37 Years Later, Calvin And Hobbes' Best Quote On Growing Up Is Still Without Equal
Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes had a masterful way of delivering nuggets of wisdom and relatable insights about life with a humorous flair. While the mischievous six-year-old Calvin and his imaginary tiger best friend are the stars of the comic strip, Calvin’s parents have had their fair share of iconic, hilarious moments, too. In fact, it was Calvin’s dad who delivered what may be the greatest quote about growing up in comic strip history, one that remains unmatched to this day.
Calvin and Hobbes is famous for its imaginative humor. However, the comic strip also stood out for its often surprisingly thoughtful reflections on childhood, human nature, and growing up. On May 10, 1989, Watterson published a strip that would deliver one of the funniest and most relatable quotes about growing up: “I don’t think I’d have been in such a hurry to reach adulthood if I’d known the whole thing was going to be ad-libbed.”
This quote closes out a short story arc in which Calvin’s family comes home to discover that their house has been burglarized. Published on May 10, the strip stars Calvin’s parents as they lie in bed discussing the aftermath. It begins with Calvin’s mom asking his dad if he’s still awake, to which he confirms that he is, before reflecting, “It’s funny… When I was a kid, I thought grown-ups never worried about anything. I trusted my parents to take care of everything, and it never occurred to me that they might not know how.”
Calvin’s father then continues: “I figured that once you grew up, you automatically knew what to do in any given scenario.” He follows this with the strip’s final punchline: “I don’t think I’d have been in such a hurry to reach adulthood if I’d known the whole thing was going to be ad-libbed.” While the line adds humor to an otherwise serious moment, it also conveys a sentiment nearly every adult can relate to: growing up doesn’t mean you suddenly have all the answers or know exactly what you’re doing.
Calvin And Hobbes’ Greatest Quote On Adulthood & Growing Up, Explained
Published on May 10, 1989
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“I don’t think I’d have been in such a hurry to reach adulthood if I’d known the whole thing was going to be ad-libbed.” In just 24 words, Bill Watterson conveys a profound universal truth. Most adults can look back on their childhood and remember how they couldn’t wait to grow up and become an adult. Here, Calvin’s dad reflects on that same experience, explaining that he might not have been in such a rush to grow up if he had known about the struggles and uncertainties that come with adulthood.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “ad-libbed” as “to improvise, especially lines or a speech.” In the context of Calvin’s dad’s quote, he is essentially saying that adult life is one giant improvisation. In other words, being an adult means figuring things out as you go and making decisions without knowing whether you’re doing the right thing. It’s a sentiment that most people can likely relate to, and the reality that everyone is experiencing life for the first time without truly knowing what they’re doing is what gives the strip its particularly wry humor.
Those who played Mad Libs growing up will also recognize the particular humor in Calvin’s dad comparing adult life to an endless ad-lib. Those familiar with the game will remember that Mad Libs is a phrasal template word game in which players fill in a story’s blanks with specific parts of speech before reading the often-absurd result aloud. Many will also remember just how ridiculous those stories could get. Hence, it’s particularly fitting and funny that Watterson essentially compares adult life to a giant game of Mad Libs, as being an adult can often feel just as absurd.
If you think we missed the mark on the best Calvin and Hobbes quote about growing up, let us know your pick in the comments below!
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