--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I could change anything, I would…" description: "\"If I could change anything, I would definitely have had a father around. My father. I would definitely say it affected me deeply as a young man, coming..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/r-kelly-2614_change_if-i-could-change-anything-i-would-defin_2867902.jpg" --- # If I could change anything, I would definitely have had a… ![“If I could change anything, I would definitely have had a father around. My father. I would definitely say it affected me deeply as a young man, coming up. Who doesn't want a father? Those are the beginnings, and those are what can dictate the roads you choose in life, and choosing them well.” quote by R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/r-kelly-2614_change_if-i-could-change-anything-i-would-defin_2867902.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/r-kelly-2614_change_if-i-could-change-anything-i-would-defin_2867902.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/r-kelly-2614_change_if-i-could-change-anything-i-would-defin_2867902.jpg) > “If I could change anything, I would definitely have had a father around. My father. I would definitely say it affected me deeply as a young man, coming up. Who doesn't want a father? Those are the beginnings, and those are what can dictate the roads you choose in life, and choosing them well.” [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) ## 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 the profound impact of having a father figure during formative years and how it shapes life choices. **In simple terms:** A father’s presence shapes a person’s path. Key Takeaway Seek supportive mentors if lacking paternal guidance. Themes family identity growth mentorship choice Mood reflective hopeful somber Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal development - relationship building - overcoming adversity Key Concepts psychology social development role models Questions to Reflect On - How would your life differ with a strong paternal figure? - What alternative mentors can fill that role? A Different Perspective Without a father, guidance may be inconsistent, leading to uncertainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [It's funny because my mom is not a singer at all, nor is my father. But I definitely get more of my father's tone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-ali/it-s-funny-because-my-mom-is-not-a-singer-at-all-nor-is-my-father-but/) [Nadia Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-ali/) > [He was definitely a father figure for all of us. Once you were a Giant, you were always a Giant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-martin/he-was-definitely-a-father-figure-for-all-of-us-once-you-were-a-giant/) [George Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-martin/) > [“To be quite frank, I don't know nor understand how one can stand up and say I'm a 'perfect father'! I reckon myself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katlego-semusa/to-be-quite-frank-i-don-t-know-nor-understand-how-one-can-stand-up/) [Katlego Semusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katlego-semusa/) > [My father's definitely old-school. And he raised me with integrity - to be places on time, show up, and work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-eastwood/my-father-s-definitely-old-school-and-he-raised-me-with-integrity-to/) [Scott Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-eastwood/) > [No, well, my father's definitely not Christopher Walken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lucas/no-well-my-father-s-definitely-not-christopher-walken/) [Josh Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lucas/) > [My father is definitely the inspiration behind working with new directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/my-father-is-definitely-the-inspiration-behind-working-with-new/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [“Who's St Nicholas? I don't want him, I want Father Christmas!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-bailey/who-s-st-nicholas-i-don-t-want-him-i-want-father-christmas/) [Scarlett Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-bailey/) > [I want the father of my kids to be my husband not my baby daddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uknown/i-want-the-father-of-my-kids-to-be-my-husband-not-my-baby-daddy/) Uknown > [“I want to be the father I never had and the husband my mother was cheated out of. So if I have to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-carmel/i-want-to-be-the-father-i-never-had-and-the-husband-my-mother-was/) [Marissa Carmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-carmel/) > [“I want my father to be just my father, the way he has always been, not a separate person with an earlier, mythological life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-want-my-father-to-be-just-my-father-the-way-he-has-always-been-not/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [It is important not to copy other people's careers but set the tone of who you want to be. My father's always encouraged me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/it-is-important-not-to-copy-other-people-s-careers-but-set-the-tone/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [The one thing I've always said is I don't want them growing up without a father, and they're my inspiration to make sure I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-middleton/the-one-thing-i-ve-always-said-is-i-don-t-want-them-growing-up/) [Ant Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-middleton/) > [“I’d like to meet a woman who can think for herself and doesn’t want only what her father or husband wants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramona-flightner/i-d-like-to-meet-a-woman-who-can-think-for-herself-and-doesn-t-want/) Ramona Flightner > [If your dad is anything like mine, then you have no clue what to buy him for Father's Day. The only Father's Day tradition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-showalter/if-your-dad-is-anything-like-mine-then-you-have-no-clue-what-to-buy/) [Michael Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-showalter/) > [You don't want him for a reason. You want him because he's your father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-want-him-for-a-reason-you-want-him-because-he-s-your-father/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by R. Kelly > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [If there's no fire, there's no scream. If there's no scream, then no one hears you and no one comes to help you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/if-there-s-no-fire-there-s-no-scream-if-there-s-no-scream-then-no-one/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Well, I believe that the depth of your struggle can determine the height of your success. I was inspired to come out of everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/well-i-believe-that-the-depth-of-your-struggle-can-determine-the/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [You know, I'm no different from a fireman. You got to run into a fire no matter how big the blaze is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/you-know-i-m-no-different-from-a-fireman-you-got-to-run-into-a-fire/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Sometimes silence can seem so loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/sometimes-silence-can-seem-so-loud/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [They say marriage will change you but it didn't change me. Being in love changed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/they-say-marriage-will-change-you-but-it-didn-t-change-me-being-in/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [I have always been infatuated with country music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-have-always-been-infatuated-with-country-music/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [I gave a Christmas party last year - well, two Christmases ago - where I did a Sam Cooke show. I didn't perform as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-gave-a-christmas-party-last-year-well-two-christmases-ago-where-i/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [When you're me, when you're R. Kelly, everybody wants a piece of you, and if you don't give 'em a piece they'll find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/when-you-re-me-when-you-re-r-kelly-everybody-wants-a-piece-of-you-and/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [I will always do R. Kelly - I'm not perfect, but I'm perfectly me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-will-always-do-r-kelly-i-m-not-perfect-but-i-m-perfectly-me/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [I really don't chase songs. I get in the studio, I know what I gotta do; I'm pretty much programmed to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-really-don-t-chase-songs-i-get-in-the-studio-i-know-what-i-gotta-do/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [I only feel sorry for weak people. And mostly what I've come to find is that the weak people are the ones that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-only-feel-sorry-for-weak-people-and-mostly-what-i-ve-come-to-find/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [I want people to notice my writing abilities are real and that I'm not just stuck in one situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-want-people-to-notice-my-writing-abilities-are-real-and-that-i-m/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [I'm not very good at picking stuff up off the radio. It takes me way too long to learn other people's music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-m-not-very-good-at-picking-stuff-up-off-the-radio-it-takes-me-way/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [I've really been writing a lot of country songs. I used to get criticized for doing a 'Bump Grind,' then turning around and doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-ve-really-been-writing-a-lot-of-country-songs-i-used-to-get/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) [Explore all 158 R. Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I could change anything, I would definitely have had a father around. 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