--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh, my father sighs, if only we had a…" description: "\"“Oh, my father sighs, if only we had a screwdriver that could unscrew wrongheaded ideas; if only we had a hammer to drive home good intentions; if only..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/stefano-benni-15099_everlasting-love_oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-scre_612165.jpg" --- # Oh, my father sighs, if only we had a screwdriver that… ![“Oh, my father sighs, if only we had a screwdriver that could unscrew wrongheaded ideas; if only we had a hammer to drive home good intentions; if only we had a pipe wrench to tighten hearts in everlasting love; a saw that we could use to make a clean cut with the past!” quote by Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/stefano-benni-15099_everlasting-love_oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-scre_612165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/stefano-benni-15099_everlasting-love_oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-scre_612165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/stefano-benni-15099_everlasting-love_oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-scre_612165.jpg) > ““Oh, my father sighs, if only we had a screwdriver that could unscrew wrongheaded ideas; if only we had a hammer to drive home good intentions; if only we had a pipe wrench to tighten hearts in everlasting love; a saw that we could use to make a clean cut with the past!”” [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imagining tools that could fix ideas, intentions, and hearts highlights the desire to control complex human problems with simple solutions. **In simple terms:** Wish for easy fixes to deep issues. Key Takeaway Accept that complex problems need nuanced approaches. Themes creativity humor human nature Mood witty reflective Type satire inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - personal growth - conflict resolution - innovation - problem solving Key Concepts Satire metaphor wishful thinking Questions to Reflect On - What “tool” would you invent for a personal struggle? - How do you handle stubborn ideas without shortcuts? A Different Perspective Simple tools cannot resolve deep emotional or ideological challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Everlasting love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everlasting-love/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [“My father sighs, "Alana, sometimes it takes one instant to change an entire life's perspective.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-carmel/my-father-sighs-alana-sometimes-it-takes-one-instant-to-change-an/) [Marissa Carmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-carmel/) > [“... and you're the son of his youngest. He has no other children. Oh, your father's dead, by the way. Fell off a horse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/and-you-re-the-son-of-his-youngest-he-has-no-other-children-oh-your/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [Oh father high in heaven - smile down upon your sonWho's busy with his money games - his women and his gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-anderson/oh-father-high-in-heaven-smile-down-upon-your-sonwho-s-busy-with-his/) [Ian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-anderson/) > [“And my father!-oh, my father! evil is it with his daughter, when his grey hairs are not remembered because of the golden locks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/and-my-father-oh-my-father-evil-is-it-with-his-daughter-when-his-grey/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“Oh, Father, praise You for dear people who care for and love the homeless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/oh-father-praise-you-for-dear-people-who-care-for-and-love-the/) Guideposts > [Oh Father forgive me for I know not what I do. And even with countless millenniums of thought I'll never be wise as you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/oh-father-forgive-me-for-i-know-not-what-i-do-and-even-with-countless/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [To think, "I am a sinner, oh Father, save me," is a defective approach! You should say, "I am your son, I am your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabhat-ranjan-sarkar/to-think-i-am-a-sinner-oh-father-save-me-is-a-defective-approach-you/) [Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabhat-ranjan-sarkar/) > [“Oh Father, oh Mother, forgive us, for we know not what we do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-o-brien/oh-father-oh-mother-forgive-us-for-we-know-not-what-we-do/) [Edna O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-o-brien/) > [“Oh, my father, such a difficult man. His world turned on his axis. From "The Father Tamer" in BREATHE IN”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-granfors/oh-my-father-such-a-difficult-man-his-world-turned-on-his-axis-from/) [Eileen Granfors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-granfors/) > [“To a hammer, every problem is a nail,” we said on the team but we called him ‘the screwdriver’. We were confronted with stubborn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-marino/to-a-hammer-every-problem-is-a-nail-we-said-on-the-team-but-we-called/) [Massimo Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-marino/) > [“A little work with an ordinary household screwdriver can provide a handy and non-confrontational way of limiting the beer consumption of your partner. Simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-the-bfg/a-little-work-with-an-ordinary-household-screwdriver-can-provide-a/) Andre the BFG > [ “\[The Doctor\] pulled the thing out of Prince Boris's mouth, waving it around. 'Oh. Blimey. This is not a spatula. What is it?' I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/the-doctor-pulled-the-thing-out-of-prince-boris-s-mouth-waving-it/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“He put the screwdriver on a nearby counter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-put-the-screwdriver-on-a-nearby-counter/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Phillips screwdriver to his temple while they gave him the business. It rips you up some, but not bad—am I speaking from personal experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/phillips-screwdriver-to-his-temple-while-they-gave-him-the-business/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here," Myrnin said, his voice still gentle and low. "Amelie said you had to work. No one said you had to work alone." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/here-myrnin-said-his-voice-still-gentle-and-low-amelie-said-you-had/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) ## More by Stefano Benni > [“When I'm in love, I can't stand anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/when-i-m-in-love-i-can-t-stand-anyone/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [If you meet an angel, you will have not peace, but a fever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/if-you-meet-an-angel-you-will-have-not-peace-but-a-fever/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [“Vatra je moja nežnost, jer anđeo i zver u moju dušu padoše zagrljeni...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/vatra-je-moja-ne-nost-jer-an-eo-i-zver-u-moju-du-u-pado-e-zagrljeni/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [ “\[T\]he real lie that advertising tells is not so much in what it shows, but in what it leaves out.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/t-he-real-lie-that-advertising-tells-is-not-so-much-in-what-it-shows/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [“The winter was blasting its cold winds of dire portent into the tender face of springtime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/the-winter-was-blasting-its-cold-winds-of-dire-portent-into-the/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [“Vidi che la banconota era tutta stropicciata, come l'assegno di Fefelli quel giorno a scuola, ma era una cosa diversa. I soldi si trasformano,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/vidi-che-la-banconota-era-tutta-stropicciata-come-l-assegno-di/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > ["Cynic" is a word invented by optimists to put down realists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/cynic-is-a-word-invented-by-optimists-to-put-down-realists/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [“Passiamo metà della vita a deridere ciò in cui altri credono, e l'altra metà a credere in ciò che altri deridono.