--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know that it exists, the perfect…" description: "\"I don't know that it exists, the perfect family. It's always complicated.\" — Ben Mendelsohn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/ben-mendelsohn-7532_always_i-don-t-know-that-it-exists-the-perfect_542966.jpg" --- # I don't know that it exists, the perfect family. It's… ![“I don't know that it exists, the perfect family. It's always complicated.” quote by Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/ben-mendelsohn-7532_always_i-don-t-know-that-it-exists-the-perfect_542966.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/ben-mendelsohn-7532_always_i-don-t-know-that-it-exists-the-perfect_542966.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/ben-mendelsohn-7532_always_i-don-t-know-that-it-exists-the-perfect_542966.jpg) > “I don't know that it exists, the perfect family. It's always complicated.” [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ideal family is a myth; real families are complex and imperfect. **In simple terms:** Perfect families are myths; reality is messy. Key Takeaway Accept and work with complexity. Themes family reality imperfection expectations Mood reflective realistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - marriage - parenting - friendships - teamwork Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What expectations do you hold about families? - How can you embrace complexity in relationships? A Different Perspective Idealizing families can cause disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Perfect family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-family/) ## Related quotes > [If God exists... the most perfect thing he ever created was you! :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-god-exists-the-most-perfect-thing-he-ever-created-was-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My family is as complicated as the next family. We have our joys and our tragedies, and we bear both with a black humour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-dahl/my-family-is-as-complicated-as-the-next-family-we-have-our-joys-and/) [Sophie Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-dahl/) > [As in so many cases of sexual abuse within the family, it is much more complicated than had it been done by a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/as-in-so-many-cases-of-sexual-abuse-within-the-family-it-is-much-more/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [The idea of family is really one of the only things we can all say we have and we can't run away from. Whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/the-idea-of-family-is-really-one-of-the-only-things-we-can-all-say-we/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [“I’ve come to realize that we’re never going to get it figured out. We’re not going to come to our senses and be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-feek/i-ve-come-to-realize-that-we-re-never-going-to-get-it-figured-out-we/) Rory Feek > [I think family is the most important thing in the world. I think your own family is the most complicated thing in the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/i-think-family-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world-i-think-your/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [I was just a very dark kid. My family was complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-palmer/i-was-just-a-very-dark-kid-my-family-was-complicated/) [Amanda Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-palmer/) > [I wanted to be at my sister's funeral, but my family has always had a complicated dynamic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-carter/i-wanted-to-be-at-my-sister-s-funeral-but-my-family-has-always-had-a/) [Nick Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-carter/) > [People don't know who I am, and that's not a bad thing at all from my end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/people-don-t-know-who-i-am-and-that-s-not-a-bad-thing-at-all-from-my/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I didn't feel I belonged in so perfect a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reagan/i-didn-t-feel-i-belonged-in-so-perfect-a-family/) [Michael Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reagan/) > [“don’t know anyone who has a perfect family to start with. And I think that’s why we make up our own. Regular weirdos together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-know-anyone-who-has-a-perfect-family-to-start-with-and-i-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never saw Esther as scary and was never afraid of her either. Esther's dream is to find love and a perfect family that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-fuhrman/i-never-saw-esther-as-scary-and-was-never-afraid-of-her-either-esther/) [Isabelle Fuhrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-fuhrman/) > [“Perfectionist parents seem to operate under the illusion that if they can just get their children to be perfect, they will be a perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward-ph-d/perfectionist-parents-seem-to-operate-under-the-illusion-that-if-they/) Susan Forward Ph.D > [“We'll be together there," said Valentine. "As we should be." That sounds terrific,thought Clary.Just you, your comatose wife, your shell-shocked son, and your daughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-ll-be-together-there-said-valentine-as-we-should-be-that-sounds/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Wow." Lisa motioned for Keith to stop for a moment. "Look at this place. It's like the perfect family house. The porch and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury/wow-lisa-motioned-for-keith-to-stop-for-a-moment-look-at-this-place/) [Karen Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury/) ## More by Ben Mendelsohn > ['The Outlaw Josey Wales' is one I watched again and again and again in the early days of VHS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/the-outlaw-josey-wales-is-one-i-watched-again-and-again-and-again-in/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [One of my earlier films is 'Quigley Down Under.' That was early on in my career, and that was horsey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/one-of-my-earlier-films-is-quigley-down-under-that-was-early-on-in-my/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I'm very interested in the history of Christianity, and what I can say for sure is that the Catholics and the Jesuits and stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-m-very-interested-in-the-history-of-christianity-and-what-i-can-say/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [Let me give you a little Mendelsohn 101: I came up in television in the early- to mid- 1980s in Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/let-me-give-you-a-little-mendelsohn-101-i-came-up-in-television-in/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [If you're a 'character actor,' you get hired to play baddies a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/if-you-re-a-character-actor-you-get-hired-to-play-baddies-a-lot/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I think some of my favorite Australian films were shot by people that are not Australian. And I think when Dean Semler did 'Dances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-think-some-of-my-favorite-australian-films-were-shot-by-people-that/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [From my point of view, things don't have to change to get better. Things are fantastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/from-my-point-of-view-things-don-t-have-to-change-to-get-better/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [People don't know who I am, and that's not a bad thing at all from my end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/people-don-t-know-who-i-am-and-that-s-not-a-bad-thing-at-all-from-my/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [The people that impress me are Bob Dylan. The ones who keep working, year in and year out, and keep coming up with stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/the-people-that-impress-me-are-bob-dylan-the-ones-who-keep-working/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I'm very well known in the industry and relatively well known by people who are aficionados and what not, but outside of that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-m-very-well-known-in-the-industry-and-relatively-well-known-by/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I think difficult characters are very rewarding to do. They often have facets to them and this and that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-think-difficult-characters-are-very-rewarding-to-do-they-often-have/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [As an actor who has spent twenty years trying to crack America, the day I reached the 'Bloodline' set and found my name on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/as-an-actor-who-has-spent-twenty-years-trying-to-crack-america-the/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [Once upon a time, they thought I was a sweet, wide-eyed boy that was just trying to figure out how to kiss the girl.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/once-upon-a-time-they-thought-i-was-a-sweet-wide-eyed-boy-that-was/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [In Australia, even the darkest subject matter has a little pinch of humor. A little sweet to make the sour go down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/in-australia-even-the-darkest-subject-matter-has-a-little-pinch-of/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [If you're going to be a father and whatnot, yeah, you better be responsible about it as best you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/if-you-re-going-to-be-a-father-and-whatnot-yeah-you-better-be/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) [Explore all 90 Ben Mendelsohn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) ## 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": "I don't know that it exists, the perfect family. 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