Dads, they’re good at giving advice. Whether or not the advice they give is any good or helpful in the slightest, they’re more than happy to pass down some received ‘wisdom’. Particularly to their sons as they tackle the transition from boy to man. So we asked our barbers, some of whose Dads were barbers themselves and imparted tips on shaving expertise, as well as a few Murdock friends to mine some nuggets of fatherly advice gold and some less valuable but equally memorable Dad quotes:
“Treat your razor as well as you’d like it to treat your face.” James in Head Office’s Dad
“Shave your beard, you look homeless.” Josh Mihan’s Dad (not one for some well groomed facial hair)
“You should cherish a heavy razor. You can let the weight guide your hand and do the work for you.” Vincent Vincent’s Dad
“If you would feel as awful for cheating on your barber as you would cheating on your partner, you’ve found your match.” Vincent Vincent’s Dad
“As soon as you’ve got more than three hairs growing on your face, there’s opportunity…” James’ eager to shave Dad
“Whatever you’re doing, always give the best account of yourself” – Will in Head Office’s Dad
“A job should never be rushed no matter what your trade. It’ll always come back on you and create further problems down the line.”
“Measure twice, cut once.”
“My Dad taught me how to spell by singing the words” – Matt Hughes’ Dad
“Shaving is a way of life, the same way showering is.” – Liam in Head Office’s Grandad
“Live as if you will die tomorrow, farm as if you will live forever.”
“If there’s time to lean, there’s time to clean” – Vincent Vincent’s Dad
“You might clock out of work, but you should never clock out from working.”
“Adding ice to your whisky is sinful and ruins the flavour. Room temperature water is the perfect accompaniment.”
“Always keep a trusty comb in your pocket. You never know when you might just need one.”
“It’s all in the details. Choosing the right socks can make or break an outfit.”
“At a young age, disposable income gives you the opportunity to try and probably fail at looking good. Keep at it and you’ll find your calling eventually.”
“Owning interesting things will always be important. We live in a digital world, but the thought of being at somebody’s house and having nothing to physically browse through and talk about is frightening.”
“Let others inspire you, but don’t ignore your own creative input as a result.”
“If it’s not alphabetised, it’s not a collection.”
“Owning great records justifies owning great speakers. There’s simply no argument”
“Call your mum.”
“Buying cheap is a false economy if its poorly made. You’ll just keep spending on replacing as things break. Better to pay more for better quality.”
“Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice.” The wise words of Mr Charles F. Kettering
And finally some profound father wisdom but this time for a daughter from the pen of Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald. Writing to his 11 year old daughter Scottie who was away at camp, part of his letter is a list of what to and what not to worry about. A good life lesson for all humans everywhere.
“Things to worry about:
Worry about courage
Worry about Cleanliness
Worry about efficiency
Worry about horsemanship
Worry about. . .
Things not to worry about:
Don’t worry about popular opinion
Don’t worry about dolls
Don’t worry about the past
Don’t worry about the future
Don’t worry about growing up
Don’t worry about anybody getting ahead of you
Don’t worry about triumph
Don’t worry about failure unless it comes through your own fault
Don’t worry about mosquitoes
Don’t worry about flies
Don’t worry about insects in general
Don’t worry about parents
Don’t worry about boys
Don’t worry about disappointments
Don’t worry about pleasures
Don’t worry about satisfactions
Things to think about:
What am I really aiming at?
How good am I really in comparison to my contemporaries in regard to:
(a) Scholarship
(b) Do I really understand about people and am I able to get along with them?
(c) Am I trying to make my body a useful instrument or am I neglecting it?”
If your Dad ever gave you any great Dad advice, let us know! We’ll be posting more Dad quotes in the lead up to Father’s Day.
