--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tom and I have never claimed to be…" description: "\"Tom and I have never claimed to be perfect, whatever that means in a relationship. We're not trying to be anyone's example. We're living our lives and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/dustin-lance-black-4536_family_tom-and-i-have-never-claimed-to-be-perfe_1768157.png" --- # Tom and I have never claimed to be perfect, whatever that… ![“Tom and I have never claimed to be perfect, whatever that means in a relationship. We're not trying to be anyone's example. We're living our lives and building our family and doing what we love.” quote by Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/dustin-lance-black-4536_family_tom-and-i-have-never-claimed-to-be-perfe_1768157.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/dustin-lance-black-4536_family_tom-and-i-have-never-claimed-to-be-perfe_1768157.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/dustin-lance-black-4536_family_tom-and-i-have-never-claimed-to-be-perfe_1768157.png) > “Tom and I have never claimed to be perfect, whatever that means in a relationship. We're not trying to be anyone's example. We're living our lives and building our family and doing what we love.” [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote acknowledges imperfection in relationships and emphasizes personal authenticity over idealized examples, focusing on building a family and pursuing love. **In simple terms:** Relationships are imperfect; be authentic and love what you do. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfection and live authentically. Themes relationships authenticity family love Mood reflective hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - marriage - parenting - career choices - daily routines Key Concepts personal growth realism self‑acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success in your own relationship? - What does authenticity mean to you? A Different Perspective Idealized relationship models can create unrealistic expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) ## Related quotes > [“I desperately want to feel that way again. To be in a relationship that I’m not trying to script or water down. It’s about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-desperately-want-to-feel-that-way-again-to-be-in-a-relationship/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [You can't go into a relationship trying to change someone. You have to grow with that person and go through everything with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keyshia-cole/you-can-t-go-into-a-relationship-trying-to-change-someone-you-have-to/) [Keyshia Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keyshia-cole/) > [If you're the only one in the relationship trying to make an effort, giving love and getting none in return. Get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-the-only-one-in-the-relationship-trying-to-make-an-effort/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest roadblock to a great relationship is trying to force a partner to change through bribes or threats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lockwood-huie/the-greatest-roadblock-to-a-great-relationship-is-trying-to-force-a/) [Jonathan Lockwood Huie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lockwood-huie/) > [I think health care is more about love than about most other things. If there isn't at the core of this two human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-berwick/i-think-health-care-is-more-about-love-than-about-most-other-things/) [Donald Berwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-berwick/) > [Just rather be single than be in a relationship where I'm the only one trying...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-rather-be-single-than-be-in-a-relationship-where-i-m-the-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Without Merry If You Provided To Him Sexual Satisfaction! Its Means Your Relationship Nearby Breakup!! There's True Love Dies!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/without-merry-if-you-provided-to-him-sexual-satisfaction-its-means/) Mak\_786 > [Love is every type of relationship that you think of... I'm sure it means relationship, every type of relationship that you can think of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/love-is-every-type-of-relationship-that-you-think-of-i-m-sure-it/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [Love, means relationship and a good relationship means commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-means-relationship-and-a-good-relationship-means-commitment/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To be in alignment with what is means to be in a relationship of inner nonresistance with what happens. It means not to label…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/to-be-in-alignment-with-what-is-means-to-be-in-a-relationship-of/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Apology doesn't mean that you are wrong and the other person is right ; it means that your relationship is more valuable than your ego .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/apology-doesn-t-mean-that-you-are-wrong-and-the-other-person-is-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Apology doesn't mean that you were wrong, or the other person was right. It means that your relationship is valuable than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/apology-doesn-t-mean-that-you-were-wrong-or-the-other-person-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Friendship don't always mean your friends are always around..it means that the relationship keeps you close to each other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jahlea-escobar/friendship-don-t-always-mean-your-friends-are-always-around-it-means/) Jahlea Escobar > [The pace of change means that relationship is more important than ever before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mclaughlin/the-pace-of-change-means-that-relationship-is-more-important-than/) Dave McLaughlin > [Being 'one flesh' in marriage means that the relationship is not the source of security, affirmation, control, or value. Those issues of identity need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-perkins/being-one-flesh-in-marriage-means-that-the-relationship-is-not-the/) Scott Perkins ## More by Dustin Lance Black > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I watched Sean Penn, you know, bring Harvey Milk to life. I was on the set every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-watched-sean-penn-you-know-bring-harvey-milk-to-life-i-was-on-the/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I love the true life stories and the biopics - people say I'm pigeonholed, but it's a fantastic kind of pigeonhole - but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-love-the-true-life-stories-and-the-biopics-people-say-i-m/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [Gay people are more powerful when they work with lesbians. We become more powerful when we're L, G, B and T.