---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was in high school, my parents had…"
description: "\"When I was in high school, my parents had this power over me - if I ever lied or got caught doing something that I shouldn't be doing, then I would no ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/dan-byrd-34873_able_when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had_288655.jpg"
---

#  When I was in high school, my parents had this power over…

![“When I was in high school, my parents had this power over me - if I ever lied or got caught doing something that I shouldn't be doing, then I would no longer be able to go to L.A. and continue to pursue the acting thing.” quote by Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/dan-byrd-34873_able_when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had_288655.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/dan-byrd-34873_able_when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had_288655.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/dan-byrd-34873_able_when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had_288655.jpg)

> “When I was in high school, my parents had this power over me - if I ever lied or got caught doing something that I shouldn't be doing, then I would no longer be able to go to L.A. and continue to pursue the acting thing.”

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A parent’s threat of removing a dream can be a powerful motivator but also creates fear and resentment.

**In simple terms:** Parental pressure can push or pull a teen’s ambitions.

Key Takeaway

Balance encouragement with autonomy.

Themes

parenting motivation career choices

Mood

anxious determined

Type

advice personal growth

When to use this quote

- high school decisions
- acting auditions
- family negotiations
- goal setting

Key Concepts

control fear autonomy

Questions to Reflect On

- How does fear influence your choices?
- What support would help you pursue goals healthily?

A Different Perspective

Threats can damage trust and intrinsic motivation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Caught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caught/) [Continue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continue/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Got Caught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-caught/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Lied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lied/) [Longer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longer/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-power-1362508/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Pursue Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue-acting/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-parents-749868/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/)

## Related quotes

> [When I was in high school, my parents had this power over me - if I ever lied or got caught doing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had-this-power-over-me-if-i-ever-3/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [When I was in high school, my parents had this power over me - if I ever lied or got caught doing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had-this-power-over-me-if-i-ever-2/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [A happy childhood is one of the best gifts that parents have in their power to bestow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cholmondeley/a-happy-childhood-is-one-of-the-best-gifts-that-parents-have-in-their/)

[Mary Cholmondeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cholmondeley/)

> [Linda McMahon is a fierce advocate for restoring parents' power in the classroom and putting local communities back into a leadership position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/linda-mcmahon-is-a-fierce-advocate-for-restoring-parents-power-in-the/)

[Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/)

> [“You wouldn’t know what it’s like to grow up privileged and powerful. It’s intoxicating. Watching how people defer to you, and to your parents.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bryndza/you-wouldn-t-know-what-it-s-like-to-grow-up-privileged-and-powerful/)

[Robert Bryndza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bryndza/)

> [Because parents have power over children. They feel they have to do what their parents say. But the love of money is the root…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/because-parents-have-power-over-children-they-feel-they-have-to-do/)

[Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/)

> [Any place where you have to deal with many social actors like a school - you have the parents, the Ministry of Education, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-falardeau/any-place-where-you-have-to-deal-with-many-social-actors-like-a/)

[Philippe Falardeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-falardeau/)

> [My nan and grandad were really important. They took me to school every day. I couldn't have gone to theatre school without them because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fletcher/my-nan-and-grandad-were-really-important-they-took-me-to-school-every/)

[Tom Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fletcher/)

> [There is an old saying that you're a product of your environment. Parents can only do so much when eight hours of the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamer-hassan/there-is-an-old-saying-that-you-re-a-product-of-your-environment/)

[Tamer Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamer-hassan/)

> [When I take my kid to school, all the parents stop and stare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/when-i-take-my-kid-to-school-all-the-parents-stop-and-stare/)

[Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/)

> [I was good in science in school and parents thought I would become a school teacher like my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-usha/i-was-good-in-science-in-school-and-parents-thought-i-would-become-a/)

[P. T. Usha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-usha/)

