--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't belong as a kid, and that always…" description: "\"“I didn't belong as a kid, and that always bothered me. If only I'd known that one day my differentness would be an asset, then my early life would hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/bette-midler-1976_belonging_i-didn-t-belong-as-a-kid-and-that-always_1158696.jpg" --- # I didn't belong as a kid, and that always bothered me. If… ![“I didn't belong as a kid, and that always bothered me. If only I'd known that one day my differentness would be an asset, then my early life would have been much easier.” quote by Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/bette-midler-1976_belonging_i-didn-t-belong-as-a-kid-and-that-always_1158696.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/bette-midler-1976_belonging_i-didn-t-belong-as-a-kid-and-that-always_1158696.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/bette-midler-1976_belonging_i-didn-t-belong-as-a-kid-and-that-always_1158696.jpg) > ““I didn't belong as a kid, and that always bothered me. If only I'd known that one day my differentness would be an asset, then my early life would have been much easier.”” [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling out of place as a child can be painful, but later realizing it is a strength eases that pain. **In simple terms:** Being different can become a valuable asset. Key Takeaway Embrace your uniqueness early. Themes identity self‑acceptance growth Mood reflective hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - school experiences - workplace inclusion - creative collaboration - personal development Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When did you first see your uniqueness as a strength? - How can we support children feeling different? A Different Perspective Not everyone recognizes the value of difference immediately. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belonging/) [Early life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [If only I'd known my differentness would be an asset, then my earlier life would have been much easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would-be-an-asset-then-my-earlier/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I don't know that I spent any more time alone than any other kid, but being by myself never bothered me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barbera/i-don-t-know-that-i-spent-any-more-time-alone-than-any-other-kid-but/) [Joseph Barbera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barbera/) > [“I wanted to belong to Iris when I didn't even belong to myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-asim/i-wanted-to-belong-to-iris-when-i-didn-t-even-belong-to-myself/) [Jabari Asim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-asim/) > [I had an Arabic background. but I lived a very scattered childhood. I didn't belong to any one culture, which meant I didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmine-hamdan/i-had-an-arabic-background-but-i-lived-a-very-scattered-childhood-i/) [Yasmine Hamdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmine-hamdan/) > [Nobody was ever going to tell me that I didn't belong on a football field. And nobody was ever going to tell me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/nobody-was-ever-going-to-tell-me-that-i-didn-t-belong-on-a-football/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [“I like that neither of us fits into the worlds we grew up in. I always thought I didn’t belong. You make me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-peach/i-like-that-neither-of-us-fits-into-the-worlds-we-grew-up-in-i-always/) [Hanna Peach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-peach/) > [“He felt empty and lost like he didn't belong anywhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/he-felt-empty-and-lost-like-he-didn-t-belong-anywhere/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [“It doesn’t matter what you wanted!’ Clary shouted. ‘It is who I am! You took all that away from me and it didn’t even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-wanted-clary-shouted-it-is-who-i-am-you/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [As I didn't belong from a filmy background, I didn't know how to become an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/as-i-didn-t-belong-from-a-filmy-background-i-didn-t-know-how-to/) [Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/) > [The thing about me and school was that as much as I felt that I didn't belong, as long as I was on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/the-thing-about-me-and-school-was-that-as-much-as-i-felt-that-i-didn/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [“There was not an inch of solid ground anywhere in the world for me to call my own. I didn't belong anywhere. Had I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-hershkovich/there-was-not-an-inch-of-solid-ground-anywhere-in-the-world-for-me-to/) [Leigh Hershkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-hershkovich/) > [The biggest thing I learned at Leipzig was that I didn't belong there. I didn't feel right there. I didn't feel like I fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-marsch/the-biggest-thing-i-learned-at-leipzig-was-that-i-didn-t-belong-there/) [Jesse Marsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-marsch/) > [Some Queen of the Pipes, I thought. I'd believed I was better than a mindless drone. But I was the mindless one, hiding away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/some-queen-of-the-pipes-i-thought-i-d-believed-i-was-better-than-a/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“Except Caitlyn. High school dating, drill team, school spirit—it all seemed silly to her. Why did it feel like high school was crushing her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-cach/except-caitlyn-high-school-dating-drill-team-school-spirit-it-all/) [Lisa Cach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-cach/) > [“Life’ and ‘Fair’ were two words that just didn’t belong in a sentence together – unless the word ‘Not’ was in there, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sex/life-and-fair-were-two-words-that-just-didn-t-belong-in-a-sentence/) [Nikki Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sex/) ## More by Bette Midler > [If I could be granted a wish, I'd shine in your eye like a jewel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-i-could-be-granted-a-wish-i-d-shine-in-your-eye-like-a-jewel/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I firmly believe that with the right footwear one can rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-firmly-believe-that-with-the-right-footwear-one-can-rule-the-world/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [You can't just have a clean public space - you also have to have people willing to use it, and something that will draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/you-can-t-just-have-a-clean-public-space-you-also-have-to-have-people/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I