--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came up poor. My mother only had a…" description: "\"I came up poor. My mother only had a fourth-grade education. My dad didn't have any education at all. But they were very structured. They worked hard. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/evander-holyfield-12330_believe_i-came-up-poor-my-mother-only-had-a-four_1997706.jpg" --- # I came up poor. My mother only had a fourth-grade… ![“I came up poor. My mother only had a fourth-grade education. My dad didn't have any education at all. But they were very structured. They worked hard. You know, they didn't complain. They didn't murmur. And they believe in the Christ.” quote by Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/evander-holyfield-12330_believe_i-came-up-poor-my-mother-only-had-a-four_1997706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/evander-holyfield-12330_believe_i-came-up-poor-my-mother-only-had-a-four_1997706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/evander-holyfield-12330_believe_i-came-up-poor-my-mother-only-had-a-four_1997706.jpg) > “I came up poor. My mother only had a fourth-grade education. My dad didn't have any education at all. But they were very structured. They worked hard. You know, they didn't complain. They didn't murmur. And they believe in the Christ.” [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hardship and discipline can coexist with humility and faith, fostering resilience. **In simple terms:** Hard work and humility build strength. Key Takeaway Value structure and perseverance. Themes hardship discipline humility Mood reflective inspirational Type motivational biographical When to use this quote - sports career - personal growth - community support Key Concepts socioeconomic mobility faith family values Questions to Reflect On - How does faith influence coping with poverty? - What role does humility play in success? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on structure may stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Fourth grade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fourth-grade/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [I would also like to see children aged between 11 and 18 taught financial education in a structured way in schools. I would also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/i-would-also-like-to-see-children-aged-between-11-and-18-taught/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [Like many Asian parents, mine were very focused on education. My dad would quiz me with multiplication tables when I was about 5.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-su/like-many-asian-parents-mine-were-very-focused-on-education-my-dad/) [Lisa Su](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-su/) > [My mom grew up in poverty in Oklahoma - like Dust Bowl, nine people in one room kind of place - and the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/my-mom-grew-up-in-poverty-in-oklahoma-like-dust-bowl-nine-people-in/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [Education is about remembering stuff and I could never remember anything, so I didn't get an education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-ryder/education-is-about-remembering-stuff-and-i-could-never-remember/) [Shaun Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-ryder/) > [I didn't get a high school diploma. I really didn't have much of an education, which left me open to educating myself throughout my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elayne-boosler/i-didn-t-get-a-high-school-diploma-i-really-didn-t-have-much-of-an/) [Elayne Boosler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elayne-boosler/) > [“Education is helping people understand something they don’t already understand. Or, more accurately, education is helping people (young or old) learn how to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/education-is-helping-people-understand-something-they-don-t-already/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [I just always loved mythology, ever since I was a kid. Greek mythology was something I remember learning about in fourth grade, and Egypt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-larson/i-just-always-loved-mythology-ever-since-i-was-a-kid-greek-mythology/) [Brie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-larson/) > [Really, he called me that? Ellen DeGenerate? I've been getting that since fourth grade. I guess I'm happy I could give him work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/really-he-called-me-that-ellen-degenerate-i-ve-been-getting-that/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [After my parents got divorced, I had to go right into public school in the fourth grade. The Steiner school had never really taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-theroux/after-my-parents-got-divorced-i-had-to-go-right-into-public-school-in/) [Justin Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-theroux/) > [I made the decision that I was going to make rap music in, like, fourth grade, so it's been something I was saying for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chance-the-rapper/i-made-the-decision-that-i-was-going-to-make-rap-music-in-like-fourth/) [Chance the Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chance-the-rapper/) > [I have four relatively small children, and around fourth grade, they start doing big projects on Native Americas: everything is Native Americans in elementary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/i-have-four-relatively-small-children-and-around-fourth-grade-they/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [When I was in fourth grade... this wonderful teacher said you didn't have to write a book report, you could just talk about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didi-conn/when-i-was-in-fourth-grade-this-wonderful-teacher-said-you-didn-t/) [Didi Conn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didi-conn/) > [Most of the girls I know are from my school. I've gone to school with the same people since fourth grade, so I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-yelchin/most-of-the-girls-i-know-are-from-my-school-i-ve-gone-to-school-with/) [Anton Yelchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-yelchin/) > [I was a paper boy, beginning the summer between my fourth-grade and fifth-grade years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boies/i-was-a-paper-boy-beginning-the-summer-between-my-fourth-grade-and/) [David Boies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boies/) > [Everybody either wanted to take care of me or push me around, you know? I was teased a lot, sure I was, of course.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-hunt/everybody-either-wanted-to-take-care-of-me-or-push-me-around-you-know/) [Linda Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-hunt/) ## More by Evander Holyfield > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [I'm just one woman away, my mother, from being the same as Mike Tyson. I would've ended up like him if my mama had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-m-just-one-woman-away-my-mother-from-being-the-same-as-mike-tyson-i/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [“It's not the size of the man, but the size of his heart that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/it-s-not-the-size-of-the-man-but-the-size-of-his-heart-that-matters/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [Well, number one I like dancing. Number two I knew it would be challenging because I had never done this type of dance before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/well-number-one-i-like-dancing-number-two-i-knew-it-would-be/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [When at a young age you learn to face your fears, that makes the difference between people being champions and people not being champions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/when-at-a-young-age-you-learn-to-face-your-fears-that-makes-the/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [The cat and mouse game is smart, but people want to see fighters who come to win, or do not wait to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-cat-and-mouse-game-is-smart-but-people-want-to-see-fighters-who/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [A sight game is that I am hurt, but I aim to make you believe I am not even hurt, and with this confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/a-sight-game-is-that-i-am-hurt-but-i-aim-to-make-you-believe-i-am-not/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [Sugar leaves you stranded; I make sure I have the proper amount of protein before I work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/sugar-leaves-you-stranded-i-make-sure-i-have-the-proper-amount-of/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [A boxing match is hard because boxing isn't set for you to do good. You have to force your will upon someone, but dancing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/a-boxing-match-is-hard-because-boxing-isn-t-set-for-you-to-do-good/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [The main thing about Bruce Lee is that, he was a little guy. And you know, his quickness, his aggressiveness, his explosive power, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-main-thing-about-bruce-lee-is-that-he-was-a-little-guy-and-you/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [Either I believe I can be the best heavyweight fighter in the world and beat everyone, or I will not. I feel I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/either-i-believe-i-can-be-the-best-heavyweight-fighter-in-the-world/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [I have to have an adjustment before I go into the ring. I do believe in chiropractic. I found that going to a chiropractor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-have-to-have-an-adjustment-before-i-go-into-the-ring-i-do-believe/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [I've had a great life following my faith and my instincts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-ve-had-a-great-life-following-my-faith-and-my-instincts/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [That's the biggest problem with boxing in the United States. They do not promote it like they used to, when it used to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/that-s-the-biggest-problem-with-boxing-in-the-united-states-they-do/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [Odds are just the people opinion. Respect your own opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/odds-are-just-the-people-opinion-respect-your-own-opinion/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) [Explore all 55 Evander Holyfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I came up poor. My mother only had a fourth-grade education. My dad didn't have any education at all. But they were very structured. They worked hard. You know, they didn't complain. They didn't murmur. 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