"I never had a speech from my father 'this is what you must do or shouldn't do' but I just learned to be led by example. My father wasn't perfect"
About this Quote
The subtext is a defense against two myths at once. First, that good parents are constant lecturers; second, that good parents are flawless. “My father wasn’t perfect” is not a dunk on Dad, it’s a permission slip. Sandler acknowledges human error without turning it into indictment, a tone that mirrors his broader cultural appeal: sentimental, but allergic to self-seriousness. He’s saying the relationship’s value wasn’t in a pristine record but in a steady presence.
Context matters, too. Sandler’s public image is built on loyalty (his recurring casts, his off-screen reputation for treating people well) and on a kind of working-class humility. This quote shores up that brand in a way that feels earned: he’s not selling a parenting philosophy, he’s explaining how character gets inherited when nobody announces it’s happening.
Quote Details
| Topic | Father |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Sandler, Adam. (2026, January 16). I never had a speech from my father 'this is what you must do or shouldn't do' but I just learned to be led by example. My father wasn't perfect. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-never-had-a-speech-from-my-father-this-is-what-127150/
Chicago Style
Sandler, Adam. "I never had a speech from my father 'this is what you must do or shouldn't do' but I just learned to be led by example. My father wasn't perfect." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-never-had-a-speech-from-my-father-this-is-what-127150/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I never had a speech from my father 'this is what you must do or shouldn't do' but I just learned to be led by example. My father wasn't perfect." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-never-had-a-speech-from-my-father-this-is-what-127150/. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.







