--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to believe, like many people who…" description: "\"I used to believe, like many people who come from poor backgrounds, that it gave me an edge, but I think that's just something we have to tell ourselve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/craig-ferguson-664_anybody_i-used-to-believe-like-many-people-who-c_2165511.jpg" --- # I used to believe, like many people who come from poor… ![“I used to believe, like many people who come from poor backgrounds, that it gave me an edge, but I think that's just something we have to tell ourselves to get by sometimes. I don't believe that anymore. Children of privilege can be just as talented and clever as anybody else.” quote by Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/craig-ferguson-664_anybody_i-used-to-believe-like-many-people-who-c_2165511.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/craig-ferguson-664_anybody_i-used-to-believe-like-many-people-who-c_2165511.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/craig-ferguson-664_anybody_i-used-to-believe-like-many-people-who-c_2165511.jpg) > “I used to believe, like many people who come from poor backgrounds, that it gave me an edge, but I think that's just something we have to tell ourselves to get by sometimes. I don't believe that anymore. Children of privilege can be just as talented and clever as anybody else.” [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He no longer believes privilege gives an edge; talent can arise from any background, regardless of socioeconomic status. **In simple terms:** Talent isn’t limited by background. Key Takeaway Value effort over perceived advantage. Themes social equity talent self‑perception Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational analytical When to use this quote - career advice - education policy Key Concepts socioeconomic mobility personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster equal opportunities? - What role does mindset play in success? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edge/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poor background](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-background/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The kids who take up athletics actually come from modest to poor backgrounds. They make it on their own steam; some of them don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dutee-chand/the-kids-who-take-up-athletics-actually-come-from-modest-to-poor/) [Dutee Chand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dutee-chand/) > [There's five factors or characteristics of places where kids from poor backgrounds don't do very well. And those are places that have more economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/there-s-five-factors-or-characteristics-of-places-where-kids-from/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [It's fun to be on the edge. I think you do your best work when you take chances, when you're not safe, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-devito/it-s-fun-to-be-on-the-edge-i-think-you-do-your-best-work-when-you-2/) [Danny DeVito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-devito/) > [I'm looking for people who are at the cutting edge of what they do, who think out-of-the-box. Even if their work is something common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakshmi-pratury/i-m-looking-for-people-who-are-at-the-cutting-edge-of-what-they-do/) [Lakshmi Pratury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakshmi-pratury/) > [What's on the edge? What's next? That's where I think I do my best work - if I push my whole team to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-borchetta/what-s-on-the-edge-what-s-next-that-s-where-i-think-i-do-my-best-work/) [Scott Borchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-borchetta/) > [“It's fun to be on the edge. I think you do your best work when you take chances when you're not safe when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-de-vito/it-s-fun-to-be-on-the-edge-i-think-you-do-your-best-work-when-you/) Danny De Vito > [Middle-class white children, children of privilege, are afforded the opportunity to make a lot of mistakes and still go on to college, still dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/middle-class-white-children-children-of-privilege-are-afforded-the/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [“They were and are children of privilege... the privilege taught, learned, and imbibed, in a "liberal arts education" is the privilege to indict. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/they-were-and-are-children-of-privilege-the-privilege-taught-learned/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [The cultural conversation around privilege has grown vibrant enough that the ultimate privilege is to just ignore it altogether. Some decry this conversation as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumaan-alam/the-cultural-conversation-around-privilege-has-grown-vibrant-enough/) [Rumaan Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumaan-alam/) > [“That's the way it was. Privilege, which just means 'private law.' Two types of people laugh at the law; those that break it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/that-s-the-way-it-was-privilege-which-just-means-private-law-two/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an honour and a thrill and a privilege just to play in the NHL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/it-s-an-honour-and-a-thrill-and-a-privilege-just-to-play-in-the-nhl/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [Before I transitioned, I felt like I could walk on stage and just, like, say anything and people would just laugh. And that's kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/before-i-transitioned-i-felt-like-i-could-walk-on-stage-and-just-like/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [“In the contest of upward mobility, Barack and Michelle Obama have won. But they’ve won by being twice as good—and enduring twice as much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-contest-of-upward-mobility-barack-and-michelle-obama-have-won/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In Washington, it's very easy to privilege just some set of voices and not another set of voices. And so we try to open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lina-khan/in-washington-it-s-very-easy-to-privilege-just-some-set-of-voices-and/) [Lina Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lina-khan/) > [We all understand it's a privilege just to be playing in this league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/we-all-understand-it-s-a-privilege-just-to-be-playing-in-this-league/) [Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/) ## More by Craig Ferguson > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Sometimes people think you’re smart if you question the status quo, if nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sometimes-people-think-you-re-smart-if-you-question-the-status-quo-if/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Sober alkies are often asked: "When did you hit rock bottom?" but a more informed question might be: "How many times did you hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sober-alkies-are-often-asked-when-did-you-hit-rock-bottom-but-a-more/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Remember the band, Flock of Seagulls? They had their van stolen. I was like, They still have a van?