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Someday... someday I may be as strong and courageous as Caeser, when I'm older and have a beautiful white mane, and all of the other animals will look at me and say, "There goes Kimba the white lion, he's just like his father." Yeah, someday.
— Kimba on filling his father's shoes, Kimba the White Lion
All I ever wanted was to have him [Jiraiya] keep watching over me. I wanted him to see me become Hokage. But I only showed the worst, uncool side of me. I'm still so —
— Naruto to Iruka, Naruto
"I beg you. Pilot it. I believe in you. I love you." If you hear those words, will you pilot it, Shinji? But, I can't bring myself to love you. For you, I have never felt love.
— Gendo Ikari, Neon Genesis Evangelion
Starscream: I tried to gain favour from you. But nothing was ever good enough. No matter how many battles I fought, you always found fault. Then I saw how Optimus treated his men, and I realized he was a leader of integrity. Unlike you.
Megatron: You were too weak to ever gain my respect.
Comic Books
"I always thought I would... Father!!! I tried my hardest to please you!! F-FATHERRRR!!!"
—Todd Ingram during a mental breakdown, Scott Pilgrim & the Infinite Sadness
"Lana, what's wrong with her? Why is she so horrible to me? I do what she asks. I try so hard to help her, and all I get is her anger. Her disapproval."
Comic Strips
Popeye: Ain't you anxious to see me?
Pappy: What d'ya want me to do, kiss ya?
Pappy: What d'ya want me to do, kiss ya?
Popeye the Sailor, "Goonland"
Fan Works
"I don't blame Ayanami. It's not her fault. How would she know? But I… I don't know how I could ever forgive my father. He considered it an important enough demand on his time to raise her, however badly. Why send me away? I… I'd still do almost anything to get him to look at me. I hate him so much, but… You know how much that once little scrap of praise he gave me after the Tenth Angel made me feel good. Gods, I'm such a weak idiot if I still want that."
"I agree you're a dummy if you Pilot to try to earn his praise," Asuka snorted. "You don't need that."
"Don't you? I thought that's why you were so driven to be the best Pilot, so people would praise you?" he asked right back. "'To display your talents to the world', you said."
Asuka said nothing for a moment. "I used to," she said softly. "I needed it. I was so afraid no one would want me unless I was the best. I had to make people look at me, or I might disappear. But now…" She freed one hand from embracing him to softly stroke his face. "I'm not as worried. I know, no matter what, that you're looking at me. That if I should fall, you'll keep my memory close. Now I Pilot, I push myself to be the best because I want to be the best, and drag you with me. The two of us, the best in the world, defending humanity. You're a good Pilot, Shinji, almost as good as me. You have a better reason to Pilot now than hoping for empty words from your father."
Shinji looked at her, waiting.
"Misato. Wondergirl. Me. Even the Stooges. The people who care about you praise you, baka. Not lip service from a jerk who's unworthy of a son like you. Forget him. Do it for us. For me especially. I won't have anyone else as wingman but my baka-Shinji. You promised me; You and me, together, against everything. Lean on us, Shinji." 'I need you. I can't even tell you how much. You have to stay with me. You make me strong.'
"I agree you're a dummy if you Pilot to try to earn his praise," Asuka snorted. "You don't need that."
"Don't you? I thought that's why you were so driven to be the best Pilot, so people would praise you?" he asked right back. "'To display your talents to the world', you said."
Asuka said nothing for a moment. "I used to," she said softly. "I needed it. I was so afraid no one would want me unless I was the best. I had to make people look at me, or I might disappear. But now…" She freed one hand from embracing him to softly stroke his face. "I'm not as worried. I know, no matter what, that you're looking at me. That if I should fall, you'll keep my memory close. Now I Pilot, I push myself to be the best because I want to be the best, and drag you with me. The two of us, the best in the world, defending humanity. You're a good Pilot, Shinji, almost as good as me. You have a better reason to Pilot now than hoping for empty words from your father."
Shinji looked at her, waiting.
