--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Personally, nothing would surprise me any…" description: "\"“Personally, nothing would surprise me any more. If my father announced that he was really a Russian agent or my mother ran away with a circus knife th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/sue-townsend-8170_parenting_personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any_289512.png" --- # Personally, nothing would surprise me any more. If my… ![“Personally, nothing would surprise me any more. If my father announced that he was really a Russian agent or my mother ran away with a circus knife thrower, I wouldn't raise an eyebrow.” quote by Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/sue-townsend-8170_parenting_personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any_289512.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/sue-townsend-8170_parenting_personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any_289512.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/sue-townsend-8170_parenting_personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any_289512.png) > ““Personally, nothing would surprise me any more. If my father announced that he was really a Russian agent or my mother ran away with a circus knife thrower, I wouldn't raise an eyebrow.”” [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator claims they would be unsurprised by any bizarre family revelation, indicating a cynical, world‑worn outlook. **In simple terms:** I would not be shocked by any strange family secret. Key Takeaway Accept that life can be unexpectedly strange. Themes cynicism family secrets unexpected events Mood wry detached Type humorous philosophical When to use this quote - family gatherings - unexpected news - personal reflection Key Concepts satire personal resilience disbelief Questions to Reflect On - What experiences have shaped your tolerance for surprise? - Do you use humor to cope with oddities? A Different Perspective Even absurd revelations can still be shocking for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [When my father announced his campaign for president on Oct. 3, 1991, I had already cast my vote in favor of his candidacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-clinton/when-my-father-announced-his-campaign-for-president-on-oct-3-1991-i/) [Chelsea Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-clinton/) > [ I watched him \[a 'fat Russian agent'\] with some interest, for it was the first time that I had seen a person whose profession… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/i-watched-him-a-fat-russian-agent-with-some-interest-for-it-was-the/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I don't concede that Guccifer is a Russian agent. Officials also said, that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Just because the intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/i-don-t-concede-that-guccifer-is-a-russian-agent-officials-also-said/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [And mother almost always sighs, When father carves the duck. Then all of us prepare to rise, And hold our bibs before our eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-vincent-wright-wotton/and-mother-almost-always-sighs-when-father-carves-the-duck-then-all/) Ernest Vincent Wright Wotton > [I am Abhorsen..." He looked at the baby again and added, almost with a note of surprise, "Father of Sabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-nix/i-am-abhorsen-he-looked-at-the-baby-again-and-added-almost-with-a/) [Garth Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-nix/) > [“She had been a pleasant surprise. From what her father had said I had expected an intellectual treat in a plain wrapper, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/she-had-been-a-pleasant-surprise-from-what-her-father-had-said-i-had/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [(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/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“As members of the Church, there are things you cannot do. For one, you cannot take a Las Vegas-style vacation. I do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-grant-bangerter/as-members-of-the-church-there-are-things-you-cannot-do-for-one-you/) [William Grant Bangerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-grant-bangerter/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/) [Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/) > [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/) > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) ## More by Sue Townsend > [I always wanted to be Jo in 'Little Women.' She's a bit reckless and feckless, always getting into trouble like me. But I'm probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-always-wanted-to-be-jo-in-little-women-she-s-a-bit-reckless-and/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Sex with the gorilla went on a bit, but once he'd stumbled over my clitoris we both had good times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/sex-with-the-gorilla-went-on-a-bit-but-once-he-d-stumbled-over-my/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [Yes, I hate it when people call me a 'national treasure'. It takes away your bite and makes you feel like a harmless old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/yes-i-hate-it-when-people-call-me-a-national-treasure-it-takes-away/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I am the world's worst diabetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-am-the-world-s-worst-diabetic/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Pauline: "All under-fives are mad Adrian, you used to talk to the moon. You invited it to your birthday party and cried when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/pauline-all-under-fives-are-mad-adrian-you-used-to-talk-to-the-moon/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Had a note from Mr Cherry asking me when I can resume my paper round. I sent a note back to say that due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/had-a-note-from-mr-cherry-asking-me-when-i-can-resume-my-paper-round/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > ['The Gambler' by Dostoevsky. It was the first time I realised that it was possible to have good and evil in one person. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/the-gambler-by-dostoevsky-it-was-the-first-time-i-realised-that-it/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [People down on their luck deserve the best: beautiful surroundings and well-paid professional staff to help them out of their difficulties. Why not train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/people-down-on-their-luck-deserve-the-best-beautiful-surroundings-and/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [Most social problems could be helped or prevented if people had more money and practical advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/most-social-problems-could-be-helped-or-prevented-if-people-had-more/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I take life very seriously. I can laugh at it, because what else can you do? But it's a hard daily battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-take-life-very-seriously-i-can-laugh-at-it-because-what-else-can/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [Yes - I am usually overweight. I have had to be interested in diet because of being diabetic for 30 years and having kidney failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/yes-i-am-usually-overweight-i-have-had-to-be-interested-in-diet/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [My dark secrets are life threatening. Pockets of unhappiness set in aspic that build and build. I have this primitive feeling that if something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/my-dark-secrets-are-life-threatening-pockets-of-unhappiness-set-in/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I'd love a day devoid of responsibilities. I've often thought about going to a hotel just to have a day away from everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-d-love-a-day-devoid-of-responsibilities-i-ve-often-thought-about/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [In the early days, it was, you know, I used to weep while I was writing. I used to grab at any kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/in-the-early-days-it-was-you-know-i-used-to-weep-while-i-was-writing/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“She is just straight all the way up and down, including her nose and mouth and hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/she-is-just-straight-all-the-way-up-and-down-including-her-nose-and/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) [Explore all 82 Sue Townsend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) ## More Parenting quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [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/) > [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/) [Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As members of the Church, there are things you cannot do. For one, you cannot take a Las Vegas-style vacation. I do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-grant-bangerter/as-members-of-the-church-there-are-things-you-cannot-do-for-one-you/) [William Grant Bangerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-grant-bangerter/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [(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/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [“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/) [Browse all 55,672 Parenting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Personally, nothing would surprise me any more. If my father announced that he was really a Russian agent or my mother ran away with a circus knife thrower, I wouldn't raise an eyebrow.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sue Townsend" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any-more-if-my-father-announced/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Parenting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any-more-if-my-father-announced/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/sue-townsend-8170_parenting_personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any_289512.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/sue-townsend-8170_parenting_personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any_289512.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/sue-townsend-8170_parenting_personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any_289512.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Personally, nothing would surprise me any more. If my father announced that he was really a Russian agent or…” — Sue Townsend", "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": "Sue Townsend", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Personally, nothing would surprise me any...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any-more-if-my-father-announced/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any-more-if-my-father-announced/#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 } } ] } ```