--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's hard to describe to people how…" description: "\"It's hard to describe to people how terrible it was when you could only watch cartoons at a certain time in your life. But no, I would watch all of the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/jon-hamm-8288_adults_it-s-hard-to-describe-to-people-how-terr_60502.jpg" --- # It's hard to describe to people how terrible it was when… ![“It's hard to describe to people how terrible it was when you could only watch cartoons at a certain time in your life. But no, I would watch all of them - the Warner Bros. cartoons and the Bugs Bunnys and then the Tex Avery stuff. Looking back on it, they were so incredibly subversive for their…” quote by Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/jon-hamm-8288_adults_it-s-hard-to-describe-to-people-how-terr_60502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/jon-hamm-8288_adults_it-s-hard-to-describe-to-people-how-terr_60502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/jon-hamm-8288_adults_it-s-hard-to-describe-to-people-how-terr_60502.jpg) > “It's hard to describe to people how terrible it was when you could only watch cartoons at a certain time in your life. But no, I would watch all of them - the Warner Bros. cartoons and the Bugs Bunnys and then the Tex Avery stuff. Looking back on it, they were so incredibly subversive for their time. You'd think, "Oh, they're just making jokes and this or that." But when you watch them as an adult, you think, "Oh no, they were talking about some pretty deep stuff."” [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on how classic cartoons, once seen as simple entertainment, contain hidden subversive commentary that becomes apparent when revisited as an adult. **In simple terms:** Cartoons hide deeper social critique. Key Takeaway Nostalgic media can reveal unexpected depth. Themes nostalgia subversion media analysis cultural criticism adult perspective Mood reflective curious nostalgic Type observation analysis reflection When to use this quote - rewatching childhood shows - teaching media literacy - analyzing pop culture Key Concepts animation satire historical context psychology Practical Applications - educational curricula - content creation Questions to Reflect On - How does humor mask serious topics? - What does this say about generational perception? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adult Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adult-think-826095/) [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Bros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bros/) [Bros Cartoons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bros-cartoons-826096/) [Bugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bugs/) [Bugs bunny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bugs-bunny/) [Cartoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoon/) [Cartoons Bugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoons-bugs-826094/) [Cartoons Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoons-certain-826097/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-back/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Subversive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subversive/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Warner bros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warner-bros/) [Watch Cartoons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watch-cartoons-759670/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) ## Related quotes > [It's hard to describe to people how terrible it was when you could only watch cartoons at a certain time in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/it-s-hard-to-describe-to-people-how-terrible-it-was-when-you-could-2/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [I'm 40 years old, and I still love watching Bugs Bunny slap the bull on the nose. I still watch those cartoons, and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-smith/i-m-40-years-old-and-i-still-love-watching-bugs-bunny-slap-the-bull/) [Jeff Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-smith/) > [I wouldn't know anything about opera music if it wasn't for Bugs Bunny. That was my entire introduction to opera music. I wouldn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-wouldn-t-know-anything-about-opera-music-if-it-wasn-t-for-bugs/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I have a daughter and she's the greatest thing that ever happened to me. She gives me a good excuse to watch cartoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dirnt/i-have-a-daughter-and-she-s-the-greatest-thing-that-ever-happened-to/) [Mike Dirnt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dirnt/) > [You might be a redneck if you watch cartoons long after your kids get bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-watch-cartoons-long-after-your-kids-get/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [I watch cartoons the way most adults watch reality-TV shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/i-watch-cartoons-the-way-most-adults-watch-reality-tv-shows/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [I didn't watch cartoons, I was too busy playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/i-didn-t-watch-cartoons-i-was-too-busy-playing-football/) [Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/) > [As many people have pointed out, the scene in ‘Kung Fu Hustle’ where the Landlady was chasing after me resembled the Roadrunner, … I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chow/as-many-people-have-pointed-out-the-scene-in-kung-fu-hustle-where-the/) [Stephen Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chow/) > [I watch the same cartoons over and over again. I watch Adult Swim. I watch 'Futurama' repeatedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-brock/i-watch-the-same-cartoons-over-and-over-again-i-watch-adult-swim-i/) [Isaac Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-brock/) > [If I'm really jet-lagged and need to get to sleep, I just try and watch cartoons. As long as it's animated, I don't