It’s only when you grow up and step back from him–or leave him for your own home–it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it.

The line reflects a common dynamic in family life: a parent’s stature can be hard to see from within the intimacy and dependency of childhood. Only with adulthood—gaining independence, physical distance, and a broader view of the world—can one reassess a father’s character, sacrifices, and achievements with clearer judgment. In Margaret Truman’s case, the sentiment also resonates with the experience of being the child of a prominent public figure: the parent is simultaneously “just Dad” at home and “great” in the eyes of history. The quote underscores how perspective, time, and separation can convert familiarity into appreciation.