--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was very much an only child who was…" description: "\"I was very much an only child who was raised by the television and movies, and I grew up in New York. We weren't, like, rich people, but we were middle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/billy-eichner-2900_children_i-was-very-much-an-only-child-who-was-ra_2059619.jpg" --- # I was very much an only child who was raised by the… ![“I was very much an only child who was raised by the television and movies, and I grew up in New York. We weren't, like, rich people, but we were middle-class people and my parents supported this love I had for entertainment.” quote by Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/billy-eichner-2900_children_i-was-very-much-an-only-child-who-was-ra_2059619.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/billy-eichner-2900_children_i-was-very-much-an-only-child-who-was-ra_2059619.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/billy-eichner-2900_children_i-was-very-much-an-only-child-who-was-ra_2059619.jpg) > “I was very much an only child who was raised by the television and movies, and I grew up in New York. We weren't, like, rich people, but we were middle-class people and my parents supported this love I had for entertainment.” [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growing up with media as a primary influence shaped his worldview despite modest means. **In simple terms:** Media shaped his perspective. Key Takeaway Recognize media's impact on you. Themes media influence upbringing class entertainment personal development Mood reflective analytical Type personal narrative reflective When to use this quote - childhood - media consumption - urban life Key Concepts Cultural conditioning identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How has media shaped your values? - What balance do you seek between media and reality? A Different Perspective Media can limit real-world experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child Raised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-raised-275551/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Grew up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-up/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [Movies Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies-grew-551059/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Only child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only-child/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Supported](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-supported-257502/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-parents/) [Raised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raised/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-people/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [I'm an only child. Mostly raised by my father outside of Saratoga, doing martial arts and snowmobiling. I wore sweaters, jeans and sneakers. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jwoww/i-m-an-only-child-mostly-raised-by-my-father-outside-of-saratoga/) [JWoww](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jwoww/) > [I'm an only child raised by a single mom. She's always been supportive of what I wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-parker-kennedy/i-m-an-only-child-raised-by-a-single-mom-she-s-always-been-supportive/) [Jessica Parker Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-parker-kennedy/) > [My path to acting started with watching a lot of movies, because I grew up in a very rural place, that was snowed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-gladstone/my-path-to-acting-started-with-watching-a-lot-of-movies-because-i/) [Lily Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-gladstone/) > [I love martial-arts movies. I grew up with my dad watching kung-fu theater every Sunday. So it was kind of my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milla-jovovich/i-love-martial-arts-movies-i-grew-up-with-my-dad-watching-kung-fu/) [Milla Jovovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milla-jovovich/) > [I love going to the movies; I grew up going to the movies. I didn't really watch TV, growing up, other than weird cartoons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juno-temple/i-love-going-to-the-movies-i-grew-up-going-to-the-movies-i-didn-t/) [Juno Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juno-temple/) > [I'm a classic movie person. I love action movies, too, but when I grew up I didn't have much action movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-zheng-wu/i-m-a-classic-movie-person-i-love-action-movies-too-but-when-i-grew/) [Bruno Zheng Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-zheng-wu/) > [Dad loved movies, and I grew up with British comedy. My ultimate favourite is Peter Sellers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/dad-loved-movies-and-i-grew-up-with-british-comedy-my-ultimate/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The sci-fi movies I grew up with, the metaphor was very rich, and they used to really mean something: David Cronenberg's films, or John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wright/the-sci-fi-movies-i-grew-up-with-the-metaphor-was-very-rich-and-they/) [Edgar Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wright/) > [I'm a 'Harry-Potter'-till-I-die kind of person. Those are the movies I grew up on. I was like, 'Why would I want to watch any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiernan-shipka/i-m-a-harry-potter-till-i-die-kind-of-person-those-are-the-movies-i/) [Kiernan Shipka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiernan-shipka/) > [I love movies. I adore movies. I grew up on Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood and Warren Beatty. The list goes on. Spencer Tracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/i-love-movies-i-adore-movies-i-grew-up-on-steve-mcqueen-and-clint/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [I love watching old movies anyway - I grew up with my mom watching old movies and being immersed in the history of old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/i-love-watching-old-movies-anyway-i-grew-up-with-my-mom-watching-old/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [I've always wanted to do action and action movies. I grew up on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tania-raymonde/i-ve-always-wanted-to-do-action-and-action-movies-i-grew-up-on-that/) [Tania Raymonde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tania-raymonde/) > [I am a product of '90s movies. I grew up watching '90s films and wanted to become an actor because that was the phase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/i-am-a-product-of-90s-movies-i-grew-up-watching-90s-films-and-wanted/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [Woody Allen's movies are so much a part of me. I grew up watching them over and over and would read all his comic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/woody-allen-s-movies-are-so-much-a-part-of-me-i-grew-up-watching-them/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) > [I want people to have learned from me. When you watch movies that we grew up on, they teach you life lessons about friendship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mitchell/i-want-people-to-have-learned-from-me-when-you-watch-movies-that-we/) [Jason Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mitchell/) ## More by Billy Eichner > [I think 'Billy on the Street' is a big show, but why do a show if you won't make it original and unique and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-think-billy-on-the-street-is-a-big-show-but-why-do-a-show-if-you/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [ We're really fleshing out the whole world of the show \[Difficult People\]. It's more of an ensemble now, whereas last season we were very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/we-re-really-fleshing-out-the-whole-world-of-the-show-difficult/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [It's one thing to be struggling and not really making money in your early 20s and figuring out your life. Early 30s, you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/it-s-one-thing-to-be-struggling-and-not-really-making-money-in-your/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [You can't be a great comedian without having self-awareness about others or your own faults. You need a strong sense of self and view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/you-can-t-be-a-great-comedian-without-having-self-awareness-about/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [I came back to New York after college like any number of struggling performers, and you just find that niche where you can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-came-back-to-new-york-after-college-like-any-number-of-struggling/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [I thought I was going to be like Kevin Spacey in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-like-kevin-spacey-in-college/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [I have a medical condition, all right. It's called caring too much, and it's incurable. Also, I have eczema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-have-a-medical-condition-all-right-it-s-called-caring-too-much-and/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [You have to have a sense of humor about all of it - the Emmys and politics and everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/you-have-to-have-a-sense-of-humor-about-all-of-it-the-emmys-and/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [Ironically, my rabbi was a bar mitzvah Nazi. So I got bar mitzvahed. And though I didn't want to, the theme of my bar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/ironically-my-rabbi-was-a-bar-mitzvah-nazi-so-i-got-bar-mitzvahed-and/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > ['Billy On The Street' has no doubt always been about the people we talk to. That being said, it thrills me that the show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/billy-on-the-street-has-no-doubt-always-been-about-the-people-we-talk/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > ['Billy on the Street' is the hardest thing that I will ever do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/billy-on-the-street-is-the-hardest-thing-that-i-will-ever-do/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [It's been a very strange trajectory because I struggled for so many years. I mean, I was doing these videos, I was doing these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/it-s-been-a-very-strange-trajectory-because-i-struggled-for-so-many/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [ I think it \[ Difficult People\] is for people who don't feel that they have been properly represented on TV. I think it's painting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-think-it-difficult-people-is-for-people-who-don-t-feel-that-they/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [One thing that I love about 'Difficult People' is that Julie Klausner and our showrunner, Scott King, have written the lead character I play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/one-thing-that-i-love-about-difficult-people-is-that-julie-klausner/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [I was like a fat, sweaty kid growing up in Queens who just was plopped down in front of 'Entertainment Tonight' by my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-was-like-a-fat-sweaty-kid-growing-up-in-queens-who-just-was-plopped/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) [Explore all 146 Billy Eichner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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