There are a lot of stereotypes out there about dads, and, sure, some of them are fairly accurate, but it is the most negative among them—the bumbling idiots and uncaring blockheads—that tend to get the majority of attention. Dads deserve better.

Dads are active, involved, loving and nurturing. They don’t babysit, they parent. They’re pretty good guys. So this year on the day of dads, wouldn’t it be better to concentrate on the wonders of fatherhood?

But first, back to the stereotypes: Dads, as a people, are generally well-known for the quoting of movies in real-life situations, in most cases from films that came out before their children were born. This is how pop-culture, and, to an extent, society, is pushed forward, one dad joke at a time. These stereotypes tend to be self-fulfilling.

It is in this spirit that I have compiled a soliloquy of sorts, comprised of  movie quotes by, to, and about dads. Note, this is the not your father’s collection of dad quotes, rather the lines included are the wisdom and emotion of fictional men, which, as everyone knows, means they carry far more weight than anything some real guy may have said.

Whether you are a dad searching for just the right words for your own Father’s Day celebration, or someone that wants to give the gift of movie quotes to pad their patriarch’s repertoire, these are the lines you are looking for. Happy Father’s Day.

____________________________

Everything I ever learned as a small boy came from my father, and I never found anything he ever told me to be wrong or worthless. The simple lessons he taught me are as sharp and clear in my mind as if I had heard them only yesterday:[1]

You must choose your own path.[2] You must be imaginative, strong-hearted. You must try things that may not work, and you must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from.[3]

Real courage is . . . when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through, no matter what.[4] Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. When people can’t do something themselves, they’re gonna tell you that you can’t do it.[5]

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.[6]

This is my story. This is the sacrifice my father made. This was his gift to me.[7]

Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?[8] Well, that's the thing about life, it’s the surprises, the little things that sneak up on you and grab hold of you.[9]

Just promise your daddy one thing, you'll never, ever lose sight of what's really important. Ok?[10] A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.[11]

I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career[12], but—it's not a job, it's a joy being your father. . . always, rain, shine, it's the one wonderful thing in my life.[13]

There’s a lot of ugly things in this world . . . I wish I could keep them all away from you.[14] That's my wish. And is there enough magic out there in the moonlight to make this dream come true?[15]

I mean, you'd think that was pretty magical, right?[16]

Take off that mask. You don't need it.[17] Look inside yourself . . . you are more than what you have become[18] . . . you are my greatest adventure.[19]

I am your father.[20]

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[1] How Green Was My Valley (Huw Morgan)

[2] Pocahontas (Chief Powhatan)

[3] Ratatouille (Gusteau)

[4] To Kill a Mockingbird (Atticus Finch)

[5] The Pursuit of Happyness (Chris Gardner)

[6] To Kill a Mockingbird (Atticus Finch)

[7] Life is Beautiful (Giosué Orefice)

[8] It’s a Wonderful Life (Clarence)

[9] Father of the Bride (George Banks)

[10] The Princess and the Frog (James)

[11] The Godfather (Don Corleone)

[12] Taken (Bryan Mills)

[13] Mrs. Doubtfire (Daniel Hillard)

[14] To Kill a Mockingbird (Atticus Finch)

[15] Field of Dreams (Dr. Archibald “Moonlight” Graham)

[16] Boyhood (Dad)

[17] Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (Han Solo)

[18] The Lion King (Mufasa)

[19] The Incredibles (Mr. Incredible)

[20] Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Darth Vader)

Enjoy movie quotes? Check out this commencement speech and see if you can figure out who spoke these classic graduation lines.