--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When my dad passed, I felt like I had to…" description: "\"When my dad passed, I felt like I had to grow up very quickly.\" — Malachi Kirby" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/malachi-kirby-17803_dad_when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to_2852100.jpg" --- # When my dad passed, I felt like I had to grow up very… ![“When my dad passed, I felt like I had to grow up very quickly.” quote by Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/malachi-kirby-17803_dad_when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to_2852100.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/malachi-kirby-17803_dad_when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to_2852100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/malachi-kirby-17803_dad_when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to_2852100.jpg) > “When my dad passed, I felt like I had to grow up very quickly.” [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grief forced premature adulthood, reshaping identity and responsibilities. **In simple terms:** Loss can accelerate maturity. Key Takeaway Embrace growth while processing loss. Themes grief responsibility identity Mood reflective somber Type personal narrative When to use this quote - family loss - career start - personal crisis - sudden independence Key Concepts psychology developmental transition Questions to Reflect On - How did this change your view of adulthood? - What support helped you adapt? A Different Perspective Maturity may be uneven and emotionally taxing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Dad Passed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad-passed-479770/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-like/) [Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow/) [Grow Quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-quickly-495311/) [Grow up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-up/) [Like Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-grow-263246/) [Quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quickly/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [“Things grow quickly are often more easily destroyed than those which take a long time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/things-grow-quickly-are-often-more-easily-destroyed-than-those-which/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I had to grow up very quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/i-had-to-grow-up-very-quickly/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [I guess some kids around me had to grow up quickly, had all those problems. But I wasn't one of those kids, or around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/i-guess-some-kids-around-me-had-to-grow-up-quickly-had-all-those/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [My dad passed when I was 6. I found out when I was about 21 that my dad always said acting would be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-when-i-was-about-21-that-my/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [Every cliche about kids is true; they grow up so quickly, you blink and they're gone, and you have to spend the time with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/every-cliche-about-kids-is-true-they-grow-up-so-quickly-you-blink-and/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [In football, you have to grow up quickly, and you're generally more mature than other people your age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kane/in-football-you-have-to-grow-up-quickly-and-you-re-generally-more/) [Harry Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kane/) > [You may grow very quickly the first two years and then watch the business decline, unless you really start selling product at any price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narciso-rodriguez/you-may-grow-very-quickly-the-first-two-years-and-then-watch-the/) [Narciso Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narciso-rodriguez/) > [Sensuality often makes love grow too quickly, so that the root remains weak and is easy to pull out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/sensuality-often-makes-love-grow-too-quickly-so-that-the-root-remains/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“She's really gone, then...Time and tragedy have forced her to grow too quickly...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/she-s-really-gone-then-time-and-tragedy-have-forced-her-to-grow-too/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“How plants grow: Quickly. Most plants grow fast and die young. People get seventy years, a bean plant gets four months, maybe five. Once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson-speak/how-plants-grow-quickly-most-plants-grow-fast-and-die-young-people/) [Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson-speak/) > [Trees, though they are cut and loped, grow up again quickly, but if men are destroyed, it is not easy to get them again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pericles/trees-though-they-are-cut-and-loped-grow-up-again-quickly-but-if-men/) [Pericles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pericles/) > [Fight for time with your family. They grow so quickly, and they are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/fight-for-time-with-your-family-they-grow-so-quickly-and-they-are-gone/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [“you find yourself repeating, ‘They grow up so quickly, don’t they?’ when all you really mean is: time goes faster for me nowadays.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-find-yourself-repeating-they-grow-up-so-quickly-don-t-they-when/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [Pigs grow very quickly, and you can see a difference within days. So we would shoot with one piglet for a couple of days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-babu/pigs-grow-very-quickly-and-you-can-see-a-difference-within-days-so-we/) [Ravi Babu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-babu/) > [To live abroad you have to grow up quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teemu-pukki/to-live-abroad-you-have-to-grow-up-quickly/) [Teemu Pukki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teemu-pukki/) ## More by Malachi Kirby > [Kunta Kinte's strength derives from the knowledge of where he comes from, but it struck me that I don't know where I come from.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/kunta-kinte-s-strength-derives-from-the-knowledge-of-where-he-comes/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [One of the biggest things that I took from playing Kunta Kinte was where his strength came from in knowing where he was from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/one-of-the-biggest-things-that-i-took-from-playing-kunta-kinte-was/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [When I heard that 'Roots' was being remade, my first response was, 'Seriously?' I was a bit skeptical. Then I had an audition in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/when-i-heard-that-roots-was-being-remade-my-first-response-was/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [I believe it's important to have equal opportunities as a black actor. My way of fighting for it is through my art, by not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-believe-it-s-important-to-have-equal-opportunities-as-a-black-actor/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [I found that there were things that God could reveal to me that I could never get myself physically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-found-that-there-were-things-that-god-could-reveal-to-me-that-i/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [Charlie Brooker is crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/charlie-brooker-is-crazy/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [I was 22 when my mother gave me the original box set of 'Roots' and she said, 'I want you to watch this.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-was-22-when-my-mother-gave-me-the-original-box-set-of-roots-and-she/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [Playing Kunta Kinte is an emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/playing-kunta-kinte-is-an-emotional-physical-spiritual-and-mental/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [I was taught about slavery, but it was the ancient Egyptians. That's the closest I got to African history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-was-taught-about-slavery-but-it-was-the-ancient-egyptians-that-s/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [My roots go back to West Africa, but my last name is Kirby, which is not an African name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/my-roots-go-back-to-west-africa-but-my-last-name-is-kirby-which-is/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [There are many people still ashamed of their roots because of the negative connotations that come with being an 'African.' That sentiment exists many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/there-are-many-people-still-ashamed-of-their-roots-because-of-the/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [My dad passed when I was 6. I found out when I was about 21 that my dad always said acting would be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-when-i-was-about-21-that-my/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [Kunta Kinte is the closest thing I've ever seen... to a superhero. He's amazing. He's inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/kunta-kinte-is-the-closest-thing-i-ve-ever-seen-to-a-superhero-he-s/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [It's really cheesy, but basically, 'Roots' got me to find out my own roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/it-s-really-cheesy-but-basically-roots-got-me-to-find-out-my-own-roots/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [Kids under, I'd say, 14 are still maturing; they are still growing. They are still understanding themselves. To hit them with something like 'Roots,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/kids-under-i-d-say-14-are-still-maturing-they-are-still-growing-they/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) [Explore all 36 Malachi Kirby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) [Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When my dad passed, I felt like I had to grow up very quickly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Malachi Kirby" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to-grow-up-very-quickly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to-grow-up-very-quickly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/malachi-kirby-17803_dad_when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to_2852100.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/malachi-kirby-17803_dad_when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to_2852100.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/malachi-kirby-17803_dad_when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to_2852100.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When my dad passed, I felt like I had to grow up very quickly.” — Malachi Kirby", "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": "Malachi Kirby", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When my dad passed, I felt...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to-grow-up-very-quickly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/when-my-dad-passed-i-felt-like-i-had-to-grow-up-very-quickly/#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 } } ] } ```