--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Looking back I realize I had the perfect…" description: "\"Looking back I realize I had the perfect family background to become the political cartoonist that I became. My father was stupid, insensitive, and cru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/edward-sorel-43927_authority_looking-back-i-realize-i-had-the-perfect_2963625.jpg" --- # Looking back I realize I had the perfect family background… ![“Looking back I realize I had the perfect family background to become the political cartoonist that I became. My father was stupid, insensitive, and cruel, thereby making me distrustful of all authority. On the other hand, I had a warm, supportive and encouraging mother, which made me want to fix…” quote by Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/edward-sorel-43927_authority_looking-back-i-realize-i-had-the-perfect_2963625.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/edward-sorel-43927_authority_looking-back-i-realize-i-had-the-perfect_2963625.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/edward-sorel-43927_authority_looking-back-i-realize-i-had-the-perfect_2963625.jpg) > “Looking back I realize I had the perfect family background to become the political cartoonist that I became. My father was stupid, insensitive, and cruel, thereby making me distrustful of all authority. On the other hand, I had a warm, supportive and encouraging mother, which made me want to fix the world.” [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. His contrasting parental influences shaped his worldview, driving him to critique authority through political cartooning. **In simple terms:** Parental contrast shaped his critical art. Key Takeaway Use personal history to fuel purposeful work. Themes family authority artistic expression Mood thoughtful inspirational Type creative political When to use this quote - cartooning - social commentary - personal development - null Key Concepts psychology political satire Questions to Reflect On - How does your family history influence your work? - Can you separate personal bias from critique? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on background may limit broader perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family background](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-background/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Insensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insensitive/) [Looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-back/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Perfect family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-family/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I've been doing the 'Sherman's Lagoon' strip for about 18 years, and I was a political cartoonist before that for my hometown paper in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-toomey/i-ve-been-doing-the-sherman-s-lagoon-strip-for-about-18-years-and-i/) [Jim Toomey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-toomey/) > [I stay out of politics because if I begin thinking too much about politics, I'll probably... drop writing children's books and become a political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/i-stay-out-of-politics-because-if-i-begin-thinking-too-much-about/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [I guess I just don't have the killer instinct that I think makes a great political cartoonist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/i-guess-i-just-don-t-have-the-killer-instinct-that-i-think-makes-a/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [I grew up in the home of a political cartoonist, so I was a junkie for politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/i-grew-up-in-the-home-of-a-political-cartoonist-so-i-was-a-junkie-for/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [I am principally an artist. I became a political cartoonist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graysmith/i-am-principally-an-artist-i-became-a-political-cartoonist/) [Robert Graysmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graysmith/) > [I would think a sense of the absurd is more important for a political cartoonist, because that could define things like a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-shapiro/i-would-think-a-sense-of-the-absurd-is-more-important-for-a-political/) [Jonathan Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-shapiro/) > [Children from a given family background, when put in schools of different social compositions, will achieve at quite different levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-coleman/children-from-a-given-family-background-when-put-in-schools-of/) [James S. Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-coleman/) > [My family background is Mexican, and I was born in Chicago. It's pretty much family tradition every time we get together for Christmas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ailyn-perez/my-family-background-is-mexican-and-i-was-born-in-chicago-it-s-pretty/) [Ailyn Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ailyn-perez/) > [“When it comes to work - hurry, hurry, hurry. When it comes to payment - delay, delay, delay. Caste, religion, family background nothing. Talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/when-it-comes-to-work-hurry-hurry-hurry-when-it-comes-to-payment/) [Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/) > [“Do not assume that a source agrees with a writer when the source summarizes that writer’s line of reasoning. Quote only what a source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-l-turabian/do-not-assume-that-a-source-agrees-with-a-writer-when-the-source/) Kate L. Turabian > [I really don't know what makes a comedian. I think it's a family background and environment. Yet if you put the same ingredients in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-really-don-t-know-what-makes-a-comedian-i-think-it-s-a-family/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [You have to set big goals for yourself. And you have to put aside all the negativity in your life that tells you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/you-have-to-set-big-goals-for-yourself-and-you-have-to-put-aside-all/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The revolution is carried out by means of one's thought, not through one's family background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-jong-il/the-revolution-is-carried-out-by-means-of-one-s-thought-not-through/) [Kim Jong Il](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-jong-il/) > [My family background really only consists of my mother. She was a widow. My father died quite young; he must have been thirty-one. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/my-family-background-really-only-consists-of-my-mother-she-was-a/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [My father was a teacher and my mother also worked in the school, so the family has a background in education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-father-was-a-teacher-and-my-mother-also-worked-in-the-school-so/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## More by Edward Sorel > [The big problem for comic art is you don't want to overwork it. If a drawing is overworked it isn't funny. It's the spontaneity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/the-big-problem-for-comic-art-is-you-don-t-want-to-overwork-it-if-a/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [I always get scared doing a job. To this day, I start every job thinking, I really can't do this. And what I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/i-always-get-scared-doing-a-job-to-this-day-i-start-every-job/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [Like every young man growing up in the puritanical Eisenhower 1950s, I had a hell of a time getting laid. I suppose that's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/like-every-young-man-growing-up-in-the-puritanical-eisenhower-1950s-i/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [I was always nervous, always scared. That's stayed with me my whole life. I think it's all our genes. We're all stuck with ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/i-was-always-nervous-always-scared-that-s-stayed-with-me-my-whole/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [When a drawing doesn't come out right it's because I haven't figured out where the joke is. Not that every drawing has a joke,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/when-a-drawing-doesn-t-come-out-right-it-s-because-i-haven-t-figured/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [My one failing as an artist is that I depend on reference material to perhaps a greater extent than I should. Delacroix said that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/my-one-failing-as-an-artist-is-that-i-depend-on-reference-material-to/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [We all wish we were better. I wish I were a better artist, wish I were a kinder person, wish I were all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/we-all-wish-we-were-better-i-wish-i-were-a-better-artist-wish-i-were/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [I love being convincing. I love when a gesture is convincing and I love doing research for a picture. If you're telling a story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/i-love-being-convincing-i-love-when-a-gesture-is-convincing-and-i/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) [Explore all 9 Edward Sorel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Looking back I realize I had the perfect family background to become the political cartoonist that I became. My father was stupid, insensitive, and cruel, thereby making me distrustful of all authority. On the other hand, I had a warm, supportive and encouraging mother, which made me want to fix the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Sorel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/looking-back-i-realize-i-had-the-perfect-family-background-to-become/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/looking-back-i-realize-i-had-the-perfect-family-background-to-become/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/edward-sorel-43927_authority_looking-back-i-realize-i-had-the-perfect_2963625.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/edward-sorel-43927_authority_looking-back-i-realize-i-had-the-perfect_2963625.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/edward-sorel-43927_authority_looking-back-i-realize-i-had-the-perfect_2963625.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Looking back I realize I had the perfect family background to become the political cartoonist that I became…” — Edward Sorel", "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": "Edward Sorel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Looking back I realize I had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/looking-back-i-realize-i-had-the-perfect-family-background-to-become/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/looking-back-i-realize-i-had-the-perfect-family-background-to-become/#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 } } ] } ```