--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was surprised by how much I like being…" description: "\"I was surprised by how much I like being a father; surprised at what a decent father I am, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to dump my selfishne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/michael-zaslow-24204_able_i-was-surprised-by-how-much-i-like-being_1624682.jpg" --- # I was surprised by how much I like being a father… ![“I was surprised by how much I like being a father; surprised at what a decent father I am, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to dump my selfishness.” quote by Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/michael-zaslow-24204_able_i-was-surprised-by-how-much-i-like-being_1624682.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/michael-zaslow-24204_able_i-was-surprised-by-how-much-i-like-being_1624682.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/michael-zaslow-24204_able_i-was-surprised-by-how-much-i-like-being_1624682.jpg) > “I was surprised by how much I like being a father; surprised at what a decent father I am, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to dump my selfishness.” [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing fatherhood revealed unexpected self‑growth, replacing selfishness with responsibility and pride. **In simple terms:** Fatherhood taught me I can be decent despite fear. Key Takeaway Embrace parenting as a chance to grow. Themes parenthood self‑improvement responsibility Mood reflective hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - parent‑teacher meetings - personal journaling Key Concepts identity emotional development role models Questions to Reflect On - How has fatherhood changed your self‑view? - What habits help balance selfishness and care? A Different Perspective May overlook personal needs while focusing on children. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Being a father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-father/) [Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent/) [Decent Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent-father-319734/) [Dump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dump/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-afraid-319735/) [Father Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-surprised-319733/) [Like Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-father/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) ## Related quotes > [I think I am a decent father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randhir-kapoor/i-think-i-am-a-decent-father/) [Randhir Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randhir-kapoor/) > [I don't mind being a grandfather; I've been a mother for so many years. 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I have four girls now. They're a captive audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/my-favorite-job-is-being-a-father-i-have-four-girls-now-they-re-a/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) ## More by Michael Zaslow > [Characters can be mysterious and you're not really sure which way they might turn at a given point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/characters-can-be-mysterious-and-you-re-not-really-sure-which-way/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [I don't want to sell myself short. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/here-was-a-man-with-loads-of-talent-loads-of-ability-lots-of-love-to/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [Roger became a part of me, and when he went off the deep end and became a mad snake, I felt sorry for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/roger-became-a-part-of-me-and-when-he-went-off-the-deep-end-and/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [I hope it's enabling me to deal with another human being who's more important to me than I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/i-hope-it-s-enabling-me-to-deal-with-another-human-being-who-s-more/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [We are treated with such generosity of spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/we-are-treated-with-such-generosity-of-spirit/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [I have to stay in soaps to pay my bills to Kodak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/i-have-to-stay-in-soaps-to-pay-my-bills-to-kodak/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [They're getting me involved in intrigue again, and I think it follows a classic formula in a soap opera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/they-re-getting-me-involved-in-intrigue-again-and-i-think-it-follows/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [My vanity is not dead. I laugh when I see pictures of myself as I am now-maybe so I won't cry, but just because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/my-vanity-is-not-dead-i-laugh-when-i-see-pictures-of-myself-as-i-am/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [In nighttime series, the actor gets billing up front on every episode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/in-nighttime-series-the-actor-gets-billing-up-front-on-every-episode/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [I particularly don't want to play unmotivated behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/i-particularly-don-t-want-to-play-unmotivated-behavior/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) [Explore all 24 Michael Zaslow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) ## More Able 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/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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