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/gay-people-are-more-powerful-when-they-work-with-lesbians-we-become/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I get emotionally attached to someone if I talk to them on the street corner for five minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-get-emotionally-attached-to-someone-if-i-talk-to-them-on-the-street/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [For Coca-Cola to take a pro-diversity, pro-equality stance creates a lot of goodwill in the LGBT community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/for-coca-cola-to-take-a-pro-diversity-pro-equality-stance-creates-a/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [In this miraculous, beautiful universe of ours, where it's an absolute miracle that our eyes and ears can witness it all, we somehow have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/in-this-miraculous-beautiful-universe-of-ours-where-it-s-an-absolute/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [You can't keep treating people differently under the law because of their differences. That's not America. I dare say that's not even a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/you-can-t-keep-treating-people-differently-under-the-law-because-of/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [There has been this resurgence in anti-LGBT language in the U.K. and the U.S., and the rest of the world. In the U.S. we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/there-has-been-this-resurgence-in-anti-lgbt-language-in-the-u-k-and/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [Have I always agreed with my Southern, military, Mormon family? Absolutely not. Have we always figured out how to get along? Yes! At the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/have-i-always-agreed-with-my-southern-military-mormon-family/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I think of the biopics I've written as exploring a more grown-up side of myself, through other characters' lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-think-of-the-biopics-i-ve-written-as-exploring-a-more-grown-up-side/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I wrote 'Milk' for me. I wrote it for the younger version of me that had no clue that there are people who'd ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-wrote-milk-for-me-i-wrote-it-for-the-younger-version-of-me-that-had/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I'd say I'm not sure about Christianity, but I sure do like their Christ and the lessons about turning the other cheek, about forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-d-say-i-m-not-sure-about-christianity-but-i-sure-do-like-their/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I like the gray movies. I don't know if audiences always... it makes them work a little harder. And they have to work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-like-the-gray-movies-i-don-t-know-if-audiences-always-it-makes-them/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [Being right is overrated! If someone is saying that they're right about the future, that's a claim only a fool would make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/being-right-is-overrated-if-someone-is-saying-that-they-re-right/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) [Explore all 109 Dustin Lance Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) ## More Family quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [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/) > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. The people have always been very, very kind to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/the-people-have-always-been-family-to-me-here-in-las-vegas-the-people/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 36,913 Family quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tom and I have never claimed to be perfect, whatever that means in a relationship. We're not trying to be anyone's example. We're living our lives and building our family and doing what we love.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dustin Lance Black" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/tom-and-i-have-never-claimed-to-be-perfect-whatever-that-means-in-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Family" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/tom-and-i-have-never-claimed-to-be-perfect-whatever-that-means-in-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/dustin-lance-black-4536_family_tom-and-i-have-never-claimed-to-be-perfe_1768157.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/dustin-lance-black-4536_family_tom-and-i-have-never-claimed-to-be-perfe_1768157.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/dustin-lance-black-4536_family_tom-and-i-have-never-claimed-to-be-perfe_1768157.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Tom and I have never claimed to be perfect, whatever that means in a relationship. We're not trying to be…” — Dustin Lance Black", "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": "Dustin Lance Black", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Tom and I have never claimed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/tom-and-i-have-never-claimed-to-be-perfect-whatever-that-means-in-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/tom-and-i-have-never-claimed-to-be-perfect-whatever-that-means-in-a/#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 } } ] } ```