--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know whether I'm half, quarter or…" description: "\"I don't know whether I'm half, quarter or what. I just know I'm aboriginal.\" — Evonne Goolagong Cawley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcd/evonne-goolagong-cawley-7155_aboriginal_i-don-t-know-whether-i-m-half-quarter-or_1701396.jpg" --- # I don't know whether I'm half, quarter or what. I just… ![“I don't know whether I'm half, quarter or what. I just know I'm aboriginal.” quote by Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcd/evonne-goolagong-cawley-7155_aboriginal_i-don-t-know-whether-i-m-half-quarter-or_1701396.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcd/evonne-goolagong-cawley-7155_aboriginal_i-don-t-know-whether-i-m-half-quarter-or_1701396.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcd/evonne-goolagong-cawley-7155_aboriginal_i-don-t-know-whether-i-m-half-quarter-or_1701396.jpg) > “I don't know whether I'm half, quarter or what. I just know I'm aboriginal.” [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Indigenous identity persists despite uncertainty about specific heritage fractions. **In simple terms:** Identity is rooted in ancestry, not exact fractions. Key Takeaway Honor cultural roots. Themes heritage identity indigenous peoples Mood proud reflective Type personal cultural When to use this quote - community events - heritage education - family storytelling Key Concepts cultural studies personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - What defines your sense of belonging? - How do you navigate mixed heritage? A Different Perspective Identity can be challenged by external labeling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aboriginal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aboriginal/) ## Related quotes > [“He must tell his own story.' 'But he will tell only half of it.' 'A quarter would be enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/he-must-tell-his-own-story-but-he-will-tell-only-half-of-it-a-quarter/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I'd much rather people knew me as a good tennis player than as an aboriginal who happens to play good tennis. Of course I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-d-much-rather-people-knew-me-as-a-good-tennis-player-than-as-an/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [There are about 100 Aboriginal communities in Australia, and I'm trying to visit as many as possible to learn as much as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/there-are-about-100-aboriginal-communities-in-australia-and-i-m/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When I started I was pretty well the only Aboriginal player who was playing tournaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/when-i-started-i-was-pretty-well-the-only-aboriginal-player-who-was/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [Trees always remind me of Aboriginal people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/trees-always-remind-me-of-aboriginal-people/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [I hope that I am helping to create an understanding and an awareness of what happened to the Aboriginal people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-hope-that-i-am-helping-to-create-an-understanding-and-an-awareness/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [It's something I've always wanted - to be known as an Australian. When I was younger I was always referred to as an Aboriginal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/it-s-something-i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-known-as-an-australian-when-i/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [“But he didn’t know the half of it. That it wasn’t just his refusal that had haunted her. It was him. Everything about him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-bell/but-he-didn-t-know-the-half-of-it-that-it-wasn-t-just-his-refusal/) [Christine Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-bell/) > [“I'm used to Midge and know that half the time what she says isn't supposed to mean anything. Women aren't so hard to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-robertson/i-m-used-to-midge-and-know-that-half-the-time-what-she-says-isn-t/) Keith Robertson > [It always stimulates me to discover new examples of my own prejudice and stupidity, to realize that I don't know half as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/it-always-stimulates-me-to-discover-new-examples-of-my-own-prejudice/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [In some theoretical way I know that a half-million people hear the show. But in a day-to-day way, there's not much evidence of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/in-some-theoretical-way-i-know-that-a-half-million-people-hear-the/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [People always seemed to know half of history, and to get it confused with the other half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-haddam/people-always-seemed-to-know-half-of-history-and-to-get-it-confused/) [Jane Haddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-haddam/) > [We know we only have about half of our population that's voting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/we-know-we-only-have-about-half-of-our-population-that-s-voting/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) > [Half the world does not know how the other half lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/half-the-world-does-not-know-how-the-other-half-lives/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [I don't even know half the time what I'm nominated for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/i-don-t-even-know-half-the-time-what-i-m-nominated-for/) [Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/) ## More by Evonne Goolagong Cawley > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [I'd much rather people knew me as a good tennis player than as an aboriginal who happens to play good tennis. Of course I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-d-much-rather-people-knew-me-as-a-good-tennis-player-than-as-an/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [I just have these lapses. Guess I'm stuck with it. But I play better when I get behind. I say to myself, 'Now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-just-have-these-lapses-guess-i-m-stuck-with-it-but-i-play-better/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [If you didn't have power, you had to have touch and serve and volley, which I found very exciting and that's why I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/if-you-didn-t-have-power-you-had-to-have-touch-and-serve-and-volley/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [Of course, I'm trying to be No. 1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/of-course-i-m-trying-to-be-no-1/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [Every time there was a shiny car, my mum must have worried it was the welfare people coming for her kids. We had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/every-time-there-was-a-shiny-car-my-mum-must-have-worried-it-was-the/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When I walk out on to the court and everyone is staring, sometimes I wonder how my legs will carry me out there. