--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You must think it strange that I'm…" description: "\"“You must think it strange that I'm digging up my grandfather.\" \"Not at all. I'm sure many young men dig up their grandfathers.”\" — Doug MacLeod" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/doug-macleod-44770_grandfather_you-must-think-it-strange-that-i-m-diggi_3169545.jpg" --- # You must think it strange that I'm digging up my… ![“You must think it strange that I'm digging up my grandfather." "Not at all. I'm sure many young men dig up their grandfathers.” quote by Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/doug-macleod-44770_grandfather_you-must-think-it-strange-that-i-m-diggi_3169545.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/doug-macleod-44770_grandfather_you-must-think-it-strange-that-i-m-diggi_3169545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/doug-macleod-44770_grandfather_you-must-think-it-strange-that-i-m-diggi_3169545.jpg) > ““You must think it strange that I'm digging up my grandfather." "Not at all. I'm sure many young men dig up their grandfathers.”” [Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The absurdity of confronting mortality can be normalized when shared, highlighting how cultural taboos soften through humor and collective experience. **In simple terms:** Talking about death can become normal with humor. Key Takeaway Use humor to discuss uncomfortable topics. Themes mortality humor taboos communication culture Mood lighthearted empathetic provocative Type cultural social When to use this quote - family gatherings - therapy sessions - stand‑up comedy - memorial services Key Concepts existentialism social norms catharsis Questions to Reflect On - How does humor change your perception of death? - When is it inappropriate to joke about serious matters? A Different Perspective Humor may trivialize genuine grief for some listeners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grandfather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandfather/) [Grandfathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandfathers/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/) ## Related quotes > [The integration of a headgear in professional boxing would do so much to make it safer for young men. 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My generation's out of breath. We ain't running no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stokely-carmichael/our-grandfathers-had-to-run-run-run-my-generation-s-out-of-breath-we/) [Stokely Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stokely-carmichael/) > [There are now grandmothers and grandfathers coming to see us because they are of that age, they grew up in the '50s and '60s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-thorogood/there-are-now-grandmothers-and-grandfathers-coming-to-see-us-because/) [George Thorogood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-thorogood/) > [“Do you know who your grand grand grand grand grand father is? Probably you don’t! If you want to know your very distant past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-you-know-who-your-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-father-is-probably/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“There are woolvs in the sitee. Oh, yes! In the streets. In the parks. In the allees. In shops. in rustee playgrounds. in howses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-wild-bridget-strevens-marzo/there-are-woolvs-in-the-sitee-oh-yes-in-the-streets-in-the-parks-in/) Margaret Wild & Bridget Strevens-Marzo > [Not a tenth of us who are in business are doing as well as we could if we merely followed the principles that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/not-a-tenth-of-us-who-are-in-business-are-doing-as-well-as-we-could/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Unfortunately, neither of my grandfathers were alive by the time I decided I wanted to write a book. I wish I had asked them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-bachchan-nanda/unfortunately-neither-of-my-grandfathers-were-alive-by-the-time-i/) [Shweta Bachchan Nanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-bachchan-nanda/) > [“Nearly everyone had a father or uncles who had fought in World War II or Korea, or both, and many had grandfathers who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bowden/nearly-everyone-had-a-father-or-uncles-who-had-fought-in-world-war-ii/) [Mark Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bowden/) > [1 - 2 A long time ago, when all the grandfathers and grandmothers of today were little boys and little girls or very small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingalls-wilder/1-2-a-long-time-ago-when-all-the-grandfathers-and-grandmothers-of/) [Laura Ingalls Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingalls-wilder/) > [Both of my grandfathers fought in the Second World War, and my great-grandfather died at the Somme in the First World War. I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-riseborough/both-of-my-grandfathers-fought-in-the-second-world-war-and-my-great/) [Andrea Riseborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-riseborough/) > [“The old continue to be old-fashioned, though their youths were modern. We grow backward, aging into our father’s opinions and even into those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/the-old-continue-to-be-old-fashioned-though-their-youths-were-modern/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Both my grandfathers and my mother's brother were musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/both-my-grandfathers-and-my-mother-s-brother-were-musicians/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) ## More by Doug MacLeod > [“As it happens, I’m a terrible dancer. Bears are simply not made for dancing. We’re much better at sitting and sleeping and singing. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-macleod/as-it-happens-i-m-a-terrible-dancer-bears-are-simply-not-made-for/) [Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) > [“You don’t understand,’ I said. ‘I need to be with her. With every fibre of my being I ache for her. I’m in love.