"Misato. Wondergirl. Me. Even the Stooges. The people who care about you praise you, baka. Not lip service from a jerk who's unworthy of a son like you. Forget him. Do it for us. For me especially. I won't have anyone else as wingman but my baka-Shinji. You promised me; You and me, together, against everything. Lean on us, Shinji." 'I need you. I can't even tell you how much. You have to stay with me. You make me strong.'
'Are you okay, Tommy? You seem a little out of it.'.
Why does he have to be so good at knowing when something's wrong?
'Huh? What?.'.
He can't know. I want him to be proud. I have to make him proud.
'Everything's okay.'.
I don't want him to be disappointed in me.
I've already messed up so much.
I don't want him to hate me more.
'I'm fine.'.
Why does he have to be so good at knowing when something's wrong?
'Huh? What?.'.
He can't know. I want him to be proud. I have to make him proud.
'Everything's okay.'.
I don't want him to be disappointed in me.
I've already messed up so much.
I don't want him to hate me more.
'I'm fine.'.
— Between Dreams and Memories Chapter 79, "The Duel (Part 1)"
"We get paid?"
Asuka facepalmed externally for good measure. "Yes, Shinji, we get paid. Quite well, in fact. Did you think the only thing you were getting out of this gig was empty promises of basic parental affection?"
"Actually... yeah."
Asuka pondered this information for a long moment. "Well, that explains a lot," she concluded. "C'mon, Shinji, let's go spend your dad's money!"
Asuka facepalmed externally for good measure. "Yes, Shinji, we get paid. Quite well, in fact. Did you think the only thing you were getting out of this gig was empty promises of basic parental affection?"
"Actually... yeah."
Asuka pondered this information for a long moment. "Well, that explains a lot," she concluded. "C'mon, Shinji, let's go spend your dad's money!"
— Doing It Right This Time, Chapter 1
That's it. That's the difference between obligatory praise and true accomplishment. The first was obligation; when a child does something properly we're expected to encourage them, even though they haven't really accomplished a damn thing. But this... this was true pride. I've never seen her happier than she was on that day. Not once.
— Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu, Ghosts of Evangelion
In my opinion, living your life purely for someone else's approval sounds like an almost impossible task. Said approval often is a moving target, and it's all too likely that the person you want to please will end up Moving the Goalposts, if they didn't set them somewhere that's impossible for you to reach to begin with.
Films — Animation
Hoby: Does he ever smile?
Penelope: Not around me.
Penelope: Not around me.
Mr. Bloomsberry: I knew you wouldn't let me down.
Ted: Well, sir, I-I gotta tell you, I came pretty close.
Mr. Bloomsberry: Oh no, Ted, I'm so proud of you. You're like the son I never had.
Junior Bloomsberry: (awkwardly) Father, I'm your son. Remember?
Mr. Bloomsberry: Yes, but I had you.
Junior Bloomsberry: Yes, of course. What was I thinking.
Ted: Well, sir, I-I gotta tell you, I came pretty close.
Mr. Bloomsberry: Oh no, Ted, I'm so proud of you. You're like the son I never had.
Junior Bloomsberry: (awkwardly) Father, I'm your son. Remember?
Mr. Bloomsberry: Yes, but I had you.
Junior Bloomsberry: Yes, of course. What was I thinking.
"I'll never... be good enough for you... will I? No matter how... hard I try. No matter how hard... ANY of us tries! Luisa will never be strong enough! Isabela won't be perfect enough! Bruno left our family because you only saw the worst in him!"
—Mirabel, Encanto
"I'll prove everything to you! Just hang on! YOU'LL BE PROUD OF ME!"
— Dib Membrane, Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus
"You see, I was always...different growing up. Papi didn't approve. He said if I didn't get serious, I'd never amount to anything. But nothing I ever did was good enough for him. All I ever wanted was a thumbs up from Papi. And I was so close."
— Kronk, Kronk's New Groove
"All I ever did, I did to make you proud! Tell me how proud you are, Shifu! Tell me! TELL MEEEEE!!!"
— Tai Lung, Kung Fu Panda
"I just wanted to be a better mermaid than a girl."
— Melody, The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea
"All he cares about is your approval."
— Moses talking about Rameses with Seti I, The Prince of Egypt
Kerchak: (fatally shot by Clayton) Tarzan...
