--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father modestly referred to himself as…" description: "\"My father modestly referred to himself as the Great Santini when we were growing up. And he took it - I later learned he had seen a high-wire aerialist..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/terry-gross-9637_acrobatics_my-father-modestly-referred-to-himself-a_2146212.jpg" --- # My father modestly referred to himself as the Great… ![“My father modestly referred to himself as the Great Santini when we were growing up. And he took it - I later learned he had seen a high-wire aerialist when he was a boy, and he was up doing acrobatics in his airplane, and when he came down one time - when was a young lieutenant - he said, I was…” quote by Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/terry-gross-9637_acrobatics_my-father-modestly-referred-to-himself-a_2146212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/terry-gross-9637_acrobatics_my-father-modestly-referred-to-himself-a_2146212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/terry-gross-9637_acrobatics_my-father-modestly-referred-to-himself-a_2146212.jpg) > “My father modestly referred to himself as the Great Santini when we were growing up. And he took it - I later learned he had seen a high-wire aerialist when he was a boy, and he was up doing acrobatics in his airplane, and when he came down one time - when was a young lieutenant - he said, I was better than the Great Santini today. And some of the other pilots heard it, and the nickname stuck.” [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) ## 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 recounts his father's self‑styled nickname, reflecting how childhood experiences and bravado can shape personal identity and reputation among peers. **In simple terms:** A dad called himself Great Santini after a stunt, and the name stuck. Key Takeaway Recognize how stories shape how others see you. Themes identity pride reputation storytelling Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal historical When to use this quote - family gatherings - military training - personal branding - peer groups Key Concepts self‑image social influence military culture Questions to Reflect On - How do personal myths affect your confidence? - When does bravado become harmful? A Different Perspective The anecdote may romanticize risky behavior without addressing its consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acrobatics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acrobatics/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Nicknames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nicknames/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Pilots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilots/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [So the Great Santini was how he liked being referred to by his children. He would line up his seven children, and there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/so-the-great-santini-was-how-he-liked-being-referred-to-by-his/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [One of my earliest memories, movie-related or otherwise, is of seeing a man dunking a man's head in a toilet on television, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/one-of-my-earliest-memories-movie-related-or-otherwise-is-of-seeing-a/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [I do like Pat Conroy, and 'The Great Santini' is an iconic book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-do-like-pat-conroy-and-the-great-santini-is-an-iconic-book/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [You don't have to be doing vocal acrobatics or singing all over the scale to have soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/you-don-t-have-to-be-doing-vocal-acrobatics-or-singing-all-over-the/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [“informal user group. High-performance windsurfing involves acrobatics such as jumps and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-von-hippel/informal-user-group-high-performance-windsurfing-involves-acrobatics/) [Eric von Hippel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-von-hippel/) > [Mathematicians boast of their exacting achievements, but in reality they are absorbed in mental acrobatics and contribute nothing to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogyu-sorai/mathematicians-boast-of-their-exacting-achievements-but-in-reality/) Ogyu Sorai > [“This French circus collective specializes in group acrobatics: stacking bodies into towers, launching off one another en masse. It's an entrprise that requires trust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-center-festival-compagnie-xy/this-french-circus-collective-specializes-in-group-acrobatics/) Lincoln Center Festival/Compagnie XY > [I would love to learn popping, locking and robotics, gymnastics and acrobatics; it is amazing to learn these things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-would-love-to-learn-popping-locking-and-robotics-gymnastics-and/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) > [I play drums and guitar, I snowboard, I do martial arts and acrobatics. I go to the movies every Friday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/i-play-drums-and-guitar-i-snowboard-i-do-martial-arts-and-acrobatics/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [God knows what I thought! 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A layout man should be simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-brodovitch/there-is-no-recipe-for-good-layout-what-must-be-maintained-is-a/) [Alexey Brodovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexey-brodovitch/) > [I was always dancing and acrobatics was my specialty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsey-johnson/i-was-always-dancing-and-acrobatics-was-my-specialty/) [Betsey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsey-johnson/) > [“I write in acrobatics and pirouettes in the air - I write because I so deeply want to speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/i-write-in-acrobatics-and-pirouettes-in-the-air-i-write-because-i-so/) [Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/) ## More by Terry Gross > [The excitement for me lies not so much in interviewing the hard-to-get famous person, but the person whom you are about to discover. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/the-excitement-for-me-lies-not-so-much-in-interviewing-the-hard-to/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [Work can take on a new dimension if you know something about the artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/work-can-take-on-a-new-dimension-if-you-know-something-about-the/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [Google started as a free search engine. It's still free, but now it's making a lot of money on ads, right? 