--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Up until I became a father, it was all…" description: "\"Up until I became a father, it was all about self-obsession. But then I learned exactly what it's all about: the delight of being a servant.\" — Eric Cl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/eric-clapton-3136_delight_up-until-i-became-a-father-it-was-all-ab_427414.jpg" --- # Up until I became a father, it was all about… ![“Up until I became a father, it was all about self-obsession. But then I learned exactly what it's all about: the delight of being a servant.” quote by Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/eric-clapton-3136_delight_up-until-i-became-a-father-it-was-all-ab_427414.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/eric-clapton-3136_delight_up-until-i-became-a-father-it-was-all-ab_427414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/eric-clapton-3136_delight_up-until-i-became-a-father-it-was-all-ab_427414.jpg) > “Up until I became a father, it was all about self-obsession. But then I learned exactly what it's all about: the delight of being a servant.” [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fatherhood shifts focus from self‑centered concerns to caring for another, finding joy in service. **In simple terms:** Being a dad teaches joy in serving others. Key Takeaway Prioritize others’ needs and find fulfillment. Themes parenthood selflessness growth service Mood introspective inspirational Type philosophical When to use this quote - raising children - volunteering - mentorship - team leadership Key Concepts psychology family dynamics spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What does serving others teach you about yourself? - How can you balance self‑care with caring for others? A Different Perspective Self‑sacrifice can lead to personal neglect if unbalanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Delight Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight-servant-3774518/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-self-3774516/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/) [Obsession Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession-learned-3774517/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenthood/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-obsession/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) ## Related quotes > [My father was a self-employed textile agent, and the shop below his office was an art gallery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jewell/my-father-was-a-self-employed-textile-agent-and-the-shop-below-his/) [Lisa Jewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jewell/) > [His father was self-made, but his mother was constructed by others, and such edifices are notoriously fragile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/his-father-was-self-made-but-his-mother-was-constructed-by-others-and/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I'd be a bad father. I'm too self-involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-d-be-a-bad-father-i-m-too-self-involved/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Boxing is the embodiment of who I am, but beyond that, this is a journey of the self, and my obsession to get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-joshua/boxing-is-the-embodiment-of-who-i-am-but-beyond-that-this-is-a/) [Anthony Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-joshua/) > [My significant other right now is myself, which is what happens when you suffer from multiple personality disorder and self-obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/my-significant-other-right-now-is-myself-which-is-what-happens-when/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“You cannot be a solid leader without sacrificing self-interest and self-obsession,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-cannot-be-a-solid-leader-without-sacrificing-self-interest-and/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Every time feels like my first time. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tanner/the-hilarious-irony-is-that-buddhists-who-deny-the-existence-of-the/) [Jack Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tanner/) > [“Although we may suffer from idolatry, we do not, I think, suffer from materialism - from the overvaluing of material objects for their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/although-we-may-suffer-from-idolatry-we-do-not-i-think-suffer-from/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [You’re a human, you should understand self-obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-re-a-human-you-should-understand-self-obsession/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Self-obsession is not self-realization but self-destruction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-edgcumbe-hughes/self-obsession-is-not-self-realization-but-self-destruction/) [Philip Edgcumbe Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-edgcumbe-hughes/) > [“If we don’t give back to the society, we'll die of obesity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-we-don-t-give-back-to-the-society-we-ll-die-of-obesity/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“I can understand that people want to feel special and important and so on, but that self-obsession seems a bit pathetic somehow. Not being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-m-banks/i-can-understand-that-people-want-to-feel-special-and-important-and/) [Iain M. Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-m-banks/) ## More by Eric Clapton > [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I did play a lot of fingerstyle when I first started playing. I could never really find the right combination of flatpick or fingerpick,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-did-play-a-lot-of-fingerstyle-when-i-first-started-playing-i-could/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-listened-to-king-oliver-and-i-listened-to-louis-armstrong-jelly/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Yeah, I wanted to know where they got it from, what it was all about, you know, and it seemed to strike something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/yeah-i-wanted-to-know-where-they-got-it-from-what-it-was-all-about/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Oh yeah, I mean, it wasn't a very good guitar, most good guitars have got thrust rods in the necks that you can adjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/oh-yeah-i-mean-it-wasn-t-a-very-good-guitar-most-good-guitars-have/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [The Yardbirds came in to the Crawdaddy Club a week after the Stones finished their Sunday night residency. 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Please don't say we'll never find a way And tell me all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/let-s-make-the-best-of-the-situation-before-i-finally-go-insane/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [All I am certain of right now is that I don't want to go anywhere, and that's not bad for someone who always used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/all-i-am-certain-of-right-now-is-that-i-don-t-want-to-go-anywhere-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [The first one was quite cheap, but that was expensive for us. For my folks to buy on the Never Never. It was quite,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/the-first-one-was-quite-cheap-but-that-was-expensive-for-us-for-my/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [It's taken me to be an older guy, an old man, to have an old man's voice. Because I only liked old men's voices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/it-s-taken-me-to-be-an-older-guy-an-old-man-to-have-an-old-man-s/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I've always wanted the sound of Muddy Waters' early records - only louder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-ve-always-wanted-the-sound-of-muddy-waters-early-records-only-louder/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [You can't mastermind everything. You'll go crazy. Just show up and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/you-can-t-mastermind-everything-you-ll-go-crazy-just-show-up-and-play/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Risk is trying to control something you are powerless over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/risk-is-trying-to-control-something-you-are-powerless-over/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I thought, 'My God, this is like Buddy Guy on acid.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-thought-my-god-this-is-like-buddy-guy-on-acid/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) [Explore all 137 Eric Clapton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) ## More Delight quotes > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) [Aaron Betsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-betsky/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-natural-power-exhilarates-a-true-talent-delights-the-possessor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. 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