--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dame Poverty gave me my name, And Pain…" description: "\"Dame Poverty gave me my name, And Pain godfathered me.\" — Countee Cullen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/countee-cullen-16922_dame_dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-go_368264.jpg" --- # Dame Poverty gave me my name, And Pain godfathered me. ![“Dame Poverty gave me my name, And Pain godfathered me.” quote by Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/countee-cullen-16922_dame_dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-go_368264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/countee-cullen-16922_dame_dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-go_368264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/countee-cullen-16922_dame_dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-go_368264.jpg) > “Dame Poverty gave me my name, And Pain godfathered me.” [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledges that poverty and pain shape identity and artistic voice. **In simple terms:** Hardship can define a name and purpose. Key Takeaway Embrace struggle as a source of authenticity. Themes identity pain creativity Mood reflective somber Type literary personal When to use this quote - writing - public speaking - personal branding Key Concepts socioeconomic adversity self‑definition Questions to Reflect On - How has hardship influenced your self‑concept? - Can pain be transformed into art? A Different Perspective Pain may also limit opportunities and health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) ## Related quotes > [You know, a dame with a rod is like a guy with a knitting needle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mainwaring/you-know-a-dame-with-a-rod-is-like-a-guy-with-a-knitting-needle/) [Daniel Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mainwaring/) > [There is Nothing Like a Dame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/there-is-nothing-like-a-dame/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [I am not qualified to be a Dame. To be Dame you have to represent England in a way that I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rampling/i-am-not-qualified-to-be-a-dame-to-be-dame-you-have-to-represent/) [Charlotte Rampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rampling/) > [Something big, ... is about to happen at Notre Dame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grant/something-big-is-about-to-happen-at-notre-dame/) [John Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grant/) > [As soon as an actress is past 40, they call her a grande dame. As long as I'm here in good health, I'm stable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-moreau/as-soon-as-an-actress-is-past-40-they-call-her-a-grande-dame-as-long/) [Jeanne Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-moreau/) > [Tira: Whatever you're thinkin' you're wrong. I only like him like a brother. You ain't got nothin' to worry about. . . . Say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/tira-whatever-you-re-thinkin-you-re-wrong-i-only-like-him-like-a/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [You don't go to Notre Dame to learn something, you go to Notre Dame to be somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/you-don-t-go-to-notre-dame-to-learn-something-you-go-to-notre-dame-to/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [My father Philip was an actor and appeared in everything from 'The Onedin Line' to 'Hedda Gabler' with Dame Diana Rigg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-bond/my-father-philip-was-an-actor-and-appeared-in-everything-from-the/) [Samantha Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-bond/) > [One of the great changes wrought by the increased public awareness of Alzheimer's - and thank you, Nancy Reagan, you wonderful tough old dame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pierce/one-of-the-great-changes-wrought-by-the-increased-public-awareness-of/) [Charlie Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pierce/) > [And there's no way I'm going to do Dame Edna.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-richardson/and-there-s-no-way-i-m-going-to-do-dame-edna/) [Miranda Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-richardson/) > [One of the quainter quirks of life is that we shall never know who dies on the dame day as we do ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/one-of-the-quainter-quirks-of-life-is-that-we-shall-never-know-who-2/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [O wretched is the dame, to whom the sound, "Your lord will soon return," no phrase brings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-robert-maturin/o-wretched-is-the-dame-to-whom-the-sound-your-lord-will-soon-return/) [Charles Robert Maturin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-robert-maturin/) > [See it was like this when we waltz into this place. A couple of papish cats is doing an Aztec two-step And I says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/see-it-was-like-this-when-we-waltz-into-this-place-a-couple-of-papish/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [“... Miss Bingley was left to the satisfaction of having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/miss-bingley-was-left-to-the-satisfaction-of-having-forced-him-to-say/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [What you gave me was not only pain, you let me experienced love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-you-gave-me-was-not-only-pain-you-let-me-experienced-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Countee Cullen > [There is no secret to success except hard work and getting something indefinable which we call 'the breaks.' In order for a writer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/there-is-no-secret-to-success-except-hard-work-and-getting-something/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [The night whose sable breast relieves the stark, White stars, is no less lovely being dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/the-night-whose-sable-breast-relieves-the-stark-white-stars-is-no/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [There is no secret to success except hard work and getting something indefinable which we call 'the breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/there-is-no-secret-to-success-except-hard-work-and-getting-something-2/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [Ever at Thy glowing altar Must my heart grow sick and falter, Wishing He I served were black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/ever-at-thy-glowing-altar-must-my-heart-grow-sick-and-falter-wishing/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [I have a rendezvous with life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/i-have-a-rendezvous-with-life/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [“My poetry, I think, has become the way of my giving out what music is within me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/my-poetry-i-think-has-become-the-way-of-my-giving-out-what-music-is/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [All day long and all night through, One thing only must I do: Quench my pride and cool my blood, Lest I perish in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/all-day-long-and-all-night-through-one-thing-only-must-i-do-quench-my/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [Africa? A book