--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was a struggle for a long time. My…" description: "\"It was a struggle for a long time. My parents were rightly cautious, in the sense that they were like, \"We want you to do what you want to do. We just ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/hasan-minhaj-3513_cautious_it-was-a-struggle-for-a-long-time-my-par_521561.jpg" --- # It was a struggle for a long time. My parents were rightly… ![“It was a struggle for a long time. My parents were rightly cautious, in the sense that they were like, "We want you to do what you want to do. We just also want you to not have to sleep on an air mattress for the rest of your life." What was beneficial for me was that I did everything I could to…” quote by Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/hasan-minhaj-3513_cautious_it-was-a-struggle-for-a-long-time-my-par_521561.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/hasan-minhaj-3513_cautious_it-was-a-struggle-for-a-long-time-my-par_521561.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/hasan-minhaj-3513_cautious_it-was-a-struggle-for-a-long-time-my-par_521561.jpg) > “It was a struggle for a long time. My parents were rightly cautious, in the sense that they were like, "We want you to do what you want to do. We just also want you to not have to sleep on an air mattress for the rest of your life." What was beneficial for me was that I did everything I could to let them be a part of my life and show them how seriously I took comedy. This is my way of helping people and contributing something to society, and I'm doing everything I can to be as funny as possible without embarrassing them. They're proud now.” [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes balancing parental expectations with comedic ambition, using humor to honor family. **In simple terms:** Balancing family expectations with personal goals. Key Takeaway Pursue passions while respecting family values. Themes family career humor determination Mood hopeful determined Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - family discussions - career planning - creative projects Key Concepts cultural expectations personal growth legacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor family while forging your own path? - What role does humor play in reconciling conflict? A Different Perspective May overlook the pressure of financial stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-way-400489/) [Doing Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-funny-1534910/) [Embarrassing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassing/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Helping people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping-people/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [My way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-way/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Rightly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-rightly-4400165/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Rest of your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest-of-your-life/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Took Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-comedy-885405/) ## Related quotes > [My favorite comedians are just presenting an argument, and they're doing it in a funny way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/my-favorite-comedians-are-just-presenting-an-argument-and-they-re/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [Comedians have varying levels of training. It can range from classically trained actors (like Robin Williams) to people who took comedy classes to folks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-alexandro/comedians-have-varying-levels-of-training-it-can-range-from/) [Ted Alexandro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-alexandro/) > [I was doing a lot of drama until I took the comedy role in the series 'Car 54, Where Are You?,' and I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rae/i-was-doing-a-lot-of-drama-until-i-took-the-comedy-role-in-the-series/) [Charlotte Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rae/) > [For the first actual comedy-comedy I did, I took a comedy class in New York, which was full of slightly unhinged people. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/for-the-first-actual-comedy-comedy-i-did-i-took-a-comedy-class-in-new/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [When I'm doing a drama, I wish I was doing something funny. When I'm doing something funny, I wish I was doing something more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ruck/when-i-m-doing-a-drama-i-wish-i-was-doing-something-funny-when-i-m/) [Alan Ruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ruck/) > [Comedy is a serious business. It's frustrating when I can't find the right thing that makes the crew laugh. If I don't make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/comedy-is-a-serious-business-it-s-frustrating-when-i-can-t-find-the/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [People never ask people doing serious music, 'Do you ever think about doing funny music?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-yankovic/people-never-ask-people-doing-serious-music-do-you-ever-think-about/) [Al Yankovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-yankovic/) > [Doing funny scary is something that is rarely good and rarely works, and it's also something that's incredibly hard to market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/doing-funny-scary-is-something-that-is-rarely-good-and-rarely-works/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [I've always enjoyed watching characters that aren't aware that they're doing anything funny. And I think that inherently makes them funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-ve-always-enjoyed-watching-characters-that-aren-t-aware-that-they/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [That's humour - doing what funny people have done since comedy began without being edgy and pushing boundaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/that-s-humour-doing-what-funny-people-have-done-since-comedy-began/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I love making people laugh by doing something funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-park/i-love-making-people-laugh-by-doing-something-funny/) [Jamie Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-park/) > [I will make a joke about any of my family members, about me, about my wife, if I really thought that I'm doing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-will-make-a-joke-about-any-of-my-family-members-about-me-about-my/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I like doing a funny show where I don't have to act and fall in love with a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-like-doing-a-funny-show-where-i-don-t-have-to-act-and-fall-in-love/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I do a lot of comedy and I like that. I am happy doing funny films. I am often the straight person in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-do-a-lot-of-comedy-and-i-like-that-i-am-happy-doing-funny-films-i/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [If the physical thing you're doing is funny, you don't have to act funny while doing it...Just be real and it will be funnier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/if-the-physical-thing-you-re-doing-is-funny-you-don-t-have-to-act/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) ## More by Hasan Minhaj > [I've found the 90-10 rule to be pretty true: 90 