---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why would a lazy guy become a parent of…"
description: "\"Why would a lazy guy become a parent of five? Then again, why would creative people who inherently don't like change and criticism become writers, acto..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/jim-gaffigan-580_actors_why-would-a-lazy-guy-become-a-parent-of_2294833.jpg"
---

#  Why would a lazy guy become a parent of five? Then again…

![“Why would a lazy guy become a parent of five? Then again, why would creative people who inherently don't like change and criticism become writers, actors, or comedians? There's something about this process. I joke about it: My kids have made me a better person, and I only need, like, 34 more of…” quote by Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/jim-gaffigan-580_actors_why-would-a-lazy-guy-become-a-parent-of_2294833.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/jim-gaffigan-580_actors_why-would-a-lazy-guy-become-a-parent-of_2294833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/jim-gaffigan-580_actors_why-would-a-lazy-guy-become-a-parent-of_2294833.jpg)

> “Why would a lazy guy become a parent of five? Then again, why would creative people who inherently don't like change and criticism become writers, actors, or comedians? There's something about this process. I joke about it: My kids have made me a better person, and I only need, like, 34 more of them to be a really good guy.”

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The comedian humorously reflects on the irony of lazy or creative people becoming parents or performers, suggesting that responsibilities can improve character.

**In simple terms:** Lazy or creative people often become parents or entertainers, which can make them better.

Key Takeaway

Embrace responsibilities as opportunities for growth.

Themes

parenthood creativity irony personal growth

Mood

lighthearted reflective

Type

observational self‑deprecating

When to use this quote

- family life
- career choices
- creative pursuits
- personal development

Key Concepts

responsibility humor self‑improvement

Questions to Reflect On

- How does responsibility shape your identity?
- Can humor help you accept life's contradictions?

A Different Perspective

Being a parent or performer may not solve laziness but can inspire change.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Better person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-person/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-people/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Good guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-guy/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [It was difficult, but it was also rewarding. When you have a chance to see kids get better, everything makes it all worth it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brandt/it-was-difficult-but-it-was-also-rewarding-when-you-have-a-chance-to/)

[Paul Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brandt/)

> [Great preschools are no easier to build than great high schools, and if you think your kids might be better off in the care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/great-preschools-are-no-easier-to-build-than-great-high-schools-and/)

[Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/)

> [Canada was built around a very simple premise. A promise that you can work hard and succeed and build a future for yourselves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/canada-was-built-around-a-very-simple-premise-a-promise-that-you-can/)

[Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/)

> [“I strive everyday to be a great parent so my kids can be better people when they move out into the world on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-vallely/i-strive-everyday-to-be-a-great-parent-so-my-kids-can-be-better/)

[Angela Vallely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-vallely/)

> [I think for every parent, they know their kids better than anybody else, and they have to just trust their own instincts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reiner/i-think-for-every-parent-they-know-their-kids-better-than-anybody/)

[Rob Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reiner/)

> [Basically, I've always raised my kids that people learn from their mistakes, and every father wants their kids to be better than them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prodigy/basically-i-ve-always-raised-my-kids-that-people-learn-from-their/)

[Prodigy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prodigy/)

> [It's sad because I worked so hard to be able to provide for my kids and give them a better life than I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashad-evans/it-s-sad-because-i-worked-so-hard-to-be-able-to-provide-for-my-kids/)

[Rashad Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashad-evans/)

> [Instead of just giving lip service to improving our schools, I will actually put the kids first and the teachers union behind in giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/instead-of-just-giving-lip-service-to-improving-our-schools-i-will/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [As long as I feel like I'm helping kids get better, I don't see why I should stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/as-long-as-i-feel-like-i-m-helping-kids-get-better-i-don-t-see-why-i/)

[Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/)

> [When we talk about something like student loans, what we should be talking about is the fact that every American wants their kids to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kander/when-we-talk-about-something-like-student-loans-what-we-should-be/)

[Jason Kander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kander/)

> [“And it won’t be the same if you have kids with some other, better girl, because they won’t be Alice and Noomi, and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/and-it-won-t-be-the-same-if-you-have-kids-with-some-other-better-girl/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Are your kids better off watching 10 hours of Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel every week?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-lamont/are-your-kids-better-off-watching-10-hours-of-nickelodeon-and-the/)

[Ian Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-lamont/)

> [Nothing is better than getting sick kids better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-eisen/nothing-is-better-than-getting-sick-kids-better/)

[Rich Eisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-eisen/)

