I think once I fail enough as a dad, I'll be looking for help

“I think once I fail enough as a dad, I’ll be looking for help wherever I can get it. I just need enough time to screw things up and then I’ll start looking to TV dads for advice.”
Thus spoke Ty Burrell, the actor known for his humor and humility, reflecting on the trials and uncertainties of fatherhood. His words, while wrapped in jest, carry a profound truth about the human condition: that wisdom is born not from certainty, but from trial, error, and reflection. In these lines, Burrell reveals the quiet courage it takes to acknowledge imperfection, and the willingness to learn — even from unlikely sources — that defines a responsible and compassionate parent.

The origin of this quote lies in Burrell’s own journey as a father, observing the chaos, joy, and sometimes bewilderment that accompany raising children. He anticipates failure not with despair, but with honesty, understanding that mistakes are inevitable. By admitting that he will “fail enough as a dad,” he points to an essential lesson: growth is inseparable from error. To be a parent, or to undertake any great responsibility, is to accept that perfection is impossible, and that wisdom emerges through the courage to confront and correct one’s own missteps.

The ancients understood this principle long before the television era. Socrates, the philosopher of Athens, claimed that true knowledge begins with the admission of ignorance. The parent who recognizes their own limitations is no less noble than the one who succeeds effortlessly; indeed, they may be wiser, for they embrace the humility necessary to learn. Ty Burrell’s humor mirrors this philosophy, transforming potential shame into a lesson of self-awareness, acknowledging that even a father’s role — seemingly natural and instinctive — requires continual effort and reflection.

His reference to “TV dads” is particularly striking, for it shows that guidance can come from many forms. In history, teachers and mentors were often found in books, in stories, or through observation of others’ successes and failures. The Roman poet Horace advised that we should learn not only from our own lives, but from the examples of others: “He who cannot learn from history is doomed to repeat it.” Burrell’s TV dads become modern echoes of this truth — reflections of virtue, error, humor, and patience that offer guidance, if one is willing to observe with humility.

There is a broader lesson here about the nature of experience and preparation. Burrell does not seek advice before having lived; he anticipates that only after enough mistakes will he truly appreciate the wisdom of others. This is a universal pattern: knowledge often requires lived experience, and theory alone cannot replace the lessons learned through trial. Parents, leaders, artists, and warriors all must endure their own tests before the teachings of others resonate fully. The path to mastery is paved with stumbles, not solely with instruction.

Even in history, examples abound. Benjamin Franklin, revered for his wisdom and virtue, often wrote candidly about his failures — not to boast, but to instruct. He created personal lists of virtues he struggled to maintain, learning from his mistakes and sharing them with others. Likewise, Burrell acknowledges that failure is the teacher, and that guidance — whether from the past, mentors, or even TV — is most valuable when it is sought with the humility of one who has already felt the sting of imperfection.

The quote also celebrates humor as a coping and learning mechanism. By joking about his inevitable failures, Burrell demonstrates that laughter can transform anxiety into insight. Ancient philosophers such as Plutarch recognized the importance of levity in cultivating virtue: a heart that can laugh at its own flaws is less burdened by fear, more open to growth. Ty Burrell embodies this timeless principle, showing that even the weightiest responsibilities — like fatherhood — can be approached with grace and a lightness of spirit.

The lesson, then, is clear: embrace your imperfections, seek guidance, and allow humor to illuminate the path. Mistakes are not shameful; they are essential. Wisdom is not a birthright, but a harvest gathered through effort, reflection, and the courage to ask for help. And as Ty Burrell reminds us, even the most ordinary or unconventional sources — from mentors to TV dads — can provide insight. The greatest triumphs of life are born from acknowledging failure, learning from it, and moving forward with love and patience.