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-macleod/you-don-t-understand-i-said-i-need-to-be-with-her-with-every-fibre-of/) [Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) > [“No one here is allowed to die without my permission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-macleod/no-one-here-is-allowed-to-die-without-my-permission/) [Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) > [“I’m not scared any more,’ said Midge. ‘Thank you, Kevin. Sometimes you can be very kind.’ ‘Yes,’ said Kevin. ‘And if you tell that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-macleod/i-m-not-scared-any-more-said-midge-thank-you-kevin-sometimes-you-can/) [Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) > [“Are you sure this is a good idea?’ I ask. ‘No,’ says Amber. ‘Let’s do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-macleod/are-you-sure-this-is-a-good-idea-i-ask-no-says-amber-let-s-do-it/) [Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) > [“I feel like I’m going to die,’ he says. ‘Could we talk for a few minutes before you die?’ ‘Only if you do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-macleod/i-feel-like-i-m-going-to-die-he-says-could-we-talk-for-a-few-minutes/) [Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) > [“Could I pick some flowers for Miranda?’ I asked. ‘You cannot take these flowers,’ said Zoran. ‘They belong to the government.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-macleod/could-i-pick-some-flowers-for-miranda-i-asked-you-cannot-take-these/) [Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) > [“When there is darkness there is no point to be down. It is your chance to shine!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-macleod/when-there-is-darkness-there-is-no-point-to-be-down-it-is-your-chance/) [Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) [Explore all 9 Doug MacLeod quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) ## More Grandfather quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“The two families, sundered in the ruin of a friendship, were united again first in new friendship and then in mariage. My grandfather made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-two-families-sundered-in-the-ruin-of-a-friendship-were-united/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Grandfather / advised me: / Learn a trade / I learned / to sit at desk / and condense / No layoff / from this / condensery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorine-niedecker/grandfather-advised-me-learn-a-trade-i-learned-to-sit-at-desk-and/) [Lorine Niedecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorine-niedecker/) > [I am ever mindful of the legacy of my grandfather, the founder of this Kingdom, who had said to me that he perceived his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-hussein-i/i-am-ever-mindful-of-the-legacy-of-my-grandfather-the-founder-of-this/) [King Hussein I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-hussein-i/) > [“The war that killed my grandfather and great-uncles and thousands of other blacks is only a footnote in our history books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-garc-a/the-war-that-killed-my-grandfather-and-great-uncles-and-thousands-of/) [Cristina García](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-garc-a/) > [I never thought about becoming a politician. But during the military dictatorship, my grandfather was put in prison six times and my father twice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/i-never-thought-about-becoming-a-politician-but-during-the-military/) [George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/) > [“Badass.'" My grandfather sampled the flavor of the word. It did not seem to revolt him, but it was nothing he needed ever to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/badass-my-grandfather-sampled-the-flavor-of-the-word-it-did-not-seem/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [I use the phrase 'sibling society' to suggest a culture fundamentally without fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers, or ancestors. The thinking is horizontal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/i-use-the-phrase-sibling-society-to-suggest-a-culture-fundamentally/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [When we lived in a society where we had large families that lived together, especially in agricultural societies like my grandfather and father grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/when-we-lived-in-a-society-where-we-had-large-families-that-lived/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [In my grandfather's day, there was a different perspective on war and men that went into war; it was such a patriotic act to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-holmes/in-my-grandfather-s-day-there-was-a-different-perspective-on-war-and/) Ashton Holmes > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [My grandfather is a retired Marine, and I've always had a great deal of respect for anyone who serves our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-pickler/my-grandfather-is-a-retired-marine-and-i-ve-always-had-a-great-deal/) [Kellie Pickler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-pickler/) > [She glances back before stepping into the alley, and she catches her grandfather looking at her the way he does sometimes--as if she's already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/she-glances-back-before-stepping-into-the-alley-and-she-catches-her/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) > [Miami Beach - that's where I grew up, in a middle-class Jewish family led by my maternal grandfather. Me, my great-grandmother - a Holocaust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-ratner/miami-beach-that-s-where-i-grew-up-in-a-middle-class-jewish-family/) [Brett Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-ratner/) [Browse all 1,365 Grandfather quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandfather/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You must think it strange that I'm digging up my grandfather.\" \"Not at all. 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