--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My education was paid for by the RAF…" description: "\"My education was paid for by the RAF Benevolent Fund, so a charity school, run like an orphanage, with uniforms and beatings. It was tough, but it got ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/eric-idle-3734_becoming_my-education-was-paid-for-by-the-raf-ben_670801.jpg" --- # My education was paid for by the RAF Benevolent Fund, so a… ![“My education was paid for by the RAF Benevolent Fund, so a charity school, run like an orphanage, with uniforms and beatings. It was tough, but it got me to Cambridge - like being a chrysalis suddenly becoming a butterfly.” quote by Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/eric-idle-3734_becoming_my-education-was-paid-for-by-the-raf-ben_670801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/eric-idle-3734_becoming_my-education-was-paid-for-by-the-raf-ben_670801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/eric-idle-3734_becoming_my-education-was-paid-for-by-the-raf-ben_670801.jpg) > “My education was paid for by the RAF Benevolent Fund, so a charity school, run like an orphanage, with uniforms and beatings. It was tough, but it got me to Cambridge - like being a chrysalis suddenly becoming a butterfly.” [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A harsh, disciplined charity school shaped the speaker, ultimately enabling academic success and personal transformation. **In simple terms:** Tough schooling led to Cambridge and personal growth. Key Takeaway Embrace adversity as a catalyst for change. Themes education resilience transformation Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - schooling - career planning - self‑development - mental health Key Concepts social mobility personal growth institutional critique Questions to Reflect On - What lessons did you learn from that experience? - How can institutions balance discipline and compassion? A Different Perspective Harsh environments can cause lasting trauma despite eventual success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Butterfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterfly/) [Cambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cambridge/) [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Chrysalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chrysalis/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Orphanage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orphanage/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [ It \[Cambridge\] wasn't a holy grail in the sense that I'd never been to Cambridge. But then, when I did go, the contrast between… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/it-cambridge-wasn-t-a-holy-grail-in-the-sense-that-i-d-never-been-to/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [The truth is that the want of common education with us is not from our poverty, but from the want of an orderly system.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-truth-is-that-the-want-of-common-education-with-us-is-not-from/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There were not many people who could say that their education had been paid for with cigarettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/there-were-not-many-people-who-could-say-that-their-education-had/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I got into Cambridge and it all went downhill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-giedroyc/i-got-into-cambridge-and-it-all-went-downhill/) [Mel Giedroyc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-giedroyc/) > [I'm staggered when I look back at how, when I got to Cambridge, I didn't know anything of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-armstrong/i-m-staggered-when-i-look-back-at-how-when-i-got-to-cambridge-i-didn/) [Alexander Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-armstrong/) > [It wasn't until I got to Cambridge that I discovered active discrimination against women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/it-wasn-t-until-i-got-to-cambridge-that-i-discovered-active/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [There isn't really a typical day in my life, I kind of wish there was, but it always starts too early, there are always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-cox/there-isn-t-really-a-typical-day-in-my-life-i-kind-of-wish-there-was/) [Sara Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-cox/) > [Anyone driving through London after the school term ends will notice immediately how much easier it is to get around. The school run contributes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/anyone-driving-through-london-after-the-school-term-ends-will-notice/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [I love dressing up, although that doesn't mean necessarily on the school run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-love-dressing-up-although-that-doesn-t-mean-necessarily-on-the/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I lie to my children every day. Just little things to get them out the door when the school run is happening. White lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rochelle-humes/i-lie-to-my-children-every-day-just-little-things-to-get-them-out-the/) [Rochelle Humes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rochelle-humes/) > [I'm of the opinion that one of the perks of being in Parliament is not having to do the school run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/i-m-of-the-opinion-that-one-of-the-perks-of-being-in-parliament-is/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [In school, I would run away whenever there was trouble, as I would get bullied a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-shroff/in-school-i-would-run-away-whenever-there-was-trouble-as-i-would-get/) [Tiger Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-shroff/) > [I'm from Texas and actually went to a regular high school, but every day after school I'd run to dance class and practice a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-m-from-texas-and-actually-went-to-a-regular-high-school-but-every/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [I started running in high school. I found out if you run fast then you can get girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-collins/i-started-running-in-high-school-i-found-out-if-you-run-fast-then-you/) [Kim Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-collins/) > [At 14, I was the most disciplined guy around. I would get up at 5 o'clock in the morning and run five miles, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/at-14-i-was-the-most-disciplined-guy-around-i-would-get-up-at-5-o/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) ## More by Eric Idle > [“Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it, life's a laugh and deat's a joke, it's true: You'll se it's all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/life-s-a-piece-of-shit-when-you-look-at-it-life-s-a-laugh-and-deat-s/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Having little money to spend was a valuable learning experience. My schooling also shaped my work ethic because while other children were listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/having-little-money-to-spend-was-a-valuable-learning-experience-my/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Americans like to think 'Python' is how English people really are. There is an element of truth to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/americans-like-to-think-python-is-how-english-people-really-are-there/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [ If you're famous, you have to \[be overly generous\], otherwise people say, "Eric Idle came in and only left me $4." I always tip… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/if-you-re-famous-you-have-to-be-overly-generous-otherwise-people-say/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [At least in America, you have freedom of speech, which is a good thing. It's just a question of whether you're allowed to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/at-least-in-america-you-have-freedom-of-speech-which-is-a-good-thing/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [You look just like you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/you-look-just-like-you/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Many years ago I also bought a house in Provence for about 70,000 francs. It had no electricity or running water, and no road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/many-years-ago-i-also-bought-a-house-in-provence-for-about-70-000/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [No day of my life passes without someone saying the words 'Monty Python' to me. It's not bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/no-day-of-my-life-passes-without-someone-saying-the-words-monty/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [“sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will make me cry by myself in a corner for hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/sticks-and-stones-will-break-my-bones-but-words-will-make-me-cry-by/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I believe in the separation of church and planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-believe-in-the-separation-of-church-and-planet/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I've got soggy thighs. It must be dinner time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-ve-got-soggy-thighs-it-must-be-dinner-time/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [At least one way of measuring the freedom of any society is the amount of comedy that is permitted, and clearly a healthy society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/at-least-one-way-of-measuring-the-freedom-of-any-society-is-the/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [The Minister of Transport issued this appeal to motorists: Can anyone give him a lift to Leicester?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/the-minister-of-transport-issued-this-appeal-to-motorists-can-anyone/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I think the special thing about Python is that it's a writers' commune. The writers are in charge. The writers decide what the material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-think-the-special-thing-about-python-is-that-it-s-a-writers-commune/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [ There's no gap between the writer and the performer, which is what I think makes \[Monty\] Python unique. Five or six people who write… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/there-s-no-gap-between-the-writer-and-the-performer-which-is-what-i/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) [Explore all 122 Eric Idle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) ## More Becoming quotes > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. I'm learning how to stand onstage for two hours and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-getting-to-a-point-where-everything-is-becoming-streamlined-in-my/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [The term 'Pre-Raphaelite' is in danger of becoming one of the most misused tags in art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wood/the-term-pre-raphaelite-is-in-danger-of-becoming-one-of-the-most/) Christopher Wood > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. The cosmic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-reason-so-many-of-us-are-obsessed-with-becoming-stars-is-because/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) Browse all 4,715 Becoming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My education was paid for by the RAF Benevolent Fund, so a charity school, run like an orphanage, with uniforms and beatings. 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