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/passiamo-met-della-vita-a-deridere-ci-in-cui-altri-credono-e-l-altra/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [Destiny cuts the cake of love, Three slices to some, To others, a crumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/destiny-cuts-the-cake-of-love-three-slices-to-some-to-others-a-crumb/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [ “\[M\]y favorite teacher was explaining that you don't say but however . These are pleonasms: the use of more words than necessary to express… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/m-y-favorite-teacher-was-explaining-that-you-don-t-say-but-however/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [Being in love, as both Plato and David Bowie have pointed out, is horrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/being-in-love-as-both-plato-and-david-bowie-have-pointed-out-is/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [That's what art is: escaping everyday normality, which wants to eat you alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/that-s-what-art-is-escaping-everyday-normality-which-wants-to-eat-you/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [“Labella snapped shut her cell phone with a sigh, and looked down at her fingernails, delightfully painted a useless shade of purple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/labella-snapped-shut-her-cell-phone-with-a-sigh-and-looked-down-at/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) [Explore all 14 Stefano Benni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) ## More Everlasting love quotes > [Lover please do not fall to your knees it's not like I believe in everlasting love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marling/lover-please-do-not-fall-to-your-knees-it-s-not-like-i-believe-in/) [Laura Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marling/) > [“I love you with an everlasting Love that flows out from eternity without limits or conditions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-young/i-love-you-with-an-everlasting-love-that-flows-out-from-eternity/) [Sarah Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-young/) > [If you tell me, I will leave you alone," I said. "And if you don't tell me, I am going to grab the nearest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/if-you-tell-me-i-will-leave-you-alone-i-said-and-if-you-don-t-tell-me/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [My love for her runs deep no one could ever compare or replace it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-love-for-her-runs-deep-no-one-could-ever-compare-or-replace-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Like the waterfalls endlessly,and so is my everlasting love for you. For as long as my heart still beats...You will remain a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shalom/like-the-waterfalls-endlessly-and-so-is-my-everlasting-love-for-you/) [Shalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shalom/) > [Dear God... Thank you for waking me up this morning to experience your everlasting love and never ending mercy and for my blessed day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-god-thank-you-for-waking-me-up-this-morning-to-experience-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Ah! Gentle, gracious Dove, And art thou grieved in me, That sinners should restrain thy love, And say, “It is not free: It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wesley/ah-gentle-gracious-dove-and-art-thou-grieved-in-me-that-sinners/) [Charles Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wesley/) > [Be patient, my friends; time rolls rapidly away; our longing has its end. The hour will strike, who knows how soon?- when the maternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-wilhelm-krummacher/be-patient-my-friends-time-rolls-rapidly-away-our-longing-has-its-end/) Friedrich Wilhelm Krummacher > [If every tear we shed for you became a star above, youd stroll in Angels garden, lit by everlasting love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-every-tear-we-shed-for-you-became-a-star-above-youd-stroll-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A circle has no end, no beginning, and can hold within itself all the love and devotion shared between mates. Let the rings you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacie-simpson/a-circle-has-no-end-no-beginning-and-can-hold-within-itself-all-the/) [Stacie Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacie-simpson/) > [“do not despair when you are down and under i will crown with my everlasting love”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimmer-chinodya/do-not-despair-when-you-are-down-and-under-i-will-crown-with-my/) Shimmer Chinodya > [If the only way you can love me is after I have perfected my imperfections, then you dont love me. God loved us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/td-jakes/if-the-only-way-you-can-love-me-is-after-i-have-perfected-my/) [TD Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/td-jakes/) > [“When God makes a covenant with us, God says: 'I will love you with an everlasting love. I will be faithful to you, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/when-god-makes-a-covenant-with-us-god-says-i-will-love-you-with-an/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Don't close your heart to love, just dream...Your tears will dry one day and dreams will be real, when you will find that everlasting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-howson/don-t-close-your-heart-to-love-just-dream-your-tears-will-dry-one-day/) [M. Howson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-howson/) > [I swear sometimes being a man is not easy. Everlasting love from a few. Misunderstood by many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-swear-sometimes-being-a-man-is-not-easy-everlasting-love-from-a-few/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 98 Everlasting love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everlasting-love/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Oh, my father sighs, if only we had a screwdriver that could unscrew wrongheaded ideas; if only we had a hammer to drive home good intentions; if only we had a pipe wrench to tighten hearts in everlasting love; a saw that we could use to make a clean cut with the past!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stefano Benni" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-screwdriver-that-could-unscrew/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Everlasting love" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-screwdriver-that-could-unscrew/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/stefano-benni-15099_everlasting-love_oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-scre_612165.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/stefano-benni-15099_everlasting-love_oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-scre_612165.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/stefano-benni-15099_everlasting-love_oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-scre_612165.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Oh, my father sighs, if only we had a screwdriver that could unscrew wrongheaded ideas; if only we had a…” — Stefano Benni", "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": "Stefano Benni", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Oh, my father sighs, if only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-screwdriver-that-could-unscrew/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-screwdriver-that-could-unscrew/#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 } } ] } ```