Tarzan: Kerchak, forgive me.
Kerchak: No, forgive me for not understanding... that you have always been... one of us. Our family will look to you, now.
Tarzan: No...Kerchak...
Kerchak: Take care of them...my son. Take care of them. (dies)
Tarzan: Kerchak, forgive me.
Kerchak: No, forgive me for not understanding... that you have always been... one of us. Our family will look to you, now.
Tarzan: No...Kerchak...
Kerchak: Take care of them...my son. Take care of them. (dies)
— Tarzan
Films — Live-Action
If I knew shooting someone would make you proud Dad, I would've done it a long time ago.
— Marty Huggins, The Campaign
Hank Palmer: Why'd you pull me out of Boy Scouts?
Hon. Joseph Palmer: As punishment for blowing up the McCraw's mailbox with M80s.
Hank: I was 13. THAT you remember! THAT!
Joseph: Old enough to know better.
Hank: You didn't come to my high school graduation or college. Why?
Joseph: Oh, boo-fucking-hoo. "Why?" Jail time, truancy, I don't get to reward anything! None of your shit!
Hank: I graduated from law school, for Christ's sake!
Joseph: As opposed to what? Dropping out?
Hank: Fuck you!
Hon. Joseph Palmer: As punishment for blowing up the McCraw's mailbox with M80s.
Hank: I was 13. THAT you remember! THAT!
Joseph: Old enough to know better.
Hank: You didn't come to my high school graduation or college. Why?
Joseph: Oh, boo-fucking-hoo. "Why?" Jail time, truancy, I don't get to reward anything! None of your shit!
Hank: I graduated from law school, for Christ's sake!
Joseph: As opposed to what? Dropping out?
Hank: Fuck you!
Perry: Did your dad love you?
Harry: Only when I dressed up like a beer bottle, how about you?
Harry: Only when I dressed up like a beer bottle, how about you?
"I don't know if I can ever match up to Millicent Jones, Daddy, but I think you might be proud of me just the same, and quite soon, but... be... be patient with me."
— Jo Halliday, Please Turn Over
"'Eduardo Saverin: Co-founder and CFO [of Facebook].' ...You have no idea what that's gonna mean to my father."''
— Eduardo Saverin, The Social Network
Literature
"And he said: "Son, this world is rough,
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough,
And I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye.
I knew you'd have to get tough or die,
And it's that name that helped to make you strong."
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough,
And I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye.
I knew you'd have to get tough or die,
And it's that name that helped to make you strong."
— Shel Silverstein, "A Boy Named Sue"
"I never got great at it but I got good enough to win the sixth grade talent competition. My dad hung the medal on his office wall. That meant a lot to me."
"Yeah," Wireman said, "There's nothing like an 'Atta boy' from a doubtful dad."
Jack smiled, and as always it illuminated his whole face.
"Yeah," Wireman said, "There's nothing like an 'Atta boy' from a doubtful dad."
Jack smiled, and as always it illuminated his whole face.
— Duma Key
"If you can keep your head when all about you
are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
but make allowance for their doubting too.
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise. (...)
Yours is the Earth, and everything that's in it!
And, which is more... you'll be a Man... my son!"
are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
but make allowance for their doubting too.
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise. (...)
Yours is the Earth, and everything that's in it!
And, which is more... you'll be a Man... my son!"
— Fragment of the poem "If—", by Rudyard Kipling
Live-Action TV
Gob: I can do this dad. I can make you proud!
George Sr.: Well, it's never too late to start.
George Sr.: Well, it's never too late to start.
"My mother's understanding of my career changes with what she wants from me. One day, she can name everyone on the National Security Council, the next day, she thinks I work for the post office."
— Michael, Burn Notice, "Identity"
Theo: You're a doctor and Mom's a lawyer, and you're both successful in everything and that's great. But maybe I was born to be a regular person and have a regular life. If you weren't a doctor, I wouldn't love you less, because you're my dad. So rather than feeling disappointed because I'm not like you, maybe you should accept who I am and love me anyway, because I'm your son.
Cliff: Theo... THAT'S THE DUMBEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE! No wonder you get Ds in everything!