percent of what I come up with and write down is kinda 'eh,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-ve-found-the-90-10-rule-to-be-pretty-true-90-percent-of-what-i-come/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [When you immerse yourself in a community, you tend to rise in that community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/when-you-immerse-yourself-in-a-community-you-tend-to-rise-in-that/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [Aditi is a comedy superstar over in India. She's only one of three female English-speaking comedians in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/aditi-is-a-comedy-superstar-over-in-india-she-s-only-one-of-three/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [A lot of times, especially when it comes to political debates, people get caught up in esoteric statistics. So the realest thing I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/a-lot-of-times-especially-when-it-comes-to-political-debates-people/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [A lot of people in the media say that Donald Trump goes golfing too much, which raises a very important question: Why do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/a-lot-of-people-in-the-media-say-that-donald-trump-goes-golfing-too/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [As satirists, we get to stand on the sidelines of life and comment on what's happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/as-satirists-we-get-to-stand-on-the-sidelines-of-life-and-comment-on/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [My dad was the only son from his entire family to come to America, and I was his only son. We had come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/my-dad-was-the-only-son-from-his-entire-family-to-come-to-america-and/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [When you can tailor your act, you want it to be about yourself but also about the people in the room and the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/when-you-can-tailor-your-act-you-want-it-to-be-about-yourself-but/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [I think perspective is a necessary, amazing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-think-perspective-is-a-necessary-amazing-thing/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [I like to have straight-up black coffee, but when you get it, sometimes you'll burn your tongue, or it spills on your hands, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-like-to-have-straight-up-black-coffee-but-when-you-get-it-sometimes/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [I just started the way most comics start, doing open mic shows around Sacramento and San Francisco, and eventually, I moved to L.A. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-just-started-the-way-most-comics-start-doing-open-mic-shows-around/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [Jokes for jokes' sake are kind of meaningless to me. I understand the value of them, but it doesn't speak to me as much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/jokes-for-jokes-sake-are-kind-of-meaningless-to-me-i-understand-the/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [I'm not a Larry David. I don't have a 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and a 'Seinfeld' in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-m-not-a-larry-david-i-don-t-have-a-curb-your-enthusiasm-and-a/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [Your courage to do what's right has to be greater than your fear of getting hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/your-courage-to-do-what-s-right-has-to-be-greater-than-your-fear-of/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [I'm a huge fan of Beverly Cleary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-beverly-cleary/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) [Explore all 129 Hasan Minhaj quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) ## More Cautious quotes > [When I became successful, I put up a caution. I didn't think it was fair to have the shadow of that kind of success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-became-successful-i-put-up-a-caution-i-didn-t-think-it-was/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [When you jump across a canyon, cautious small steps and vacillation won't work. Sometimes you just have to go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-you-jump-across-a-canyon-cautious-small-steps-and-vacillation/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Fear and caution are two different things. Be cautious - be conscious - but do not be fearful. Fear only paralyzes, while consciousness mobilizes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-and-caution-are-two-different-things-be-cautious-be-conscious/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear; The brave may not live forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [Americans want a strong military but one that is extremely cautious about getting involved in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/americans-want-a-strong-military-but-one-that-is-extremely-cautious/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [We old roosters must be cautious. Don't try to outwit your arteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/we-old-roosters-must-be-cautious-don-t-try-to-outwit-your-arteries/) [S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/) > [The more a race is governed by its passions, the less it has acquired the habit of cautious and reasoned argument, the more intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-more-a-race-is-governed-by-its-passions-the-less-it-has-acquired/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It's kind of an unwritten law, I think, being - carrying the name - George Bush. At times I ask myself, 'Am I going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/it-s-kind-of-an-unwritten-law-i-think-being-carrying-the-name-george/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [You ought to be extremely cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty; for instead of securing your rights, you may lose them forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/you-ought-to-be-extremely-cautious-watchful-jealous-of-your-liberty/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [I'm not paranoid, but I am cautious. I don't drink tea with strangers, I don't fly Aeroflot and I avoid certain countries with close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/i-m-not-paranoid-but-i-am-cautious-i-don-t-drink-tea-with-strangers-i/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Candidates should be extremely cautious in displaying a sense of humor. If he or she tells a joke with a point, there is almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-germond/candidates-should-be-extremely-cautious-in-displaying-a-sense-of/) [Jack Germond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-germond/) [Browse all 501 Cautious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was a struggle for a long time. My parents were rightly cautious, in the sense that they were like, \"We want you to do what you want to do. We just also want you to not have to sleep on an air mattress for the rest of your life.\" What was beneficial for me was that I did everything I could to let them be a part of my life and show them how seriously I took comedy. This is my way of helping people and contributing something to society, and I'm doing everything I can to be as funny as possible without embarrassing them. 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