--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dad smiled. He put a big arm around me…" description: "\"“Dad smiled. He put a big arm around me and pulled me to him, kissing the side of my head. “I don’t know what I believe, Hazel. I thought being an adul..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/john-green-12_quote_dad-smiled-he-put-a-big-arm-around-me-an_2047195.jpg" --- # Dad smiled. He put a big arm around me and pulled me to… ![“Dad smiled. He put a big arm around me and pulled me to him, kissing the side of my head. “I don’t know what I believe, Hazel. I thought being an adult meant knowing what you believe, but that has not been my experience.” quote by John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/john-green-12_quote_dad-smiled-he-put-a-big-arm-around-me-an_2047195.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/john-green-12_quote_dad-smiled-he-put-a-big-arm-around-me-an_2047195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/john-green-12_quote_dad-smiled-he-put-a-big-arm-around-me-an_2047195.jpg) > ““Dad smiled. He put a big arm around me and pulled me to him, kissing the side of my head. “I don’t know what I believe, Hazel. I thought being an adult meant knowing what you believe, but that has not been my experience.”” [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An adult confesses uncertainty about belief, showing that maturity doesn't guarantee certainty. **In simple terms:** Adults can still be unsure about beliefs. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty as part of growth. Themes identity faith family growth Mood reflective introspective Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - personal crisis - family conversation - spiritual questioning Key Concepts existential doubt parental love self‑discovery Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle uncertainty in your beliefs? - What role does family play in shaping belief? A Different Perspective Belief may evolve, not a fixed state. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe Hazel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-hazel-1968238/) [Dad Smiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad-smiled-357917/) [Hazel Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hazel-thought-1968237/) [Kissing Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissing-head-3840050/) [Smiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled/) ## Related quotes > [“I don't know what I believe, Hazel. I thought being an adult meant knowing what you believe, but that has not been my experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-don-t-know-what-i-believe-hazel-i-thought-being-an-adult-meant/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“There's a girl, Dad." He smiled a bit. "A girl." "She kinda hates me, and I kinda..." "Love her?" "I don't know. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/there-s-a-girl-dad-he-smiled-a-bit-a-girl-she-kinda-hates-me-and-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“Benji grinned back. “You’re being a real asshole today, Mr. Barnes. Well done—you been practicing?” Dad smiled, obviously relaxed. “Yeah, you know, kid, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/benji-grinned-back-you-re-being-a-real-asshole-today-mr-barnes-well/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“Bye, dear ol’ Dad.” He smiled. “Bye, my son, my son.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-palacio/bye-dear-ol-dad-he-smiled-bye-my-son-my-son/) [R.J. Palacio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-palacio/) > [“There’s a girl, Dad.” He smiled a bit. “A girl.” “She kinda hates me, and I kinda . . .” “Love her?” “I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/there-s-a-girl-dad-he-smiled-a-bit-a-girl-she-kinda-hates-me-and-i-2/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“You know what they say," Dad said. "If you love something set it free." "What if he doesn't come back?" "Something do, somethings don't,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-e-smith/you-know-what-they-say-dad-said-if-you-love-something-set-it-free/) [Jennifer E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-e-smith/) > [“Time’s Flying,” said Dad. He Smiled. He pointed to the air. “There it is, flying past! Catch it!” And he jumped, and caught Time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-almond/time-s-flying-said-dad-he-smiled-he-pointed-to-the-air-there-it-is/) [David Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-almond/) > [Sometimes I don't get you,' I said. She didn't even glance at me. She just smiled toward the television and said, 'You never get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/sometimes-i-don-t-get-you-i-said-she-didn-t-even-glance-at-me-she/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I smiled a little. “Everyone knows, is all. That I went crazy or whatever.” “Oh, sweetie,” she said. “You didn’t go crazy. You’ve always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-smiled-a-little-everyone-knows-is-all-that-i-went-crazy-or-whatever/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I smiled. She smiled. I believed the smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-smiled-she-smiled-i-believed-the-smile/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Oh, I’m grand.” Augustus Waters smiled with a corner of his mouth. “I’m on a roller coaster that only goes up, my friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/oh-i-m-grand-augustus-waters-smiled-with-a-corner-of-his-mouth-i-m-on/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [There were five others before they got to him. He smiled a little when his turn came. His voice was low, smoky, and dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/there-were-five-others-before-they-got-to-him-he-smiled-a-little-when/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Why do you smoke so damn fast?" I asked. She looked at me and smiled widely, and such a wide smile on her narrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/why-do-you-smoke-so-damn-fast-i-asked-she-looked-at-me-and-smiled/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [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/) > [“She smiled at and spoke to each person. It was as though she couldn't come into contact with anyone or anything without imparting some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/she-smiled-at-and-spoke-to-each-person-it-was-as-though-she-couldn-t/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) ## More by John Green > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I just want to stay away from people and read books and think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-just-want-to-stay-away-from-people-and-read-books-and-think/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [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/) > [A Margo for each of us--and each more mirror than window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-margo-for-each-of-us-and-each-more-mirror-than-window/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/no-one-ever-says-good-bye-unless-they-want-to-see-you-again/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Traffic's not too bad on Sheridan, and I'm cornering the car like it's the Indy 500, and we're listening to my favorite NMH song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/traffic-s-not-too-bad-on-sheridan-and-i-m-cornering-the-car-like-it-s/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Praise God for good nurses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/praise-god-for-good-nurses/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Nothing has ever looked like that ever in all of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nothing-has-ever-looked-like-that-ever-in-all-of-human-history/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“said to him quietly, as if I couldn’t hear or something. Dad was about to respond but I interrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/said-to-him-quietly-as-if-i-couldn-t-hear-or-something-dad-was-about/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I believe humans have souls, and I believe in the conservation of souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-believe-humans-have-souls-and-i-believe-in-the-conservation-of-souls/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“He was hot. A nonhotboy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-was-hot-a-nonhotboy-stares-at-you-relentlessly-and-it-is-at-best/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (...) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/imagining-the-future-is-a-kind-of-nostalgia-you-spend-your-whole-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Explore all 3,614 John Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More Smiled quotes > [“She smiled at and spoke to each person. It was as though she couldn't come into contact with anyone or anything without imparting some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/she-smiled-at-and-spoke-to-each-person-it-was-as-though-she-couldn-t/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [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/) > [When they took me to do the camera test for the vampire make up, after they put the prosthetic on, I went though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/when-they-took-me-to-do-the-camera-test-for-the-vampire-make-up-after/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [“They didn't understand, it not being directed at them, what that smile could do. The power of it. It was like every time he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/they-didn-t-understand-it-not-being-directed-at-them-what-that-smile/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-frowned-i-thought-you-and-nina-chose-four-outbreak-sites-on-the/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Miss Craven held up a pair she thought would fit me—monstrous great things they were, of course, and I thought she smiled as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/miss-craven-held-up-a-pair-she-thought-would-fit-me-monstrous-great/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [“That man had blond hair, all right, and he smiled and showed all his teeth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-chandler-warner/that-man-had-blond-hair-all-right-and-he-smiled-and-showed-all-his/) [Gertrude Chandler Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-chandler-warner/) > [“Then, with one of his quick changes of mood, he smiled. “Yes, there’s one thing I do want. I want to be aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-with-one-of-his-quick-changes-of-mood-he-smiled-yes-there-s-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Kurt smiled a shy smile. "You're just trying to cheer me up," he said. "Course I am," Andy said. "You deserve to be full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/kurt-smiled-a-shy-smile-you-re-just-trying-to-cheer-me-up-he-said/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“He smiled sadly. "I was lost from the moment I saw you on Ovchinin Island. 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Perhaps we could haggle over a dinner plate or a piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-andre/that-s-it-he-smiled-that-s-it-unless-you-d-like-to-meet-again/) [Becca Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-andre/) > [“Oh ... why not?' he smiled. "This valley is a pleasant spot for meditation. I like New England... it is here that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-why-not-he-smiled-this-valley-is-a-pleasant-spot-for-meditation-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,165 Smiled quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Dad smiled. He put a big arm around me and pulled me to him, kissing the side of my head. “I don’t know what I believe, Hazel. 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