Cliff: Theo... THAT'S THE DUMBEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE! No wonder you get Ds in everything!
Niles: (drunkenly pretending to be Martin) My kids didn't care about baseball. Hell, they didn't care about anything that was important to me.
Martin: Hey, now that's not fair.
Niles: No, no, no, no, no. I'm just saying that you and me, we're regular guys. You know, we know how to hang out with regular guys and shoot the breeze and, and knock a few back. But, uh, not my kids. No, they're too good for that stuff. They got all their fancy degrees, but they never learned how to be regular guys. So I guess if I had to pick my two biggest disappointments ...
Martin: Hey, now that's not fair.
Niles: No, no, no, no, no. I'm just saying that you and me, we're regular guys. You know, we know how to hang out with regular guys and shoot the breeze and, and knock a few back. But, uh, not my kids. No, they're too good for that stuff. They got all their fancy degrees, but they never learned how to be regular guys. So I guess if I had to pick my two biggest disappointments ...
You hear that, guys? My dad's proud of me!!
— Rachel, Friends
"Hey, dad, are you proud of me yet? ... Okay, I'll keep trying."
— Robin, How I Met Your Mother
I just achieved my life's ambition of climbing Everest with no food and no equipment. NOW DO YOU LOVE ME DADDY? NOW DO YOU LOVE ME?
Picard: Is it so important that you win one last argument with him?
Spock: No, it is not — but it is true that I will miss the arguments. They were, finally, all that we had.
Spock: No, it is not — but it is true that I will miss the arguments. They were, finally, all that we had.
— Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Unification Pt. 2"
Music
"For you, I'd do anything,
Just to make you happy, hear you tell me that you're proud of me.
For them, I'll kill anything.
Cut the throats of babies for them Break their hearts all day for them
Waiting for you to say
"'I...love...you...too'"
Just to make you happy, hear you tell me that you're proud of me.
For them, I'll kill anything.
Cut the throats of babies for them Break their hearts all day for them
Waiting for you to say
"'I...love...you...too'"
— Coheed and Cambria, "In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3"
I tried hard to have a father but instead I had a dad.
— Nirvana, "Serve the Servants"
"I'm trying to make you proud
Do everything you did
I hope you're up there with God
Saying, that's my kid
Do everything you did
I hope you're up there with God
Saying, that's my kid
— The Script, "If You Could See Me Now"
Hey, Dad, look at me. Think back and talk to me. Did I grow up according to plan? And do you think I’m wasting my time, doing things I wanna do? But it hurts when you disapproved, all along.
— Simple Plan, "Perfect"
Tabletop Games
Clawing up a mountain, desperate to reach the pinnacle — a father's acknowledgement, if never respect — only to be dashed down its slopes again and again.
—Kharn the Betrayer's thoughts, Warhammer 40,000
Video Games
"I'm going to get that old man to praise me, no matter what! No matter how hard I try, my grandfather never praises anything I make or do!"
"We can believe in you for 3 minutes in Earth time."
— The King of All Cosmos, Katamari Damacy
Tali: I spent my life trying to live up to him, then making up for his mistakes, doing what he'd have wanted.
Shepard: It's never that easy.
Tali: When do we get to stop reacting to our parents and start living for ourselves?
Shepard: It's never that easy.
Tali: When do we get to stop reacting to our parents and start living for ourselves?
"I'm coming to kill you, old man. You really know how to piss me off, you know. Would it have killed you to say 'thank you' for once in your life? To say, 'Vlad, my son — can I call you my son? because I sure do love you like one — Vlad my son, you are a true prodigy. Everything you touch turns to gold.'"
— Vladimir Lem, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
"It is a father's nature to be the ultimate obstacle for his child!"
— Great Father, Persona 2
Rey Za Burrel: You said before that you wanted your father to accept you, right?
Shinji Ikari: We are alike, then… I am alive because Gil accepts me.
Shinji: It's true that I wanted my dad to compliment me. And I was really happy when he told me, "Good job."
Shinji: But I've already made up my mind, that even if my dad doesn't approve of what I'm doing, I'm still going to follow my own path — the path I chose to follow…!
