My parents were dishonest people. If it was my birthday, I knew my mother took me to the K-Mart and she stole my toy. She'd put it in the shopping cart and we'd walk out. I was raised with that.

In this quote, Vincent Gallo reflects on his childhood and the influence of his parents' actions on his understanding of right and wrong. He reveals that his mother would take him to K-Mart on his birthday, where she would steal a toy for him. Gallo's admission that he was "raised with that" highlights the significant impact his parents' behavior had on his perception of the world, particularly when it came to honesty and moral values. His statement reflects a sense of normalization of dishonest behavior, as it was a regular part of his upbringing.

Gallo's words shed light on how deeply parental influence can shape a child’s understanding of morality. His mother’s actions—stealing the toy and making it seem like a normal part of their routine—suggest a disregard for ethical principles, which Gallo internalized. The quote reflects the idea that children learn a great deal from what they observe in their parents, even when those lessons are negative or morally questionable.

The mention of birthday celebrations further adds a layer of complexity to the story, as Gallo connects an occasion typically associated with joy and gifts to an act of dishonesty. This contrast emphasizes the dysfunction in his childhood, where even moments of celebration were intertwined with negative behaviors. It suggests that Gallo's sense of self-worth and expectations of the world may have been shaped by a distorted view of fairness and morality.

Ultimately, Gallo’s quote highlights the lasting impact that family dynamics and parental influence can have on a child’s values. His reflection on being raised with dishonesty underscores the complexity of moral upbringing and how early experiences can shape an individual’s character and worldview, often in ways that are hard to undo.