one thumbs Listlessly, till slumber comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/africa-a-book-one-thumbs-listlessly-till-slumber-comes/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [What is Africa to me: Copper sun or scarlet sea, Jungle star or jungle track, Strong bronzed men, or regal black Women from whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/what-is-africa-to-me-copper-sun-or-scarlet-sea-jungle-star-or-jungle/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [Your love to me was like an unread book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/your-love-to-me-was-like-an-unread-book/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [Give but a grain of the heart's rich seed, Confine some under cover, And when love goes, bid him God-speed. And find another lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/give-but-a-grain-of-the-heart-s-rich-seed-confine-some-under-cover/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [Whatever lives is granted breath But by the grace and sufferance of Death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/whatever-lives-is-granted-breath-but-by-the-grace-and-sufferance-of/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [The loss of love is a terrible thing; They lie who say that death is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/the-loss-of-love-is-a-terrible-thing-they-lie-who-say-that-death-is/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [My poetry has become the way of my giving out what music is within me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/my-poetry-has-become-the-way-of-my-giving-out-what-music-is-within-me/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [“And if I please you so, my lover, Remember praise is comely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/and-if-i-please-you-so-my-lover-remember-praise-is-comely/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) [Explore all 38 Countee Cullen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) ## More Dame quotes > [A ella le gusta la gasolina, dame mas gasolina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daddy-yankee/a-ella-le-gusta-la-gasolina-dame-mas-gasolina/) [Daddy Yankee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daddy-yankee/) > [You know, a dame with a rod is like a guy with a knitting needle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mainwaring/you-know-a-dame-with-a-rod-is-like-a-guy-with-a-knitting-needle/) [Daniel Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mainwaring/) > [As soon as you see 'Dame' in front of someone's name, you get nervous, but Dame Maggie Smith is the most wonderfully gentle woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/as-soon-as-you-see-dame-in-front-of-someone-s-name-you-get-nervous/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [She move like she dancing on YouTube. The kind of chica that you really ain't used to. Dame lo, dame lo, mami, shoot through.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baby-bash/she-move-like-she-dancing-on-youtube-the-kind-of-chica-that-you/) [Baby Bash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baby-bash/) > [This dame keeps dragging me into the bushes. Keep your eye open, you may have to rescue me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-selznick/this-dame-keeps-dragging-me-into-the-bushes-keep-your-eye-open-you/) [David O. Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-selznick/) > [“No, no, I just…you seem to be really good at this, is all.” “Do I?” She finished the marking and started sorting through her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacia-kane/no-no-i-just-you-seem-to-be-really-good-at-this-is-all-do-i-she/) [Stacia Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacia-kane/) > [A dame that knows the ropes isn't likely to get tied up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/a-dame-that-knows-the-ropes-isn-t-likely-to-get-tied-up/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I'm the nicest goddamn dame that ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-m-the-nicest-goddamn-dame-that-ever-lived/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [When I left the University of Notre Dame, I honestly felt I would never coach again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/when-i-left-the-university-of-notre-dame-i-honestly-felt-i-would/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [Walking at random through the streets, we came by chance upon the Cathedral of Notre Dame. I shall long remember my first impression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/walking-at-random-through-the-streets-we-came-by-chance-upon-the/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [O wretched is the dame, to whom the sound, "Your lord will soon return," no phrase brings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-robert-maturin/o-wretched-is-the-dame-to-whom-the-sound-your-lord-will-soon-return/) [Charles Robert Maturin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-robert-maturin/) > [“A young dame with pretty eyes and a smile can make an old man do just about anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/a-young-dame-with-pretty-eyes-and-a-smile-can-make-an-old-man-do-just/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Buddy, I don't mean to poke my nose in where it don't belong, but that there is a dame to kill for. Why'd you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-miller/buddy-i-don-t-mean-to-poke-my-nose-in-where-it-don-t-belong-but-that/) [Frank Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-miller/) > [You have to be equal at both - great at football and great at dedicating yourself to the academics at Notre Dame. It's hard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tuck/you-have-to-be-equal-at-both-great-at-football-and-great-at/) [Justin Tuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tuck/) > [One of the quainter quirks of life is that we shall never know who dies on the dame day as we do ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/one-of-the-quainter-quirks-of-life-is-that-we-shall-never-know-who-2/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) Browse all 70 Dame quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dame Poverty gave me my name, And Pain godfathered me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Countee Cullen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-godfathered-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dame" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-godfathered-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/countee-cullen-16922_dame_dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-go_368264.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/countee-cullen-16922_dame_dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-go_368264.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/countee-cullen-16922_dame_dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-go_368264.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dame Poverty gave me my name, And Pain godfathered me.” — Countee Cullen", "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": "Countee Cullen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Dame Poverty gave me my name,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-godfathered-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-godfathered-me/#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 } } ] } ```