> [When I was ten, I caught glandular fever and had to have a year off school. My parents arranged for a tutor to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sebba/when-i-was-ten-i-caught-glandular-fever-and-had-to-have-a-year-off/)

[Anne Sebba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sebba/)

> [If there is one thing educators can agree on, it's this: children do better in school when their parents get involved in their learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bennett/if-there-is-one-thing-educators-can-agree-on-it-s-this-children-do/)

[William Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bennett/)

> [Both of my parents are pastors and educators. I went to the school that my parents taught in, so people expected more of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/both-of-my-parents-are-pastors-and-educators-i-went-to-the-school/)

[Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/)

> [Once your kid reaches middle school, parents are really supposed to fade out of the social picture. Kids are supposed to make their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-your-kid-reaches-middle-school-parents-are-really-supposed-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Dan Byrd

> [I've heard this before from people: early 20s kind of screws with your head a little bit because you're transitioning into adulthood and actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/i-ve-heard-this-before-from-people-early-20s-kind-of-screws-with-your/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [And as an actor, just working with someone as seasoned and professional and kind as Richard Jenkins, it's always a learning experience watching him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/and-as-an-actor-just-working-with-someone-as-seasoned-and/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [It's hard for me to listen to any actors whine or moan about anything acting-related because look at the world. We really have nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/it-s-hard-for-me-to-listen-to-any-actors-whine-or-moan-about-anything/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [The great thing about a name like 'Cougar Town' is that you hear it once and you remember it forever. It's a very 'loud'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/the-great-thing-about-a-name-like-cougar-town-is-that-you-hear-it/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [The more insight I get, the more scared I get of women in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/the-more-insight-i-get-the-more-scared-i-get-of-women-in-general/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [When I was in high school, my parents had this power over me - if I ever lied or got caught doing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had-this-power-over-me-if-i-ever-2/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [The only lie I really remember from my adolescence was when I was in sixth grade and I was dropped off with a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/the-only-lie-i-really-remember-from-my-adolescence-was-when-i-was-in/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [It wasn't like this happy-go-lucky experience, shooting Norman movie. It was something I kind of had to, sort of dedicate a certain level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/it-wasn-t-like-this-happy-go-lucky-experience-shooting-norman-movie/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [I had a pretty untraditional high school experience. I've been acting since I was very young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/i-had-a-pretty-untraditional-high-school-experience-i-ve-been-acting/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [My only career strategy is to just not do anything that I have to be completely ashamed of afterwards! Whether it's TV or movies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/my-only-career-strategy-is-to-just-not-do-anything-that-i-have-to-be/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [Just watching an actor in front you really provokes you in such a sudden, unexpected way. You can't ask for anything more from someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/just-watching-an-actor-in-front-you-really-provokes-you-in-such-a/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [When I was in high school, my parents had this power over me - if I ever lied or got caught doing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had-this-power-over-me-if-i-ever-3/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

> [The fact that the movie's called Norman and I play Norman was just a weighted responsibility that I never experienced before. I just tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/the-fact-that-the-movie-s-called-norman-and-i-play-norman-was-just-a/)

[Dan Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

[Explore all 14 Dan Byrd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/)

## More Able 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/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

[Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/)

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

[Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I was in high school, my parents had this power over me - if I ever lied or got caught doing something that I shouldn't be doing, then I would no longer be able to go to L.A. and continue to pursue the acting thing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dan Byrd"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had-this-power-over-me-if-i-ever/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had-this-power-over-me-if-i-ever/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/dan-byrd-34873_able_when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had_288655.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/dan-byrd-34873_able_when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had_288655.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/dan-byrd-34873_able_when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had_288655.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I was in high school, my parents had this power over me - if I ever lied or got caught doing something…” — Dan Byrd",
                "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": "Dan Byrd",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-byrd/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I was in high school,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had-this-power-over-me-if-i-ever/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-byrd/when-i-was-in-high-school-my-parents-had-this-power-over-me-if-i-ever/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