care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/if-i-m-really-jet-lagged-and-need-to-get-to-sleep-i-just-try-and/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [I don't watch cartoons always but I think its not made only for kids but men do watch it also](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giftthabest/i-don-t-watch-cartoons-always-but-i-think-its-not-made-only-for-kids/) [Giftthabest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giftthabest/) > [I loved to watch cartoons and even made little stop-motion films in the backyard. At the time, I never really thought that it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-darnell/i-loved-to-watch-cartoons-and-even-made-little-stop-motion-films-in/) [Eric Darnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-darnell/) > [Straight up could watch cartoons all day,there literally is no age limit to cartoons. And I hate how people associate it with being childish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/straight-up-could-watch-cartoons-all-day-there-literally-is-no-age/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think I have any guilt or embarrassment about any of the TV shows I watch. Maybe the fact that the shows I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-butler/i-don-t-think-i-have-any-guilt-or-embarrassment-about-any-of-the-tv/) [Ross Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-butler/) > [I watch cartoons a lot. I'm a big 'Rick and Morty' and 'South Park' fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/i-watch-cartoons-a-lot-i-m-a-big-rick-and-morty-and-south-park-fan/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) ## More by Jon Hamm > [People go through different stages of their lives at different times. If you're out of sync with your friend group, that gets exploded once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/people-go-through-different-stages-of-their-lives-at-different-times/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I got into acting because my teachers kept nudging me into it. The power a teacher has to influence someone is so great. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-got-into-acting-because-my-teachers-kept-nudging-me-into-it-the/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [Would you want people walking up to you and pointing at your d--k? I can't believe I'm still talking about this. But I've worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/would-you-want-people-walking-up-to-you-and-pointing-at-your-d-k-i/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [Any time you're making a movie, all you want to do is reduce the variables of things that could possibly go wrong. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/any-time-you-re-making-a-movie-all-you-want-to-do-is-reduce-the/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I always say I make the movies where people go, 'Hey, I never saw it, but when I finally did, I really liked it.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-always-say-i-make-the-movies-where-people-go-hey-i-never-saw-it-but/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I'm not Yadier Molina behind the plate, but I can throw a ball to second on a rope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-m-not-yadier-molina-behind-the-plate-but-i-can-throw-a-ball-to/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I'm painfully aware of my surroundings at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-m-painfully-aware-of-my-surroundings-at-all-times/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [The world keeps moving, the world keeps turning, and people get older, and young people become older and more important and cooler and interesting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/the-world-keeps-moving-the-world-keeps-turning-and-people-get-older/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I've always had weird hair, and it's never looked good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-ve-always-had-weird-hair-and-it-s-never-looked-good/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [Being in an ensemble cast is the best. You're all in the same boat. You're all together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/being-in-an-ensemble-cast-is-the-best-you-re-all-in-the-same-boat-you/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [The great thing about getting older is living life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/the-great-thing-about-getting-older-is-living-life/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [The last thing I wanted to do was play another womanizer or ladies' man or Lothario. I've taken myself out of the running for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/the-last-thing-i-wanted-to-do-was-play-another-womanizer-or-ladies/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [It's definitely nerve-racking to be the center of attention. I'm not the kind of an actor that just craves attention 24-7 - but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/it-s-definitely-nerve-racking-to-be-the-center-of-attention-i-m-not/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I felt very comfortable playing Don Draper, because I knew that Don Draper is a character - that Dick Whitman is playing Don Draper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-felt-very-comfortable-playing-don-draper-because-i-knew-that-don/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I came in the Dawson's Creek era; it was all about tiny guys who looked like teenagers, and I haven't looked like a teenager…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-came-in-the-dawson-s-creek-era-it-was-all-about-tiny-guys-who/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) [Explore all 82 Jon Hamm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) [One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's hard to describe to people how terrible it was when you could only watch cartoons at a certain time in your life. But no, I would watch all of them - the Warner Bros. cartoons and the Bugs Bunnys and then the Tex Avery stuff. Looking back on it, they were so incredibly subversive for their time. 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