Shinji: And I know that'll make him happy…!
Shinji Ikari: We are alike, then… I am alive because Gil accepts me.
Shinji: It's true that I wanted my dad to compliment me. And I was really happy when he told me, "Good job."
Shinji: But I've already made up my mind, that even if my dad doesn't approve of what I'm doing, I'm still going to follow my own path — the path I chose to follow…!
Shinji: And I know that'll make him happy…!
Web Animation
She's gonna love me for at least five minutes when she sees these!
— Misty, My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale
Donut: Sarge, Simmons has issues with his father, that he displaces on you.
Simmons: No Donut, that's why I punched Sarge in the face. I left the base because I wasn't fulfilling my undying need to please other people.
Sarge: Alright, enough. The next person who tells me about Simmons' feelings is gettin' court-martialed.
Simmons: No Donut, that's why I punched Sarge in the face. I left the base because I wasn't fulfilling my undying need to please other people.
Sarge: Alright, enough. The next person who tells me about Simmons' feelings is gettin' court-martialed.
Holo! Sarge: Simmons, there's no reason to feel that way! You're a valuable member of the team! I always find your feedback to be both insightful, and appropriate.
Simmons: ...Really?
Holo! Sarge: I know I can be rough sometimes, but that's only because it's hard being the leader! You know, dealing with those dirty Blues and that lousy Grif character all the time!
Simmons: He is lazy, sir.
Holo! Sarge: I don't mean to complain, but sometimes... I just... need a friend... Simmons, we've been working together a long time. I hope I can call you a friend. And that you can call me... the same.
Simmons: Gosh, sir, I don't know what to say! If it's okay with you, I would really like it if I could just call you "dad".
[The real Sarge enters the simulation room]
Sarge: Simmons, are you down here?
Simmons: [shocked] What? Yes! I mean... yes! Give me a second, don't come in!
Sarge: What the hell are you doing?
Simmons: Nothing! I was just working on your jeep design and-
Sarge: What? Stay away from my jeep! It's perfect! You'll just mess it up!
Simmons: [sighs] Yes, sir.
Simmons: ...Really?
Holo! Sarge: I know I can be rough sometimes, but that's only because it's hard being the leader! You know, dealing with those dirty Blues and that lousy Grif character all the time!
Simmons: He is lazy, sir.
Holo! Sarge: I don't mean to complain, but sometimes... I just... need a friend... Simmons, we've been working together a long time. I hope I can call you a friend. And that you can call me... the same.
Simmons: Gosh, sir, I don't know what to say! If it's okay with you, I would really like it if I could just call you "dad".
[The real Sarge enters the simulation room]
Sarge: Simmons, are you down here?
Simmons: [shocked] What? Yes! I mean... yes! Give me a second, don't come in!
Sarge: What the hell are you doing?
Simmons: Nothing! I was just working on your jeep design and-
Sarge: What? Stay away from my jeep! It's perfect! You'll just mess it up!
Simmons: [sighs] Yes, sir.
— Red vs. Blue, "Free Refills"
Web Comics
"Shame. Resentment. An inferiority complex. These are feelings any good father instills in his son."
— The King of All Cosmos, Katamari
Young Solid Snake: Dad, guess what? I learned my sixth language today!
Big Boss: Good work, son, your made your father proud.
Young Liquid Snake: FAAAAAATHEEEERRR! I learned my seventh language today!
[beat]
Big Boss: Get Out!.
Big Boss: Good work, son, your made your father proud.
Young Liquid Snake: FAAAAAATHEEEERRR! I learned my seventh language today!
[beat]
Big Boss: Get Out!.
Web Original
Chris: It almost makes me wish there was a companion book to Supermans Girlfriend Lois Lane and Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen. Superman's A**hole Dad Jor-El.
David: One day, Grant Morrison's going to end up on the main Superman'' titles, and he's going to retcon Superdickery as a two-year period in Superman's life where he was possessed by the ghost of Jor-El.
David: One day, Grant Morrison's going to end up on the main Superman'' titles, and he's going to retcon Superdickery as a two-year period in Superman's life where he was possessed by the ghost of Jor-El.