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/remember-the-band-flock-of-seagulls-they-had-their-van-stolen-i-was/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [People spend thousands of dollars trying to keep their teeth straight. I just hope we can live in a world where we accept gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/people-spend-thousands-of-dollars-trying-to-keep-their-teeth-straight/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Whoever I had become had to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/whoever-i-had-become-had-to-die/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [My pilot's license. I'm proud of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/my-pilot-s-license-i-m-proud-of-that/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [People are saying that Anderson Cooper could be the new Oprah. And then these people are struck by lightning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/people-are-saying-that-anderson-cooper-could-be-the-new-oprah-and/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I think comedy comes more from a low sense of self-esteem, and I certainly have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-think-comedy-comes-more-from-a-low-sense-of-self-esteem-and-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I'm so excited about the new iPad, I just iPeed my iPants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-m-so-excited-about-the-new-ipad-i-just-ipeed-my-ipants/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [For my birthday that year Anne gave me an inflatable atlas globe, along with a birthday card in which she wrote: I give you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/for-my-birthday-that-year-anne-gave-me-an-inflatable-atlas-globe/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [114 isn't as old as it used to be they say its the new 104.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/114-isn-t-as-old-as-it-used-to-be-they-say-its-the-new-104/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I have to do a show which is of interest to me, or else I'm lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-have-to-do-a-show-which-is-of-interest-to-me-or-else-i-m-lost/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The first ads for medical marijuana have started airing on television in California. The ads are quite expensive. It costs a lot of money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-first-ads-for-medical-marijuana-have-started-airing-on-television/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I wanted to be a rock star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-wanted-to-be-a-rock-star/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) [Explore all 421 Craig Ferguson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) ## More Anybody quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I would never refuse to work with anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-nolan/i-would-never-refuse-to-work-with-anybody/) [Coleen Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleen-nolan/) > [Take control of who you report to, what you do, what you create. Or start a business on the side. Deliver some value, any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/take-control-of-who-you-report-to-what-you-do-what-you-create-or/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [Anybody who is an entrepreneur is a person who essentially has impaired judgment. The odds of success are zilch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/anybody-who-is-an-entrepreneur-is-a-person-who-essentially-has/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [The reality is that the work I do is not private work. I bring all my secrets, my life, to my work. Anybody who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-garcia/the-reality-is-that-the-work-i-do-is-not-private-work-i-bring-all-my/) [Andy Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-garcia/) > [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/) [Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/) > [I don't know anybody that doesn't own a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manchin/i-don-t-know-anybody-that-doesn-t-own-a-gun/) [Joe Manchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manchin/) > [The Bushes were certainly part of Texas in their mind, but they didn't have the kind of political flavor that you normally find in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-bushes-were-certainly-part-of-texas-in-their-mind-but-they-didn-t/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [There's no recovery on Main Street, I can tell you that for sure. And in a re - in an economy like this, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/there-s-no-recovery-on-main-street-i-can-tell-you-that-for-sure-and/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [With what all these people are saying, do you think that anybody wants to be around me? They all think that I did this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-wallice/with-what-all-these-people-are-saying-do-you-think-that-anybody-wants/) [Marc Wallice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-wallice/) > [I'll fight anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/i-ll-fight-anybody/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [The problem men seem to have, and women, too, is that they have this very structured idea that we should find a partner and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-kendal/the-problem-men-seem-to-have-and-women-too-is-that-they-have-this/) [Felicity Kendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-kendal/) > [I've done more impeachments than anybody else in the history of the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/i-ve-done-more-impeachments-than-anybody-else-in-the-history-of-the/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) Browse all 1,177 Anybody quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I used to believe, like many people who come from poor backgrounds, that it gave me an edge, but I think that's just something we have to tell ourselves to get by sometimes. 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