--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If only I'd known my differentness would…" description: "\"If only I'd known my differentness would be an asset, then my earlier life would have been much easier.\" — Bette Midler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/927/bette-midler-1976_assets_if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would_3035564.jpg" --- # If only I'd known my differentness would be an asset, then… ![“If only I'd known my differentness would be an asset, then my earlier life would have been much easier.” quote by Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/927/bette-midler-1976_assets_if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would_3035564.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/927/bette-midler-1976_assets_if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would_3035564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/927/bette-midler-1976_assets_if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would_3035564.jpg) > “If only I'd known my differentness would be an asset, then my earlier 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. She reflects that recognizing her uniqueness earlier would have eased her life. **In simple terms:** Self‑acceptance earlier would have helped. Key Takeaway Embrace individuality early on. Themes self‑acceptance identity growth confidence reflection Mood reflective encouraging Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career coaching - personal counseling - ment workshops Key Concepts psychology personal development self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - What steps foster early self‑acceptance? - How does uniqueness become an asset? A Different Perspective Self‑acceptance can be a lifelong journey. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asset Earlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asset-earlier-4978406/) [Assets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assets/) [Differentness Asset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differentness-asset-3307626/) [Earlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earlier/) [Earlier Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earlier-life-232997/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Known Differentness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-differentness-4978407/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [“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,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-didn-t-belong-as-a-kid-and-that-always-bothered-me-if-only-i-d/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [After spending 460 days as a hostage, I did emerge a fundamentally changed person. But I think, like everyone does as they grow older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/after-spending-460-days-as-a-hostage-i-did-emerge-a-fundamentally/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [Earlier in my life, I had a tendency toward depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ornish/earlier-in-my-life-i-had-a-tendency-toward-depression/) [Dean Ornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ornish/) > [“You are here to remind me of someone I long for, and what is it you long for yourself? We must have been together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/you-are-here-to-remind-me-of-someone-i-long-for-and-what-is-it-you/) [Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/) > [I would've preferred to blossom earlier in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/i-would-ve-preferred-to-blossom-earlier-in-life/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [There is no law saying you have to die before your assets can be passed to loved ones. In fact, gifting earlier can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/there-is-no-law-saying-you-have-to-die-before-your-assets-can-be/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [In an earlier life, were you a pair of brakes?" "Try a brick wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/in-an-earlier-life-were-you-a-pair-of-brakes-try-a-brick-wall/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Maybe she'd ended up going to Ireland because whilst visiting her father she'd bumped into an old love from her youth, perhaps even her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-heller/maybe-she-d-ended-up-going-to-ireland-because-whilst-visiting-her/) [Eva Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-heller/) > [Klaxons was a really great chapter in my earlier life, and now I'm older and happy doing other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/klaxons-was-a-really-great-chapter-in-my-earlier-life-and-now-i-m/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [“On his thirteenth birthday he had seen a film in which the central character was a painter who, unable to sell his work, grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/on-his-thirteenth-birthday-he-had-seen-a-film-in-which-the-central/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [The choice of souls was in most cases based on their own experience of a previous life... Knowledge easily acquired is that which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-choice-of-souls-was-in-most-cases-based-on-their-own-experience/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I do wish I could have given myself permission to really name and own the me of me earlier in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-dolezal/i-do-wish-i-could-have-given-myself-permission-to-really-name-and-own/) [Rachel Dolezal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-dolezal/) > [“His body had become a companion which seemed always about to leave him: it had its own pains which moved him to pity, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/his-body-had-become-a-companion-which-seemed-always-about-to-leave/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [God knows I tried to make it earlier in life, but with all due respect to myself, nothing I ever did was any good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-van-dyke/god-knows-i-tried-to-make-it-earlier-in-life-but-with-all-due-respect/) [Jerry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-van-dyke/) > [Once you choose to run for president of the United States and succeed, your earlier life, your biography, is a major part of American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-garrow/once-you-choose-to-run-for-president-of-the-united-states-and-succeed/) [David Garrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-garrow/) ## 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 Assets quotes > [A great smile is a wonderful asset, but a good heart is pure gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/a-great-smile-is-a-wonderful-asset-but-a-good-heart-is-pure-gold/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Most people put money in their piggy bank. I buy a goose that lays golden eggs over and over again. That's what an asset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/most-people-put-money-in-their-piggy-bank-i-buy-a-goose-that-lays/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Groupon has some interesting assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cohler/groupon-has-some-interesting-assets/) [Matt Cohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cohler/) > [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Well I think they broke the mould when they made me and being humble is one of my great assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hagman/well-i-think-they-broke-the-mould-when-they-made-me-and-being-humble/) [Larry Hagman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hagman/) > [3 people get stranded on a remote Island A Banker, a Daily Mail reader & an Asylum seeker All they have to eat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-brookmyre/3-people-get-stranded-on-a-remote-island-a-banker-a-daily-mail-reader/) [Christopher Brookmyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-brookmyre/) > [Why doesn't the United States take over the monarchy and unite with England? England does have important assets. Naturally the longer you wait, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/why-doesn-t-the-united-states-take-over-the-monarchy-and-unite-with/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [You have great assets if you're a dual-threat, but you still have to throw from the pocket and do all those types of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-mariota/you-have-great-assets-if-you-re-a-dual-threat-but-you-still-have-to/) [Marcus Mariota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-mariota/) > [Regulations for international accounting and funding will have to be examined to identify policies that inadvertently discourage institutional investors from putting their resources into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/regulations-for-international-accounting-and-funding-will-have-to-be/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [I think Kwame will be an asset to the Lakers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-think-kwame-will-be-an-asset-to-the-lakers/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [ \[When I die\], I will decidedly not be regretting missed opportunities for a good time. My regrets will be more along the lines of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/when-i-die-i-will-decidedly-not-be-regretting-missed-opportunities/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [Sourav's greatest asset is his ability to communicate. He is a naturally very confident person. He encourages his team, is a great motivator and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/sourav-s-greatest-asset-is-his-ability-to-communicate-he-is-a/) [Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/) > [When you consider the sheer magnitude of investable equities to choose from in the world's emerging markets, you realize that finding one that looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mobius/when-you-consider-the-sheer-magnitude-of-investable-equities-to/) [Mark Mobius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mobius/) > [I was impressed for the ten thousandth time by the fact that literature illuminates life only for those to whom books are a necessity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/i-was-impressed-for-the-ten-thousandth-time-by-the-fact-that/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [If God was the owner, I was the manager. I needed to adopt a steward's mentality toward the assets He had entrusted - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/if-god-was-the-owner-i-was-the-manager-i-needed-to-adopt-a-steward-s/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) [Browse all 957 Assets quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assets/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If only I'd known my differentness would be an asset, then my earlier life would have been much easier.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bette Midler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would-be-an-asset-then-my-earlier/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assets" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would-be-an-asset-then-my-earlier/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/927/bette-midler-1976_assets_if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would_3035564.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/927/bette-midler-1976_assets_if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would_3035564.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/927/bette-midler-1976_assets_if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would_3035564.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If only I'd known my differentness would be an asset, then my earlier life would have been much easier.” — Bette Midler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bette Midler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If only I'd known my differentness...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would-be-an-asset-then-my-earlier/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-only-i-d-known-my-differentness-would-be-an-asset-then-my-earlier/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```