--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: know what I must do, Father,’ he said…" description: "\"“know what I must do, Father,’ he said, still looking into his father’s eyes. ‘I must represent Mother’s ideas, I should promote her dream.’ His father..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/benjamin-zephaniah-33067_dreams_know-what-i-must-do-father-he-said-still_2003818.png" --- # know what I must do, Father,’ he said, still looking into… ![“know what I must do, Father,’ he said, still looking into his father’s eyes. ‘I must represent Mother’s ideas, I should promote her dream.’ His father smiled. ‘You got it, young man! You do that and that will mean that she lives. Now,’ he said, standing up, ‘I’m told that I will get some financial…” quote by Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/benjamin-zephaniah-33067_dreams_know-what-i-must-do-father-he-said-still_2003818.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/benjamin-zephaniah-33067_dreams_know-what-i-must-do-father-he-said-still_2003818.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/benjamin-zephaniah-33067_dreams_know-what-i-must-do-father-he-said-still_2003818.png) > ““know what I must do, Father,’ he said, still looking into his father’s eyes. ‘I must represent Mother’s ideas, I should promote her dream.’ His father smiled. ‘You got it, young man! You do that and that will mean that she lives. Now,’ he said, standing up, ‘I’m told that I will get some financial help next week. My money is running out but I have enough to get some food for the time being. So let’s go shopping.”” [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A son feels duty to honor his mother’s aspirations while confronting financial strain, seeking support and hope. **In simple terms:** Balancing family expectations and money worries. Key Takeaway Prioritize essential needs and seek help. Themes family responsibility financial stress Mood determined hopeful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - budgeting - family discussions - seeking aid - career planning Key Concepts sacrifice hope support Questions to Reflect On - What compromises are you willing to make for family? - How can you secure resources without compromising values? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-eyes-260079/) [Father Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-said/) [Father Smiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-smiled-1066950/) [Know Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-father/) [Looking Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-father-965076/) [Next week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-week/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) ## Related quotes > ['My Father's Eyes' is very personal. I realized that the closest I ever came to looking in my father's eyes was when I looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-father-s-eyes-is-very-personal-i-realized-that-the-closest-i-ever/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I pressed my father's hand and told him I would protect his grave with my life. My father smiled and passed away to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/i-pressed-my-father-s-hand-and-told-him-i-would-protect-his-grave/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [“Rachel's mother slipped her arm around his waist. "Steven was just telling us about being gay, Fred." Rachel's father smiled and reached down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-larochelle/rachel-s-mother-slipped-her-arm-around-his-waist-steven-was-just/) [David LaRochelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-larochelle/) > [When Father smiled, it was like the sun coming out, and spring and summer in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-taber/when-father-smiled-it-was-like-the-sun-coming-out-and-spring-and/) [Gladys Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-taber/) > [“My face grew hot. "We were discussing the investigation," I told him quickly. "He was here a quarter of an hour at the most."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-raybourn/my-face-grew-hot-we-were-discussing-the-investigation-i-told-him/) [Deanna Raybourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-raybourn/) > [“How much do you know about each other?” was Father Johnson’s final question of the day. Marlboro Man and I looked at each other.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/how-much-do-you-know-about-each-other-was-father-johnson-s-final/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Before I had a son, I used to look at my father's example: he left me, he left my mother. When I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-montana/before-i-had-a-son-i-used-to-look-at-my-father-s-example-he-left-me/) [French Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-montana/) > [“In fact, after a while it was the machines I was looking at, not my father at all. They had become him. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-wallace/in-fact-after-a-while-it-was-the-machines-i-was-looking-at-not-my/) [Daniel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-wallace/) > [In some ways, I was looking for a father figure, and I found that in Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarosa-manigault-newman/in-some-ways-i-was-looking-for-a-father-figure-and-i-found-that-in/) [Omarosa Manigault Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarosa-manigault-newman/) > [I grew up looking at my father as to how to behave. In watching him I grasped so many things. His own temperament was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/i-grew-up-looking-at-my-father-as-to-how-to-behave-in-watching-him-i/) [Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/) > [I've started looking at my own father a bit funny. He assures me, though, that I really am the son of a Scottish postman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-ve-started-looking-at-my-own-father-a-bit-funny-he-assures-me/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was looking for a father, he was gone. I hung around with the thugs, and even though they sold drugs, they showed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/i-was-looking-for-a-father-he-was-gone-i-hung-around-with-the-thugs/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [“June is gazing at Michael with a glow about her face, a well of feeling for her husband. Leo and Stephen are also looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lang/june-is-gazing-at-michael-with-a-glow-about-her-face-a-well-of/) [Maya Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lang/) > [“Some family's boad capsized at Lake Winnipesaukee the day before and now they were looking for the father's body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-maynard/some-family-s-boad-capsized-at-lake-winnipesaukee-the-day-before-and/) [Joyce Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-maynard/) > [Growing up with just my mom, it went so well. It worked out so well. It was normal to me. I wasn't really looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/growing-up-with-just-my-mom-it-went-so-well-it-worked-out-so-well-it/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) ## More by Benjamin Zephaniah > [“Don't give me truth, just give me gossip And skeletons from people's closets, I wanna be normal And millions buy it, I am blinded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/don-t-give-me-truth-just-give-me-gossip-and-skeletons-from-people-s/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [“ Now The Head Lines How do you like your truth? Gently spoken on breakfast TV By a man and a woman who sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/now-the-head-lines-how-do-you-like-your-truth-gently-spoken-on/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [“My name is Alem Kelo. I live with the Fitzgeralds, my foster family, at 202 Meanly Road, Manor Park, London. I have also lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/my-name-is-alem-kelo-i-live-with-the-fitzgeralds-my-foster-family-at/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [“I think they had something to do with the killing of Mr. Joseph, miss." She laughed, as all adults seem to do when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/i-think-they-had-something-to-do-with-the-killing-of-mr-joseph-miss/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [“martin learnt quickly to take every day as it came and never expect one day to be the same as the last”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/martin-learnt-quickly-to-take-every-day-as-it-came-and-never-expect/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [Rap comes from the oral tradition. The oral tradition gives voice to those who would've otherwise been voiceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/rap-comes-from-the-oral-tradition-the-oral-tradition-gives-voice-to/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [“De young an old are doing it I have a rappin mudder Everybody has dere rap so let's rap to each other No matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/de-young-an-old-are-doing-it-i-have-a-rappin-mudder-everybody-has/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [“real men cry, real men have feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/real-men-cry-real-men-have-feelings/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [“˜ Life After Death”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/life-after-death/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [The way animals are carted around reminds me of the slavery of my people... The slavery of animals has to be ended too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/the-way-animals-are-carted-around-reminds-me-of-the-slavery-of-my/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [“A few years ago if yu said yu were Green Yu were really seen as Red.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/a-few-years-ago-if-yu-said-yu-were-green-yu-were-really-seen-as-red/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [“But Robert, don’t you think it’s a bit cold to just hang out? If we hang out for long enough we will freeze.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/but-robert-don-t-you-think-it-s-a-bit-cold-to-just-hang-out-if-we/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) > [This planet is for everyone, borders are for no one. It's all about freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zephaniah/this-planet-is-for-everyone-borders-are-for-no-one-it-s-all-about/) [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) [Explore all 14 Benjamin Zephaniah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zephaniah/) ## More Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“know what I must do, Father,’ he said, still looking into his father’s eyes. ‘I must represent Mother’s ideas, I should promote her dream.’ His father smiled. ‘You got it, young man! You do that and that will mean that she lives. Now,’ he said, standing up, ‘I’m told that I will get some financial help next week. My money is running out but I have enough to get some food for the time being. 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