> [ Kids do better, frankly \[when the economy is strong\]. Jobs make great years for kids. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/kids-do-better-frankly-when-the-economy-is-strong-jobs-make-great/)

[Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/)

> [I wish we could do a better job of understanding what we're doing to kids, because it can be better. It's unfair to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-wish-we-could-do-a-better-job-of-understanding-what-we-re-doing-to/)

[Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/)

## More by Jim Gaffigan

> [“Cousins are like celebrities for little kids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/cousins-are-like-celebrities-for-little-kids/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Stand-up comedy in the end, unlike the rest of the entertainment industry, is a meritocracy. There's a certain level of undeniability you can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/stand-up-comedy-in-the-end-unlike-the-rest-of-the-entertainment/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [I think growing up in Indiana prepares anyone for a life in comedy. I do feel like there is a certain kind of self-effacing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-think-growing-up-in-indiana-prepares-anyone-for-a-life-in-comedy-i/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Besides hot pockets keeps introducing new products every 10 minutes so I always have new stuff on the topic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/besides-hot-pockets-keeps-introducing-new-products-every-10-minutes/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [“The song goes, “Morning has broken,” and I’m pretty sure my children broke it. Like everything else they break, if they did break it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/the-song-goes-morning-has-broken-and-i-m-pretty-sure-my-children/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [I am single, I don't drink. It's kind of hard to get a woman buzzed when you don't drink. You'll be like, "Yeah, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-am-single-i-don-t-drink-it-s-kind-of-hard-to-get-a-woman-buzzed/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Babies and toddlers are mostly what I've been exposed to at this point. I'm hoping parenting just gets much easier after this. It does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/babies-and-toddlers-are-mostly-what-i-ve-been-exposed-to-at-this/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Isn't it strange -- when you're single, all you see is couples, and when you're part of a couple, all you see are hookers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/isn-t-it-strange-when-you-re-single-all-you-see-is-couples-and-when/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [I usually don't have a burger, a brat, and a steak but it is 4th of July. And I need the energy if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-usually-don-t-have-a-burger-a-brat-and-a-steak-but-it-is-4th-of/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [“If you complain about how you spend your Saturdays taking your kid to birthday parties, that means you are taking your kid to birthday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/if-you-complain-about-how-you-spend-your-saturdays-taking-your-kid-to/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Ever eat so much you feel sick? Isn't that the best?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/ever-eat-so-much-you-feel-sick-isn-t-that-the-best/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [I believe that comedians do what they do, and then they get credit or criticism for doing it. There's nothing planned about this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-believe-that-comedians-do-what-they-do-and-then-they-get-credit-or/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [“Being a parent is a selfless adventure. The worldview of “Take care of yourself first” is no longer logical to a sane person if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/being-a-parent-is-a-selfless-adventure-the-worldview-of-take-care-of/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [“Occasionally, a dog will be presented as some training method for having a baby. "My girlfriend and I got a dog. We are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/occasionally-a-dog-will-be-presented-as-some-training-method-for/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Cookies at both of them. The cookies are probably better at Letterman though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/cookies-at-both-of-them-the-cookies-are-probably-better-at-letterman/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

[Explore all 465 Jim Gaffigan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

## More Actors quotes

> [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/)

[Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/)

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/)

[Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/)

> [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/)

[Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/)

[Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/)

> [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

> [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/)

[Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/)

> [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

> [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/)

[Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/)

> [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/)

[Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/)

[Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Why would a lazy guy become a parent of five? Then again, why would creative people who inherently don't like change and criticism become writers, actors, or comedians? There's something about this process. I joke about it: My kids have made me a better person, and I only need, like, 34 more of them to be a really good guy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jim Gaffigan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/why-would-a-lazy-guy-become-a-parent-of-five-then-again-why-would/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actors"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/why-would-a-lazy-guy-become-a-parent-of-five-then-again-why-would/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/jim-gaffigan-580_actors_why-would-a-lazy-guy-become-a-parent-of_2294833.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/jim-gaffigan-580_actors_why-would-a-lazy-guy-become-a-parent-of_2294833.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/jim-gaffigan-580_actors_why-would-a-lazy-guy-become-a-parent-of_2294833.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Why would a lazy guy become a parent of five? Then again, why would creative people who inherently don't…” — Jim Gaffigan",
                "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": "Jim Gaffigan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Why would a lazy guy become...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/why-would-a-lazy-guy-become-a-parent-of-five-then-again-why-would/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/why-would-a-lazy-guy-become-a-parent-of-five-then-again-why-would/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