read neither good nor bad about me. I let it not even in my life, so it has no effect on me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-read-neither-good-nor-bad-about-me-i-let-it-not-even-in-my-life-so/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [ If they \[at the audition\] don't like the way you sound they won't buy you anyway, ripped dress or no ripped dress, ass hanging… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-they-at-the-audition-don-t-like-the-way-you-sound-they-won-t-buy/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [The old forms of entertainment are not extinct. Live performances are the pinnacle. If you can something that people want to see live, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/the-old-forms-of-entertainment-are-not-extinct-live-performances-are/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance. It is the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-heart-afraid-of-breaking-that-never-learns-to-dance-it-is/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I made a pact with myself a long time ago: Never watch anything stupider than you. It's helped me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-made-a-pact-with-myself-a-long-time-ago-never-watch-anything/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the one who won't be taken that cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-one-who-won-t-be-taken-that-cannot-seem-to-give-and-the-soul/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Culturally, it's very hard to change people's attitudes about public space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/culturally-it-s-very-hard-to-change-people-s-attitudes-about-public/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [As you age, feelings do diminish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/as-you-age-feelings-do-diminish/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I decided years ago not to read stories about myself anymore. Each one is a potential minefield: Whatever it says, you're bound to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-decided-years-ago-not-to-read-stories-about-myself-anymore-each-one/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Sometimes my brain goes on CD shuffle. You know, you put a bunch of CD's on and hit play and random things come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/sometimes-my-brain-goes-on-cd-shuffle-you-know-you-put-a-bunch-of-cd/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I come from an overly confident place. But I'm overconfident because of feelings of inferiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-come-from-an-overly-confident-place-but-i-m-overconfident-because/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [My idea of superwoman is someone who scrubs her own floors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/my-idea-of-superwoman-is-someone-who-scrubs-her-own-floors/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) [Explore all 193 Bette Midler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## More Belonging quotes > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [I always think the best way of motivating yourself is to put yourself in a situation where you feel like you're belonging to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/i-always-think-the-best-way-of-motivating-yourself-is-to-put-yourself/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [It is a well-settled principle of the international code that where one nation owes another a liquidated debt which it refuses or neglects to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/it-is-a-well-settled-principle-of-the-international-code-that-where/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I am convinced that human nature is basically affectionate and good. If our behavior follows our kind and loving nature, immense benefits will result,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-convinced-that-human-nature-is-basically-affectionate-and-good/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“The reason “belonging” was so potent, so attractive, so much a part of the human yearning, was that it also meant safety, and loyalty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/the-reason-belonging-was-so-potent-so-attractive-so-much-a-part-of/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [If some student belonging to weaker section of society suffers distress, humanity says it must be addressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-jaitley/if-some-student-belonging-to-weaker-section-of-society-suffers/) [Arun Jaitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun-jaitley/) > [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [My father was a man of great charity towards the poor, and compassion for the sick, and also for servants; so much so, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-father-was-a-man-of-great-charity-towards-the-poor-and-compassion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Maybe the problem with the world is, that people are too quick to judge. And out of desperation, the loneliness creeps in like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/maybe-the-problem-with-the-world-is-that-people-are-too-quick-to/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“It turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you'll stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/it-turns-out-to-be-the-place-of-true-belonging-and-it-s-the-bravest/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [The hardest thing about being at Sony was not the travel; it was being divorced from the public and private life I had in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stringer/the-hardest-thing-about-being-at-sony-was-not-the-travel-it-was-being/) [Howard Stringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stringer/) > [Whenever you are examining someone else's belongings, you are bound to learn many interesting things about the person of which you were not previously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-you-are-examining-someone-else-s-belongings-you-are-bound-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She isn't anybody's,' Rook said darkly. 'Son. she's not yours, either," Sarah Fleet said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaida-jones/she-isn-t-anybody-s-rook-said-darkly-son-she-s-not-yours-either-sarah/) [Jaida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaida-jones/) > [We have become this very fear-based culture, especially post-9/11. Fear is the opposite of love, in my opinion. I think there would be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-have-become-this-very-fear-based-culture-especially-post-9-11-fear/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) [Browse all 876 Belonging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belonging/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I didn't belong as a kid, and that always bothered me. 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