— ComicsAlliance on
Smallville ("Prophecy")
Smallville ("Prophecy")You know your daughter hates you more than she hates wearing a color that's not black or beige when you find out about her wedding from an Inside Edition reporter. Not even Entertainment Tonight! Inside Edition!
Jon [Voight] later told TMZ that he's not farting out a stream of sadness over not getting invited, because he wouldn't have been able to go anyway. Jon had to go to the Emmys on Monday.. You know your daddy hates you when he'd rather go to some boring ass award show and sit with a bunch of assholes (although, he's the asshole of assholes) than go to your wedding. So much for those two 'making amends' a few years ago.
Jon [Voight] later told TMZ that he's not farting out a stream of sadness over not getting invited, because he wouldn't have been able to go anyway. Jon had to go to the Emmys on Monday.. You know your daddy hates you when he'd rather go to some boring ass award show and sit with a bunch of assholes (although, he's the asshole of assholes) than go to your wedding. So much for those two 'making amends' a few years ago.
— DListed
Mordred: Hi, can I get an iced latte with parental love... I mean parental love
Mordred (tearing up): I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love [etc.]
Artoria: She's crying...
Mordred (tearing up): I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love I mean parental love [etc.]
Artoria: She's crying...
— This Fate/Grand Order fancomic
Fate/Grand Order fancomicJaden Smith does alright, although I find him to be a creepy Mini Me clone of his father Will Smith. Seriously, it is like Will cloned himself and brainwashed him as a boy to be a money making tool like his dad. Frankly I would like a kid with a personality of his own than someone doing an impression.
"In case you were wondering, Joe MacTaggert, Family Values Candidate, is a complete scumbag to a truly hilarious degree. When Moira and Professor X tell him that Proteus is on the way, he refuses to believe that he's in any danger, and when Moira asks him to speak to him because all the boy really wants is his father, he tells her to 'tell him Charles is his father.' That is an a m a z i n g dick move..."
— Chris Sims on X-Men: The Animated Series, "Proteus, Part 2"
X-Men: The Animated Series, "Proteus, Part 2" Web Video
"Time to make Daddy love me!"
— Zuko, Avatar: The Abridged Series
Cell: Look at me, I'm Trunks! Please love me, Daaad!
Future Trunks: ...That's a terrible impression.
Android 16: But not inaccurate!
Future Trunks: ...That's a terrible impression.
Android 16: But not inaccurate!
(Luke destroys Alucard's TV with his Dynamic Entry)
Alucard: That was a 70-inch... plasma screen TV. (smacks his lips and inhales deeply) ...So, how can I help you?
Luke: You must be the great Alucard.
Alucard: 'Suuuup?
Luke: I've heard quite a lot about you.
Alucard: Oh, really?
Luke: The Night Walker, who glides through oceans of blood. Beyond human. A monster whose power radiates with a darkness that casts a shadow on darkness itself!
Alucard: Oh, you dirty bitch! Work the shaft!
Luke: Ex... cuse you?
Alucard: Oh, I'm sorry, I like to dirty talk when someone's sucking my dick!
Luke: ...Perhaps I should just skip to my point. My name is Luke Valentine!
Alucard: And I'm Carmen Sandiego. Guess where I am!
Luke: I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you here.
Alucard: Oh, so am I! And I'm failing. And I'm sorry for that. It's just that I'm so agitated, because this blonde little shit strolled into my room, destroyed my 70-inch plasma TV and is trying to impress me like I'm his alcoholic father. (both shove their guns into each other's faces) Be a sport and grab daddy another beer, would you?
Alucard: That was a 70-inch... plasma screen TV. (smacks his lips and inhales deeply) ...So, how can I help you?
Luke: You must be the great Alucard.
Alucard: 'Suuuup?
Luke: I've heard quite a lot about you.
Alucard: Oh, really?
Luke: The Night Walker, who glides through oceans of blood. Beyond human. A monster whose power radiates with a darkness that casts a shadow on darkness itself!
Alucard: Oh, you dirty bitch! Work the shaft!
Luke: Ex... cuse you?
Alucard: Oh, I'm sorry, I like to dirty talk when someone's sucking my dick!