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I mean, he - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/dad-mistook-for-some-reason-unbeknownst-to-me-he-mistook-his-family/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [I respect someone's right to privacy and I want them to know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/i-respect-someone-s-right-to-privacy-and-i-want-them-to-know-it/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [I was thinking about comedy and how comedy in many ways opens us up to ideas and really being influenced by Richard Pryor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/i-was-thinking-about-comedy-and-how-comedy-in-many-ways-opens-us-up/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [My parents were pretty open about a lot of things, especially my mom. And any kind of little crazy thing I was into, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/my-parents-were-pretty-open-about-a-lot-of-things-especially-my-mom/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [I was in an adolescent psychology class at Citadel when the guy said, if you had a mother who was beaten, there's a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/i-was-in-an-adolescent-psychology-class-at-citadel-when-the-guy-said/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [You know, how am I leading my own life? What am I denying? Since I brought such great powers of denial into my adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/you-know-how-am-i-leading-my-own-life-what-am-i-denying-since-i/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [So when the book came out, my mother stunned us all by leaving my father. I think three months before the book came out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/so-when-the-book-came-out-my-mother-stunned-us-all-by-leaving-my/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [Sometimes when I'm on the internet, I'll get this, like, which of these ad experiences would you prefer? And I'll have a choice of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/sometimes-when-i-m-on-the-internet-i-ll-get-this-like-which-of-these/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [I mean, Dad's - you know, Dad's friendliest tone was a scream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/i-mean-dad-s-you-know-dad-s-friendliest-tone-was-a-scream/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) [Explore all 71 Terry Gross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) ## More Acrobatics quotes > [“I write in acrobatics and pirouettes in the air - I write because I so deeply want to speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/i-write-in-acrobatics-and-pirouettes-in-the-air-i-write-because-i-so/) [Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/) > [I was always dancing and acrobatics was my specialty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsey-johnson/i-was-always-dancing-and-acrobatics-was-my-specialty/) [Betsey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsey-johnson/) > [There is no recipe for good layout, what must be maintained is a feeling of change and contrast. A layout man should be simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-brodovitch/there-is-no-recipe-for-good-layout-what-must-be-maintained-is-a/) [Alexey Brodovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexey-brodovitch/) > [Illium, with his wings of silver-kissed blue and a face designed to seduce both males and females, not to mention his ability to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/illium-with-his-wings-of-silver-kissed-blue-and-a-face-designed-to/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [If I had been born in the circus, my parents would have pushed me on that little high wire at four years old. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-had-been-born-in-the-circus-my-parents-would-have-pushed-me-on/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [God knows what I thought! Your brain does amazing acrobatics when it doesn't want to believe something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/god-knows-what-i-thought-your-brain-does-amazing-acrobatics-when-it/) [Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/) > [I play drums and guitar, I snowboard, I do martial arts and acrobatics. I go to the movies every Friday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/i-play-drums-and-guitar-i-snowboard-i-do-martial-arts-and-acrobatics/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [I would love to learn popping, locking and robotics, gymnastics and acrobatics; it is amazing to learn these things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-would-love-to-learn-popping-locking-and-robotics-gymnastics-and/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) > [“This French circus collective specializes in group acrobatics: stacking bodies into towers, launching off one another en masse. It's an entrprise that requires trust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-center-festival-compagnie-xy/this-french-circus-collective-specializes-in-group-acrobatics/) Lincoln Center Festival/Compagnie XY > [Mathematicians boast of their exacting achievements, but in reality they are absorbed in mental acrobatics and contribute nothing to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogyu-sorai/mathematicians-boast-of-their-exacting-achievements-but-in-reality/) Ogyu Sorai > [“informal user group. High-performance windsurfing involves acrobatics such as jumps and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-von-hippel/informal-user-group-high-performance-windsurfing-involves-acrobatics/) [Eric von Hippel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-von-hippel/) > [You don't have to be doing vocal acrobatics or singing all over the scale to have soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/you-don-t-have-to-be-doing-vocal-acrobatics-or-singing-all-over-the/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [So if you do acrobatics things on the street with no other goal than showing off, please don't say it's parkour. 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Flashy effects distract the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/and-yet-we-know-how-fatal-the-pursuit-of-liveliness-may-be-it-may/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) [Browse all 26 Acrobatics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acrobatics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father modestly referred to himself as the Great Santini when we were growing up. And he took it - I later learned he had seen a high-wire aerialist when he was a boy, and he was up doing acrobatics in his airplane, and when he came down one time - when was a young lieutenant - he said, I was better than the Great Santini today. 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