--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never was coddled, or liked, or…" description: "\"I never was coddled, or liked, or understood by my family.\" — Ethel Waters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/ethel-waters-9047_family_i-never-was-coddled-or-liked-or-understo_3050564.jpg" --- # I never was coddled, or liked, or understood by my family. ![“I never was coddled, or liked, or understood by my family.” quote by Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/ethel-waters-9047_family_i-never-was-coddled-or-liked-or-understo_3050564.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/ethel-waters-9047_family_i-never-was-coddled-or-liked-or-understo_3050564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/ethel-waters-9047_family_i-never-was-coddled-or-liked-or-understo_3050564.jpg) > “I never was coddled, or liked, or understood by my family.” [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker felt uncared for, unloved, and misunderstood by family. **In simple terms:** Family neglect and misunderstanding. Key Takeaway Find supportive relationships elsewhere. Themes family neglect misunderstanding loneliness identity Mood reflective somber Type personal emotional When to use this quote - family gatherings - therapy sessions - friendship circles Key Concepts emotional health social support self‑worth Questions to Reflect On - What relationships bring you acceptance? - How can you heal from familial hurt? A Different Perspective Family bonds can sometimes be repaired. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ## Related quotes > [Without English art, I never would have understood myself, my own family, or the New England world I lived in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/without-english-art-i-never-would-have-understood-myself-my-own/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [For a filmmaker, whether the film is liked, understood or appreciated counts as much as the moolah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/for-a-filmmaker-whether-the-film-is-liked-understood-or-appreciated/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [I don't want to be coddled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-rolle/i-don-t-want-to-be-coddled/) [Myron Rolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-rolle/) > [“There was nothing to confront here at this beach: no monsters, no past, no future. Everyone left him alone, the ultimate desire of any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-magary/there-was-nothing-to-confront-here-at-this-beach-no-monsters-no-past/) [Drew Magary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-magary/) > [We have to learn to remind the other parents who think we're being careless when we loosen our grip that we are actually trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenore-skenazy/we-have-to-learn-to-remind-the-other-parents-who-think-we-re-being/) [Lenore Skenazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenore-skenazy/) > [I don't expect to be coddled, but I'm also a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/i-don-t-expect-to-be-coddled-but-i-m-also-a-human-being/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [Writers who do great work must be coddled and encouraged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/writers-who-do-great-work-must-be-coddled-and-encouraged/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [People are used to being coddled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/people-are-used-to-being-coddled/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [I was very insecure at the beginning of my career. I didn't value my talent. I would have probably skipped signing up for movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangna-ranaut/i-was-very-insecure-at-the-beginning-of-my-career-i-didn-t-value-my/) [Kangna Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangna-ranaut/) > [“I don’t put up with the shit you’ve handed me the last week because you’re some fuckin’ piece I want to conquer. I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-don-t-put-up-with-the-shit-you-ve-handed-me-the-last-week-because/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I never had a single female professor throughout my whole education, from the beginning of university to the end. Even all the books were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/i-never-had-a-single-female-professor-throughout-my-whole-education/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [I never liked Hans Christian Andersen because I knew he was always getting at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/i-never-liked-hans-christian-andersen-because-i-knew-he-was-always/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [I liked Cats as a kid, now its hard to say. I dont live in New York anymore so dont see so many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-moennig/i-liked-cats-as-a-kid-now-its-hard-to-say-i-dont-live-in-new-york/) [Katherine Moennig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-moennig/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) ## More by Ethel Waters > [Whenever I write for hotel reservations, I always enclose a set of rules I have made for the hotels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/whenever-i-write-for-hotel-reservations-i-always-enclose-a-set-of/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [Today I blame only certain agents for my long eclipse as a public entertainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/today-i-blame-only-certain-agents-for-my-long-eclipse-as-a-public/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [I had always loved John Ford's pictures. And I came to love him, too, but I was frightened to death working for him. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-had-always-loved-john-ford-s-pictures-and-i-came-to-love-him-too/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [All my life I've been prejudiced against wealthy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/all-my-life-i-ve-been-prejudiced-against-wealthy-people/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [The big compliment came from the beer drinkers who didn't know me. They wouldn't drink or move when I sang. If they had their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/the-big-compliment-came-from-the-beer-drinkers-who-didn-t-know-me/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [I was born out of wedlock. Nobody brought me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-was-born-out-of-wedlock-nobody-brought-me-up/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [I dressed plain, but my partners were always spending more money on clothes than I could afford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-dressed-plain-but-my-partners-were-always-spending-more-money-on/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [After years in white theaters I dreaded working in colored houses. The noise, the stomping, whistling, and cheering that hadn't annoyed me when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/after-years-in-white-theaters-i-dreaded-working-in-colored-houses-the/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [Many people know how to criticize, but few know how to praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/many-people-know-how-to-criticize-but-few-know-how-to-praise/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [Negroes are human beings with exactly the same faults and virtues as members of the other races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/negroes-are-human-beings-with-exactly-the-same-faults-and-virtues-as/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [There is a great supply of amateur undertakers in show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/there-is-a-great-supply-of-amateur-undertakers-in-show-business/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [My father came back one day and forced my mother to submit to him. He raped her, holding a knife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/my-father-came-back-one-day-and-forced-my-mother-to-submit-to-him-he/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [Though I was excited about the Sojourner Truth play, it was not reassuring to think that my entire future might depend on the success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/though-i-was-excited-about-the-sojourner-truth-play-it-was-not/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [I found that a couple of bottles of beer would give me a lift, but the third bottle would sober me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-found-that-a-couple-of-bottles-of-beer-would-give-me-a-lift-but-the/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [The white audiences thought I was white, my features being what they are, and at every performance I'd have to take off my gloves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/the-white-audiences-thought-i-was-white-my-features-being-what-they/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) [Explore all 75 Ethel Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) ## More Family quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. The people have always been very, very kind to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/the-people-have-always-been-family-to-me-here-in-las-vegas-the-people/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 36,913 Family quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never was coddled, or liked, or understood by my family.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ethel Waters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-never-was-coddled-or-liked-or-understood-by-my-family/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Family" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-never-was-coddled-or-liked-or-understood-by-my-family/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/ethel-waters-9047_family_i-never-was-coddled-or-liked-or-understo_3050564.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/ethel-waters-9047_family_i-never-was-coddled-or-liked-or-understo_3050564.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/ethel-waters-9047_family_i-never-was-coddled-or-liked-or-understo_3050564.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never was coddled, or liked, or understood by my family.” — Ethel Waters", "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": "Ethel Waters", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never was coddled, or liked,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-never-was-coddled-or-liked-or-understood-by-my-family/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-never-was-coddled-or-liked-or-understood-by-my-family/#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 } } ] } ```