Luke: ...Perhaps I should just skip to my point. My name is Luke Valentine!
Alucard: And I'm Carmen Sandiego. Guess where I am!
Luke: I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you here.
Alucard: Oh, so am I! And I'm failing. And I'm sorry for that. It's just that I'm so agitated, because this blonde little shit strolled into my room, destroyed my 70-inch plasma TV and is trying to impress me like I'm his alcoholic father. (both shove their guns into each other's faces) Be a sport and grab daddy another beer, would you?
— Hellsing Abridged, Episode 2
"The Star Wars prequels are the worst thing to happen since my son!... And while my son did eventually hang himself in a gas station bathroom, the unfortunate reality of the Star Wars prequels is that they'll be around forever."
— Mr. Plinkett, RedLetterMedia
Adm. Owen Paris: You need to climb, and you need to be sure the rope will slide in only one direction:
Lt. Tom Paris: I'd tie a guarda hitch knot!
Owen: The fear of long words is:
Tom: Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia!
Owen: A picardy third is:
Tom: Is when you suddenly solve a minor composition in major triad.
Owen: The leg before wicket rule:
Tom: Uh, in Cricket, the batsman's out because he... er, um, no. It's... the bowler is—
Owen: Just as I thought, you're useless!!
Tom: (sobs) I'M SORRY I LET YOU DOWN, DAD!
Lt. Tom Paris: I'd tie a guarda hitch knot!
Owen: The fear of long words is:
Tom: Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia!
Owen: A picardy third is:
Tom: Is when you suddenly solve a minor composition in major triad.
Owen: The leg before wicket rule:
Tom: Uh, in Cricket, the batsman's out because he... er, um, no. It's... the bowler is—
Owen: Just as I thought, you're useless!!
Tom: (sobs) I'M SORRY I LET YOU DOWN, DAD!
— SF Debris on Star Trek: Voyager, "Coda"
Western Animation
"For so long, all I wanted was for you to love me, to accept me. I thought it was my honor I wanted, but really, I was just trying to please you."
— Zuko to Ozai, Avatar: The Last Airbender, "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse"
Malory: We're getting Cherlene a record deal. Sterling can't screw that up.
Lana: Look, I think, maybe Archer's just been trying too hard.
Malory: Ha!
Lana: I'm serious. I mean, as sad as it is, deep down he just wants your approval, and lately you've been putting so much pressure on him.
Lana: Look, I think, maybe Archer's just been trying too hard.
Malory: Ha!
Lana: I'm serious. I mean, as sad as it is, deep down he just wants your approval, and lately you've been putting so much pressure on him.
— Archer, "Smugglers' Blues"
"I have this friend, and right around when I first met her, her dad died, and I actually went with her to the funeral. And months later, she told me that she didn't understand why she was still upset, because she never even liked her father. It made sense to me, because I went through the same thing when my dad died. And I'm going through the same thing now.
You know what it's like? It's like that show Becker, you know, with Ted Danson? I watched the entire run of that show, hoping that it would get better, and it never did. It had all the right pieces, but it just — it couldn't put them together. And when it got canceled, I was really bummed out, not because I liked the show, but because I knew it could be so much better, and now it never would be. And that's what losing a parent is like. It's like Becker.
Suddenly, you realize you'll never have the good relationship you wanted, and as long as they were alive, even though you'd never admit it, part of you, the stupidest God-damn part of you, was still holding on to that chance. And you didn't even realize it until that chance went away."
You know what it's like? It's like that show Becker, you know, with Ted Danson? I watched the entire run of that show, hoping that it would get better, and it never did. It had all the right pieces, but it just — it couldn't put them together. And when it got canceled, I was really bummed out, not because I liked the show, but because I knew it could be so much better, and now it never would be. And that's what losing a parent is like. It's like Becker.
Suddenly, you realize you'll never have the good relationship you wanted, and as long as they were alive, even though you'd never admit it, part of you, the stupidest God-damn part of you, was still holding on to that chance. And you didn't even realize it until that chance went away."
— BoJack, Bojack Horseman, "Free Churro"
Marge: Homie, are you really going to ignore Grampa for the rest of your life?
