--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been thinking about your Father a…" description: "\"“I've been thinking about your Father a lot lately, and I've realized something. I married Gary specifically for the fact that he wasn't Curtis. If you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/matthew-norman-22235_father_i-ve-been-thinking-about-your-father-a-l_1619574.jpg" --- # I've been thinking about your Father a lot lately, and… ![“I've been thinking about your Father a lot lately, and I've realized something. I married Gary specifically for the fact that he wasn't Curtis. If your Father has an opposite, it's Gary. I just need to decide if I want to spend the rest of my life with someone I married by default.” quote by Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/matthew-norman-22235_father_i-ve-been-thinking-about-your-father-a-l_1619574.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/matthew-norman-22235_father_i-ve-been-thinking-about-your-father-a-l_1619574.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/matthew-norman-22235_father_i-ve-been-thinking-about-your-father-a-l_1619574.jpg) > ““I've been thinking about your Father a lot lately, and I've realized something. I married Gary specifically for the fact that he wasn't Curtis. If your Father has an opposite, it's Gary. I just need to decide if I want to spend the rest of my life with someone I married by default.”” [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) ## 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 choosing a partner as a reaction to a father figure, questioning if the choice is authentic **In simple terms:** Choosing a partner to avoid a father‑like figure may be unhealthy Key Takeaway Examine motives behind partner selection Themes relationships family dynamics self‑awareness Mood introspective cautious Type reflective psychological When to use this quote - dating - therapeutic counseling - personal reflection Key Concepts attachment theory identity decision making Questions to Reflect On - What does this reveal about your needs? - How can you choose based on love, not avoidance? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex emotional needs ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [People see my face, they hear my voice, and I know they're thinking about my father. That's OK - he was a great man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhani-harrison/people-see-my-face-they-hear-my-voice-and-i-know-they-re-thinking/) [Dhani Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhani-harrison/) > [I kept thinking my father would come back, But he never did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-rodriguez/i-kept-thinking-my-father-would-come-back-but-he-never-did/) [Alex Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-rodriguez/) > [In the cab to the station, he told me that when he was growing up he'd see a look of pleasure cross his mother's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-cab-to-the-station-he-told-me-that-when-he-was-growing-up-he-d/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Listen to his dangerous and inclusionary thinking: “My Father's sun shines on the good and the bad, his rain falls on the just and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/listen-to-his-dangerous-and-inclusionary-thinking-my-father-s-sun/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [An artist is always thinking of something else. My father was like that. He had this feeling of abstraction, and I do, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/an-artist-is-always-thinking-of-something-else-my-father-was-like/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [“If I learned anything from thinking about my father, it's that there is a force in the world that doesn't want us to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/if-i-learned-anything-from-thinking-about-my-father-it-s-that-there/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [Why, on my mother's birthday, am I thinking about 'Father Knows Best?' At our house, mother knew best at least as often as father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shales/why-on-my-mother-s-birthday-am-i-thinking-about-father-knows-best-at/) [Tom Shales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-shales/) > [“When Lee has a certain look on his face, eyes kind of amused, mouth small and tight, he finds himself thinking of his father.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/when-lee-has-a-certain-look-on-his-face-eyes-kind-of-amused-mouth/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [“My father called twice and left a voicemail—who does that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/my-father-called-twice-and-left-a-voicemail-who-does-that/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) ## More by Matthew Norman > [“She tells me she’s a certified smeller of books and that that is probably her best quality. “So It Goes.” is tattooed on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/she-tells-me-she-s-a-certified-smeller-of-books-and-that-that-is/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“Anna is the sort of woman who writers write about, Tom. Somewhere in the third act, women like her save characters like you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/anna-is-the-sort-of-woman-who-writers-write-about-tom-somewhere-in/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“I have to speak carefully now because I have this strange habit of imitating British people without even realizing that I'm doing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/i-have-to-speak-carefully-now-because-i-have-this-strange-habit-of/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“Never trust someone who isn’t miserable at least half of the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/never-trust-someone-who-isn-t-miserable-at-least-half-of-the-time/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“She technically apologized yesterday, but it was one of those married-people apologies, more of a tactical move than anything else, a way of moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/she-technically-apologized-yesterday-but-it-was-one-of-those-married/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“Hidden up there behind some branches sits one glaring squirrel. “I don’t know,” I say. “He looks pretty pissed, though.” “Good.” I see now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/hidden-up-there-behind-some-branches-sits-one-glaring-squirrel-i-don/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“Whoa," I say. "Look how tall he is." "Actors are always midgets in person," says Brandon, "But writers...they're giants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/whoa-i-say-look-how-tall-he-is-actors-are-always-midgets-in-person/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“This house has endured three of my Dad's four wives, and so over the last few decades it's been a home-size mood ring, changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/this-house-has-endured-three-of-my-dad-s-four-wives-and-so-over-the/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“I don't think -" I begin, but then I stop there. Strangely enough, this sounds like a full, declarative sentence, as if I'm standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/i-don-t-think-i-begin-but-then-i-stop-there-strangely-enough-this/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“You look good," I tell my reflection. "Hot?" But this last part comes out with a question mark at the end. I've never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/you-look-good-i-tell-my-reflection-hot-but-this-last-part-comes-out/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“We're all damaged. Every single beautiful, stupid, precious one of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/we-re-all-damaged-every-single-beautiful-stupid-precious-one-of-us/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“I instantly like people who laugh at my jokes. It's a weakness of mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/i-instantly-like-people-who-laugh-at-my-jokes-it-s-a-weakness-of-mine/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“I think you'll be a great teacher," said Gary. That's his role in my life: blind encourager and ambassador of false senses of security.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/i-think-you-ll-be-a-great-teacher-said-gary-that-s-his-role-in-my/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“After the age of about . . . what, sixteen? We’re all damaged. Every single beautiful, stupid, precious one of us. Damaged, damaged, damaged.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/after-the-age-of-about-what-sixteen-we-re-all-damaged-every-single/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“In my career, I've found that only annoying people knock on open doors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/in-my-career-i-ve-found-that-only-annoying-people-knock-on-open-doors/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) [Explore all 28 Matthew Norman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) ## More Father quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [“My father called twice and left a voicemail—who does that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/my-father-called-twice-and-left-a-voicemail-who-does-that/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [“I don’t know. We all have to bear things, Ari. All of us. Your father has to bear the war and what it did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-we-all-have-to-bear-things-ari-all-of-us-your-father-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This was, I sometimes thought, the last gift my father gave me. And the best: His death stood out as the supreme-o excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-stahl/this-was-i-sometimes-thought-the-last-gift-my-father-gave-me-and-the/) [Jerry Stahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-stahl/) > [My father was very encouraging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-nutini/my-father-was-very-encouraging/) [Paolo Nutini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-nutini/) > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Browse all 19,784 Father quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I've been thinking about your Father a lot lately, and I've realized something. I married Gary specifically for the fact that he wasn't Curtis. If your Father has an opposite, it's Gary. 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