chipping away so patiently, you don't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/oh-god-god-isn-t-that-perfect-he-s-dad-he-s-dad-with-a-layer-of-nerd/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [A child should never even think about being a "good son." A parent decides that fate for the child. The parent encourages that. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/a-child-should-never-even-think-about-being-a-good-son-a-parent/) [Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/) > [If I could choose the perfect Dad There's no one I would rather Have Dad, than you Dad Coz you go further, Father Happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/if-i-could-choose-the-perfect-dad-there-s-no-one-i-would-rather-have/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [“If you want to be perfect, worry only about being the perfect you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bijan-sharifi-tabesh/if-you-want-to-be-perfect-worry-only-about-being-the-perfect-you/) [Bijan Sharifi-Tabesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bijan-sharifi-tabesh/) > [It's too distracting to read about yourself. You want to be perfect and you want everyone to love you, and that's never going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/it-s-too-distracting-to-read-about-yourself-you-want-to-be-perfect/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [You always want to be perfect out there. But it's about really improving all parts of the game and trying to be more efficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/you-always-want-to-be-perfect-out-there-but-it-s-about-really/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) ## More by Ben Fogle > [I remembered reading about a disease called Leishmaniasis, which matched my symptoms. I'd always thought it was an old wives' tale - a sand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/i-remembered-reading-about-a-disease-called-leishmaniasis-which/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [Both my wife and I are optimists and we look at the positives in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/both-my-wife-and-i-are-optimists-and-we-look-at-the-positives-in-life/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [I got rounded up by the police in Quito as I didn't have my passport with me. I was in prison for a night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/i-got-rounded-up-by-the-police-in-quito-as-i-didn-t-have-my-passport/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [At 19 I left school and embarked on a 9-day bike ride with friends from London to Monte Carlo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/at-19-i-left-school-and-embarked-on-a-9-day-bike-ride-with-friends/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [I'm a naturally upbeat person. Friends sometimes compare me to a labrador puppy, and I take that as a great compliment. I love life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/i-m-a-naturally-upbeat-person-friends-sometimes-compare-me-to-a/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [Whenever I leave home to film, my wife Marina gets terrified that I'm going to come back having bought a tiny plot of land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/whenever-i-leave-home-to-film-my-wife-marina-gets-terrified-that-i-m/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [The wilderness rescued me. I have been shaped by my experiences in the great outdoors. Feeling comfortable in the wild gave me the confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/the-wilderness-rescued-me-i-have-been-shaped-by-my-experiences-in-the/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [I love sharing my travels and I've had some fascinating travelling companions over the years. I really believe travel is made the richer being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/i-love-sharing-my-travels-and-i-ve-had-some-fascinating-travelling/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [I don't think you can ever get closer to the natural world, than just a man - as in mankind - in an ocean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-get-closer-to-the-natural-world-than-just/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [After university, I was desperate to be an ambassador. It went back to geography: I loved the idea of living in exotic and exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/after-university-i-was-desperate-to-be-an-ambassador-it-went-back-to/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [I'm a bit dyslexic so I found learning to read hard. I muddled up the letters but learnt to power through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/i-m-a-bit-dyslexic-so-i-found-learning-to-read-hard-i-muddled-up-the/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [I find 'EastEnders' so utterly bleak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/i-find-eastenders-so-utterly-bleak/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [Broadcasters and production companies often don't appreciate the complexities of viewing habits, but Gogglebox has highlighted how in-depth people go when watching TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/broadcasters-and-production-companies-often-don-t-appreciate-the/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [I saw firsthand the devastating consequences of poaching. I saw elephants with ivory hacked from their faces and the lengths private parks go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/i-saw-firsthand-the-devastating-consequences-of-poaching-i-saw/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [Let's be honest, some people are better suited to exams than others in the same way that some of us are more sporty or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/let-s-be-honest-some-people-are-better-suited-to-exams-than-others-in/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) [Explore all 98 Ben Fogle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) [Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're a much more touchy-feely, hands-on generation than our fathers but juggling work, family and social life and trying to be romantic and keep yourself fit is really hard. I want to be the perfect dad but you can't be the perfect dad unless you compromise elsewhere.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Fogle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/we-re-a-much-more-touchy-feely-hands-on-generation-than-our-fathers/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/we-re-a-much-more-touchy-feely-hands-on-generation-than-our-fathers/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/ben-fogle-6670_dad_we-re-a-much-more-touchy-feely-hands-on_2112970.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/ben-fogle-6670_dad_we-re-a-much-more-touchy-feely-hands-on_2112970.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/ben-fogle-6670_dad_we-re-a-much-more-touchy-feely-hands-on_2112970.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We're a much more touchy-feely, hands-on generation than our fathers but juggling work, family and social…” — Ben Fogle", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ben Fogle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We're a much more touchy-feely, hands-on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/we-re-a-much-more-touchy-feely-hands-on-generation-than-our-fathers/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/we-re-a-much-more-touchy-feely-hands-on-generation-than-our-fathers/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```