Homer: Of course not, Marge, just for the rest of his life. He said I was an accident... he didn't want to have me.
Marge: You didn't want to have Bart.
Homer: I know, but you're never supposed to tell the child!
Marge: You tell Bart all the time! You told him this morning!
Homer: Yeah, but when I do it, it's cute!
Homer: Of course not, Marge, just for the rest of his life. He said I was an accident... he didn't want to have me.
Marge: You didn't want to have Bart.
Homer: I know, but you're never supposed to tell the child!
Marge: You tell Bart all the time! You told him this morning!
Homer: Yeah, but when I do it, it's cute!
Kaos: Why, mother? Why wouldn't you teach me how to be as powerful as you?
Kaossandra: I have my reasons, Kaos. I do not need to justify them to you or anyone else, now or ever.
Kaos: But all I ever wanted was to be like you. I know I can be, I will be. Please, just show me the way.
Kaossandra: I... can't. Son, you must trust me on this.
Kaos: Very well. I choose... them. [refers to the Doom Raiders]
Kaossandra: I have my reasons, Kaos. I do not need to justify them to you or anyone else, now or ever.
Kaos: But all I ever wanted was to be like you. I know I can be, I will be. Please, just show me the way.
Kaossandra: I... can't. Son, you must trust me on this.
Kaos: Very well. I choose... them. [refers to the Doom Raiders]
"Everybody always tells me how great Mom was. I just don't feel like I can ever measure up to her."
— Steven, Steven Universe, "Bismuth"
"I can't believe he's blood."
— Darkseid on Kalibak, Superman: The Animated Series
Real Life
"Dr. Seth Aidinoff, a New York-Presbyterian Hospital psychiatrist who practices on the Upper East Side and also consults for hedge funds and Wall Street firms, illustrated the consequences with the Saturday-afternoon choice faced by 'your typical master of the universe,' who can either play outside with his 7-year-old or stay inside to complete a business deal on the phone.
'The phone call might involve the most important and interesting people in the world, being well compensated for his time, and the chance to handle it with A-plus skill,' Dr. Aidinoff said. 'Whereas playing with his 7-year-old might be sort of boring, or unsatisfying; his son might not fully express his appreciation, or the child could even be in a bad mood. So this person might find himself terrified of spending time with his child because it's not an activity he can control or succeed at the high level of accomplishment to which he is accustomed."
'The phone call might involve the most important and interesting people in the world, being well compensated for his time, and the chance to handle it with A-plus skill,' Dr. Aidinoff said. 'Whereas playing with his 7-year-old might be sort of boring, or unsatisfying; his son might not fully express his appreciation, or the child could even be in a bad mood. So this person might find himself terrified of spending time with his child because it's not an activity he can control or succeed at the high level of accomplishment to which he is accustomed."
— Eric Konigsberg, "Age of Riches – Challenges of $600-a-Session Patients"
"Prove that you are bigger, tougher, more patiently enduring, and are unmoved by his wailing. Defeat him totally. Accept no conditions for surrender. No compromise. You are to rule over him as a benevolent sovereign. Your word is final."
— Michael Pearl, To Train Up a Child
"In America men often work long hours even when they are well off; such men, naturally, are indignant at the idea of leisure for wage-earners, except as the grim punishment of unemployment; in fact, they dislike leisure even for their sons."
"He can't even shoot straight."
— Joseph Stalin, on his son Yakov's failed suicide
"We'll have to have dinner now!"
"The father is of course a far more interesting figure than any of his sons if only because his will to impose himself on a society which he felt had snubbed him has been in a more extraordinary way fulfilled. He drove his sons to 'win, win, win.' But never at any point did he pause to ask himself to them just what it was they were supposed to win. He taught them to regard life as a game of Monopoly (a family favorite): you put up as many hotels on Ventor Avenue as you can and win. Consequently, some of the failure of his son's administration can be ascribed to the family philosophy. This absence of any sense of the whole emerged in the famous exchange between him and James Reston, who asked the newly elected president what his philosophy was, what vision did he have of the good life. Mr. Reston got a blank stare for an answer."
— Gore Vidal, "The Holy Family"