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/when-i-walk-out-on-to-the-court-and-everyone-is-staring-sometimes-i/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [I'm just tired of having to say 'cheese' all the time for the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-m-just-tired-of-having-to-say-cheese-all-the-time-for-the-press/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [After I make some bad shots, it makes me bear down and concentrate more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/after-i-make-some-bad-shots-it-makes-me-bear-down-and-concentrate-more/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [I love the atmosphere of shopping in London. Sometimes I just go into a boutique, not to buy but to listen to the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-the-atmosphere-of-shopping-in-london-sometimes-i-just-go-into/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [I like to be nervous, as I push myself harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-like-to-be-nervous-as-i-push-myself-harder/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [I like music and dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-like-music-and-dancing/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [I'm sure many people who discover they are destined to be athletes before they know what kind, go through a period of revelation... when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-m-sure-many-people-who-discover-they-are-destined-to-be-athletes/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [We couldn't afford anything. Suitcase, clothes, everything, Barellan people bought for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/we-couldn-t-afford-anything-suitcase-clothes-everything-barellan/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [I know that from my own experience, after I had my daughter Kelly, I felt great. I just wanted to get back on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-know-that-from-my-own-experience-after-i-had-my-daughter-kelly-i/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) [Explore all 94 Evonne Goolagong Cawley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) ## More Aboriginal quotes > [I won the seat of Oxley largely on an issue that has resulted in me being called a racist. That issue related to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/i-won-the-seat-of-oxley-largely-on-an-issue-that-has-resulted-in-me/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [I'd much rather people knew me as a good tennis player than as an aboriginal who happens to play good tennis. Of course I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-d-much-rather-people-knew-me-as-a-good-tennis-player-than-as-an/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [One of my earliest memories is being backstage at 'Bran Nue Dae' in Darwin when I was about eight. It's such a fun, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/one-of-my-earliest-memories-is-being-backstage-at-bran-nue-dae-in/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [Aboriginal people are key because they have a different sense of where we belong and how we interact with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/aboriginal-people-are-key-because-they-have-a-different-sense-of/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [We've had real strong aboriginal male artists who've crossed over to the mainstream who have toured the U.K., who have been a massive influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/we-ve-had-real-strong-aboriginal-male-artists-who-ve-crossed-over-to/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [Genius . . . arises in the natural, aboriginal concern for the conscious unity of all phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hunter-austin/genius-arises-in-the-natural-aboriginal-concern-for-the-conscious/) [Mary Hunter Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hunter-austin/) > [In 1995, the Paul Keating Labor government commissioned an inquiry into the forcible removal of Aboriginal children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-1995-the-paul-keating-labor-government-commissioned-an-inquiry/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/the-native-american-has-been-generally-despised-by-his-white/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [The families of Aboriginals who have died in custody in NSW will suffer again because of these white lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-murray/the-families-of-aboriginals-who-have-died-in-custody-in-nsw-will/) Arthur Murray > [Over 120 Aboriginal communities run their own health services - some have been doing so for 30 years. They struggle with difficult medical problems.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-fraser/over-120-aboriginal-communities-run-their-own-health-services-some/) [Malcolm Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-fraser/) > [“If they follow the way of Money Chiefs, they shall die. Earth is sick and can no longer care for her children. Now, Earth’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fr-d-ric-perrin/if-they-follow-the-way-of-money-chiefs-they-shall-die-earth-is-sick/) Frédéric Perrin > [I have written with some amazing singers and songwriters - the moment with Snoop Dogg was amazing - but being able to tell an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/i-have-written-with-some-amazing-singers-and-songwriters-the-moment/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [In the European tradition, rivers are seen as divisions between peoples. But in the Aboriginal tradition, rivers are seen as the glue, the highway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/in-the-european-tradition-rivers-are-seen-as-divisions-between/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [People look at me, and they don't see what they think is a typical Aboriginal. I always thought I'd be the white person in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/people-look-at-me-and-they-don-t-see-what-they-think-is-a-typical/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [The most ultimately righteous of all wars is a war with savages, though it is apt to be also the most terrible and inhuman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-most-ultimately-righteous-of-all-wars-is-a-war-with-savages/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) [Browse all 184 Aboriginal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aboriginal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know whether I'm half, quarter or what. 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