--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Both my parents were far smarter than the…" description: "\"Both my parents were far smarter than the opportunities they had.\" — Bill Shorten" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/bill-shorten-14126_both_both-my-parents-were-far-smarter-than-th_1665491.jpg" --- # Both my parents were far smarter than the opportunities… ![“Both my parents were far smarter than the opportunities they had.” quote by Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/bill-shorten-14126_both_both-my-parents-were-far-smarter-than-th_1665491.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/bill-shorten-14126_both_both-my-parents-were-far-smarter-than-th_1665491.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/bill-shorten-14126_both_both-my-parents-were-far-smarter-than-th_1665491.jpg) > “Both my parents were far smarter than the opportunities they had.” [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizes that intelligence often exceeds the chances people receive, highlighting systemic inequality. **In simple terms:** Smarter people may lack opportunities. Key Takeaway Advocate for equal opportunity policies. Themes educationquality social mobility potential Mood reflective concerned Type political social commentary When to use this quote - education reform - career mentorship - policy advocacy Key Concepts meritocracy structural barriers Questions to Reflect On - How can societies better match talent with opportunity? - What policies reduce this mismatch? A Different Perspective Talent alone doesn't guarantee success without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Both](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both/) [Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far/) [Far Smarter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-smarter-803170/) [Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunities/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-far-538468/) [Smarter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smarter/) [Smarter Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smarter-opportunities-803171/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) ## Related quotes > [“Your parents were far from saints, Alice. It would be generous to say they were ordinary people who made some very serious mistakes. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-guzeman/your-parents-were-far-from-saints-alice-it-would-be-generous-to-say/) [Tracy Guzeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-guzeman/) > [We are all very deeply the children of our parents and their parents. Far more than we generally realize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-drayton/we-are-all-very-deeply-the-children-of-our-parents-and-their-parents/) [Bill Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-drayton/) > [Our parents have, by far, the greatest influence on shaping who we are and how we deal with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamie-gummer/our-parents-have-by-far-the-greatest-influence-on-shaping-who-we-are/) [Mamie Gummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamie-gummer/) > [Australia's economic future depends upon getting smarter. This means investing in the skills and knowledge of our workforce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/australia-s-economic-future-depends-upon-getting-smarter-this-means/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [Along with opportunities, there also exist many other tricky and complex issues to be managed in India. These include tackling both policy-level challenges and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-adani/along-with-opportunities-there-also-exist-many-other-tricky-and/) [Gautam Adani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-adani/) > [When my mood was high, I seemed normal, even buoyant. I felt smarter. I had secrets. I could see God in a light bulb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/when-my-mood-was-high-i-seemed-normal-even-buoyant-i-felt-smarter-i/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [There are always going to be reasons to do the wrong thing. And the smarter the person, the better the reasons. 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She said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/my-mother-always-told-me-the-best-way-to-learn-to-deal-with-a-man-was/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [Exercise Me, But do not comprehension yourself to do sensible the wrongfulness , My mobile is much smarter more than you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/exercise-me-but-do-not-comprehension-yourself-to-do-sensible-the/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) > [Cows are a lot smarter across the board than bulls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/cows-are-a-lot-smarter-across-the-board-than-bulls/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [I like to think I'm a bit smarter than I sometimes let on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-whitehall/i-like-to-think-i-m-a-bit-smarter-than-i-sometimes-let-on/) [Jack Whitehall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-whitehall/) ## More by Bill Shorten > [Both casual, unthinking discrimination and deliberate, malicious homophobia erode self-confidence and undermine mental health. Both are far too common, not just in our schoolyards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/both-casual-unthinking-discrimination-and-deliberate-malicious/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [Our world is moving forward on climate change. If Australia goes backwards, we will be going alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/our-world-is-moving-forward-on-climate-change-if-australia-goes/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [To the best of my knowledge, when I became national secretary and, indeed, Victorian secretary, the - my predecessors in the union had detected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/to-the-best-of-my-knowledge-when-i-became-national-secretary-and/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [Safe Schools lets young people who identify as gay know that they have every right to be accepted and respected for who they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/safe-schools-lets-young-people-who-identify-as-gay-know-that-they/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [Labor should not be about creating monuments on hills or statues in parks. Labor's monuments and statues are when a young person can find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/labor-should-not-be-about-creating-monuments-on-hills-or-statues-in/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [We will always be a fair wage nation in a low wage region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/we-will-always-be-a-fair-wage-nation-in-a-low-wage-region/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [I believe marriage equality is a simple change that sends a powerful message. It is a chance for us to say, as a nation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/i-believe-marriage-equality-is-a-simple-change-that-sends-a-powerful/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [It is devastating that jail is seen as a rite of passage for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, part of the natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/it-is-devastating-that-jail-is-seen-as-a-rite-of-passage-for-many/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [Australia's economic future depends upon getting smarter. This means investing in the skills and knowledge of our workforce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/australia-s-economic-future-depends-upon-getting-smarter-this-means/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [The supreme challenge of Labor is to recognise our 'revolutionary moment' when it arrives. And to have the courage to seize it - wholly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/the-supreme-challenge-of-labor-is-to-recognise-our-revolutionary/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [We commissioned an independent statutory economic body - the Productivity Commission - to review the possibility of funding a disability scheme. The commission returned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/we-commissioned-an-independent-statutory-economic-body-the/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [The appalling rate of incarceration among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples demands we create justice targets under the Closing the Gap framework.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/the-appalling-rate-of-incarceration-among-aboriginal-and-torres/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [Trusting people to pursue their own futures invariably provides better outcomes. Money goes where it is needed, rather than being absorbed by administration costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/trusting-people-to-pursue-their-own-futures-invariably-provides/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [We all have choices in history. Some are more important than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/we-all-have-choices-in-history-some-are-more-important-than-others/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [Ending discrimination and extending equality should always be a national priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/ending-discrimination-and-extending-equality-should-always-be-a/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) [Explore all 48 Bill Shorten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) ## More Both quotes > [Well this is aptly called a junket, for both of us. 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It was a great experience to be able to work with them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-mota/i-am-excited-to-partner-with-aeropostale-for-my-very-own-collection/) [Bethany Mota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-mota/) > [I went straight from high school to 'Gossip Girl,' and both were very structured, scheduled environments, so I never had freedom to explore and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/i-went-straight-from-high-school-to-gossip-girl-and-both-were-very/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [My characters in both 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' films were so relatable that every other guy connects with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kartik-aaryan/my-characters-in-both-pyaar-ka-punchnama-films-were-so-relatable-that/) [Kartik Aaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kartik-aaryan/) > [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) > [Everyone knows that when you go through a divorce, it's a really difficult time for both parties and you've all - you believe, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mills/everyone-knows-that-when-you-go-through-a-divorce-it-s-a-really/) [Heather Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mills/) > [The U.S.-China relationship, of course, has elements of both cooperation and competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-donilon/the-u-s-china-relationship-of-course-has-elements-of-both-cooperation/) [Thomas E. Donilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-donilon/) > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. 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